negligible

adjective

ˈne-gli-jə-bəl How to pronounce negligible (audio)
Definition of negligiblenext
1
as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention the two cents in change was such a negligible sum that she left the store without bothering to take it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in minor
lacking importance the results from that small study of coffee drinkers are negligible and can be ignored

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in small
small in degree there's a negligible chance I may make it to the picnic, but don't count on it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 negligible The gap between both teams appears negligible, so the risk of Japan losing and potentially finishing third, meeting France in the last 32, is also on the cards. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 24 June 2026 Many Americans have long accepted that a small fraction of their tax dollars should help keep vulnerable people alive overseas, particularly when the cost to them is negligible. — W. Gyude Moore, semafor.com, 2 July 2026 Calling the agreement into question continuously could have far from negligible consequences indeed, given that Mexico and Canada have individually—and even more so collectively—surpassed China as America’s biggest trading partners. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 17 June 2026 She is classified at the BOP’s lowest institutional risk levels and her PATTERN Score, a measure of risk for violence or reoffending, is negligible. — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for negligible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for negligible
  1. nominal
  2. minor
  3. small
  4. slight
  5. little
  6. off
  7. insignificant
  8. slim
Adjective
  • Their nominal wide players aren’t explosive wingers who sprint 50 yards in five seconds, but more languid players who like drifting infield and playing passing combinations.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Its most common glide bomb models are the FAB-250, FAB-500, FAB-1500, and FAB-3000, where the number corresponds to the nominal weight of the bomb in kilograms.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of nominal
Adjective
  • Three other people in the vehicle, including a 6-month-old, had minor injuries, the report said.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • The adult and child had minor to moderate injuries and were taken to the hospital, the fire department said.
    — Jose Fabian, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of minor
Adjective
  • In contrast, instruments on the FireSat satellites will be able to detect small brush and roadside fires 16 feet across.
    — Eric Niiler, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • At the Cannes Film Festival in May, the model Toni Garrn made a striking appearance in a blue-black bustier dress embroidered with small petals.
    — Amy Verner, Vogue, 6 July 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • In 2024, roughly 48,800 Americans died by suicide, a slight decrease from the peak of nearly 49,500 deaths in this manner in 2022.
    — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Matching trousers stayed narrow through the hips before loosening down the leg into a slight flare.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 July 2026
Definition of slight
Adjective
  • Selena Gomez took the little black dress to a new level ahead of longtime friend Taylor Swift’s wedding.
    — Jennifer McClellan, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • That little green or yellow can in the grocery store that boasts pictures of pears, cherries, grapes, and other fruit on the label?
    — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Definition of little
Adjective
  • Sooryavanshi missed his first two balls and got off the mark with a sketchy inside edge that pinged past his off stump.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • If your student has an off-campus job or a position that requires them to work odd hours, a car might be worth the expense and hassle.
    — Chris Teague, AJC.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of off
Adjective
  • Even with tariff turmoil swirling and adding a not-insignificant degree of confusion and instability to global trade, there have been some crucial bright spots for the textile industry over the past year, in large part because of the protections afforded by USMCA.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 26 June 2026
  • With inflation now at its highest level in three years, wages softening and the potential for an interest rate hike not insignificant, flexibility and access to your funds can feel especially important.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Definition of insignificant
Adjective
  • With ultra-slim Republican margins in the House and Senate, Congress is having a tough time doing just the basics of legislating, let alone passing controversial legislation.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • For example, slim velvet hangers save room on the rod and help slippery items stay put.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2026
Definition of slim

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Cite this Entry

“Negligible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negligible. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on negligible

Nglish: Translation of negligible for Spanish Speakers

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