miniature 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of miniaturenext
as in tiny
very small in size a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

miniature

2 of 2

noun

ˈmi-nē-ə-ˌchu̇r How to pronounce miniature (audio)
as in reproduction
an exact representation of something in greatly reduced size a diorama filled with miniatures of town buildings as they looked in the 19th century

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word miniature distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of miniature are diminutive, little, minute, small, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When might diminutive be a better fit than miniature?

Although the words diminutive and miniature have much in common, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

When can little be used instead of miniature?

The synonyms little and miniature are sometimes interchangeable, but little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

In what contexts can minute take the place of miniature?

The words minute and miniature can be used in similar contexts, but minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How do small and little relate to one another, in the sense of miniature?

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

a relatively small backyard

How are the words tiny and minute related as synonyms of miniature?

Tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of miniature
Adjective
These crispy miniature cones are typically filled with chives and creamy crème fraîche, heavily topped with premium Siberian osetra caviar, and finished with shimmering gold leaf. — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Junior bull riders generally graduate from riding horses, learning balance and agility, before testing their mettle on miniature bulls. — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Noun
In addition to writing the screenplay with Ford, Fish designed the sets, costumes, and miniatures, while also doing the hair and makeup for the all-Drag cast. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 12 June 2026 This was the Davis method in miniature — an executive willing to override conventional industry wisdom about what an artist should release, proved right by the market. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
  1. tiny
  2. reproduction
  3. minuscule
  4. replica
  5. microscopic
  6. imitation
  7. model
Adjective
  • Even tiny electromagnetic disturbances can disrupt the quantum states that perform calculations, reducing the accuracy and reliability of the system.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
  • What Uranus will look like Uranus should resemble a tiny greenish star and will appear only about 1/63 as bright as Mars.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of tiny
Noun
  • Laser Projection Benefits Laser projectors offer significantly better image quality than units based on Xenon lamps, offering a higher light output, better color reproduction, greater contrast and an overall more uniform image.
    — Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Pollination is crucial to plant reproduction and the wider ecosystem that relies on plants as a food source.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026
Definition of reproduction
Adjective
  • Research shows the problem to be rare, accounting for a minuscule percentage of fraud cases.
    — Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • Why Utah's race matters nationally The new district is the biggest opportunity Utah Democrats have ever had for congressional representation, especially when the majority margin in Congress is minuscule.
    — Saige Miller, NPR, 22 June 2026
Definition of minuscule
Noun
  • The company doesn’t break out sales of individual products, but as of Thursday, Nike’s website had sold out of most adult sizes in both of the USMNT’s home and away jerseys, including both authentic and replica editions.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026
  • Another replica flag steeped in American history was aboard the International Space Station from November 2014 through June 2015.
    — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026
Definition of replica
Adjective
  • Touching infested water, even just a splash, can risk infection, as microscopic larvae swimming along the surface are able to wriggle through skin.
    — William McCarthy, NPR, 4 July 2026
  • The culprit, Cyclospora cayetanensis, is a microscopic parasite that’s found in human feces.
    — Caroline Kee, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Definition of microscopic
Noun
  • And the guy who loved John Wayne movies and came to do a fine imitation reckoned his should be in that spirit.
    — Vahe Gregorian July 5, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026
  • In fact, the pursuit of a truly American design style—one that turns away from imitation and toward exploration—has been a focus for architects since this country was founded.
    — Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 4 July 2026
Definition of imitation
Noun
  • Open-source and open-weight models make different parts of an AI model available for developers to inspect, use and sometimes modify.
    — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 7 July 2026
  • Unlike some folding bikes – including popular models from Brompton and Birdy – which come with small 16-inch wheels, the Tetra gets 20-inchers for greater comfort over a variety of road surfaces.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 July 2026
Definition of model

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on miniature

Nglish: Translation of miniature for Spanish Speakers

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