tiny

adjective

ti·​ny ˈtī-nē How to pronounce tiny (audio)
tinier; tiniest
: very small or diminutive : minute
tinily adverb
tininess noun
Choose the Right Synonym for tiny

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 At the top of the mountain, visitors can grab a chair lift year-round at Ski Valley and explore Summerhaven, a tiny mountain town with lots of gift shop and cozy restaurants to explore. Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 14 Aug. 2024 Kara-Murza described the brutal conditions of being kept in a tiny cell all day with nothing to do and no one to talk to. Helen Regan, CNN, 13 Aug. 2024 Add just a tiny amount to salad dressing to pop it up a bit; add it to any meat marinade or rub. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2024 The audience has no idea yet what kind film this will be, a story of tiny discoveries intertwined with the death of one of the most famous public figures who ever lived. Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tiny 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tiny.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near tiny

Cite this Entry

“Tiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tiny. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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