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miniature

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noun

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
The 291-foot-long Lego lineup stretched along Deck 6 of the ship’s World Galleria, running from aft to forward and featuring 1,391 miniature vessels constructed by hand. David Nikel, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 Plastic-neutral retailer Grove Collaborative is debuting the 5% Collection, an assortment of its top cleaning formulas but in miniature form. Mike Snider, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Noun
These fans can also order a custom miniature to be sent to their home in a variety of styles. Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Hero Forge sent two miniatures in two sizes. Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • Known for: Its tiny colorful bags, like Le Bisou, Mini Chiquito, and Bambino.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In late spring and early summer, tiny pink or purple flowers appear in clusters that may cover the foliage and attract a variety of pollinators.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Ryan pointed to a Model T 100, a reproduction done of the Ford Model T done in 2003 for the 100th anniversary of the company.
    Jamie L. LaReau, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Second, how do social groups affect individual survival and reproduction – in other words, what group traits are under selection?
    Conner Philson, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Democrats now hold a minuscule advantage in voter registration over Republicans.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025
  • And on the other hand, the food system can be minuscule.
    Danielle Nierenberg, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Joey Spencer Results, Highlights And Reaction David Bowie’s Double LP The project is being released as a double LP and CD, both of which will come packaged with a replica poster from the original event.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • When Medina instead lifts his right arm, which held the replica gun, officers open fire, striking Medina multiple times.
    Max Levy, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Building artificial skin with room to grow The researchers initially sought to create a skin imitation that could accurately mimic the three layers in human skin: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2025
  • By contrast, Doom: The Dark Ages flings the player back into the dark ages to witness a war between two factions that look like a low-rent knock-off imitation of series like Warhammer — grotesqueries and all.
    Kazuma Hashimoto, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The tiered model approach allows developers to select the appropriate balance between performance and cost, with GPT-4.1 Nano being ideal for tasks like classification or autocompletion, and the standard GPT-4.1 model suited for more complex applications.
    Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • The model aims to help students live and learn together—making everyone feel welcome, and also helping students navigate the conflicts that inevitably arise in a community where people have different world views.
    Emma Green, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

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