tiny

adjective

ti·​ny ˈtī-nē How to pronounce tiny (audio)
tinier; tiniest
Synonyms of tiny
: very small or diminutive : minute
tinily
ˈtī-nə-lē How to pronounce tiny (audio)
adverb
tininess
ˈtī-nē-nəs How to pronounce tiny (audio)
noun

Synonyms of tiny

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small, little, diminutive, minute, tiny, miniature mean noticeably below average in size.

small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

Examples of tiny in a Sentence

The computer chips were tiny. He's from a tiny town that you've probably never heard of. There's just one tiny little problem. Aren't you even a tiny bit scared?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In that struggle, one tiny island helped change the course of world history. — R. Grant Gilmore Iii, The Conversation, 30 June 2026 People can watch short dramas on their smartphones in the tiniest increments of time at their disposal. — Lavender Au, The Dial, 30 June 2026 This tiny French bistro has great tomato soup, salads, and simple yet amazing French sandwiches. — Carinne Geil Botta, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 The tiny nation consisting of 10 little islands off the coast of West Africa is the smallest country ever to reach the knockout stage of a World Cup. — Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tiny

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English tine

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tiny was in 1598

Phrases Containing tiny

Rhymes for tiny

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Browse Nearby Words

tinwork
tiny
tiny house
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Cite this Entry

“Tiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tiny. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tiny

adjective
ti·​ny ˈtī-nē How to pronounce tiny (audio)
tinier; tiniest
: very small : minute
tininess noun

More from Merriam-Webster on tiny

Nglish: Translation of tiny for Spanish Speakers

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