Little Synonyms | Collins English Thesaurus

1 (adjective) in the sense of not much

Definition

of small quantity, extent, or duration

I had little money and little free time.

Synonyms

not much

small

a diet of one small meal a day

insufficient

There was insufficient evidence to proceed.

scant

There is scant evidence of strong economic growth to come.

meagre

a meagre 3% pay rise

sparse

Many slopes are rock fields with sparse vegetation.

skimpy

skimpy underwear

measly (informal)

The average bathroom measures a measly 3.5 metres.

hardly any

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Opposites

much

ample

abundant

plentiful

2 (adjective) in the sense of small

Definition

of small or less than average size

We sat round a little table.

Synonyms

small

She is small for her age.

minute

Only a minute amount is needed.

short

He's short for his age.

tiny

Though she was tiny, she had a very loud voice.

mini

wee

Fancy being so scared of a wee spider!

compact

a compact computer that could be tucked under the arm and carried like a notebook

miniature

The farm has been selling miniature roses since 1979.

dwarf

dwarf shrubs

slender

the Government's slender 21-seat majority

diminutive

a diminutive figure stood at the entrance

petite

a petite woman who spoke little English

dainty

elfin

bijou

infinitesimal

mineral substances present in infinitesimal amounts in the soil

teeny-weeny

Lilliputian

His vocabulary has shrunk to Lilliputian proportions.

munchkin (informal, mainly US)

teensy-weensy

pygmy or pigmy

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Opposites

great

big

large

huge

giant

enormous

considerable

immense

colossal

ginormous (informal)

3 (adjective) in the sense of young

Definition

young

When I was little, I was hyperactive.

Synonyms

young

I was still too young to understand what was going on.

small

What were you like when you were small?

junior

infant

The infant company was based in Germany.

immature

The birds were in immature plumage.

undeveloped

damage to the undeveloped foetus

babyish

I'm ashamed of the babyish nonsense I write.

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4 (adjective) in the sense of unimportant

Definition

contemptible, mean, or disagreeable

He found himself getting angry over little things.

Synonyms

unimportant

It was an unimportant job, and paid very little.

minor

She is known for a number of minor roles in films.

petty

Rows would start over petty things.

trivial

I don't like to visit the doctor just for something trivial.

trifling

The guests had each paid £250, no trifling sum.

insignificant

In 1949 it was still a small, insignificant city.

negligible

Managers are convinced that the strike will have a negligible effect.

paltry

She had no interest in such paltry concerns.

inconsiderable

He was a man of great charm and not inconsiderable wit.

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Opposites

important

serious

major

significant

, grave,

momentous

5 (adjective) in the sense of short

Definition

of small quantity, extent, or duration

She stood up quickly, giving a little cry of astonishment.

Synonyms

short

We had a short meeting.

brief

This time their visit is brief.

fleeting

They caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.

short-lived

Any hope that the speech would end the war was short-lived.

passing

people who dismissed mobile phones as a passing fad

hasty

After the hasty meal, they took up their positions.

momentary

a momentary lapse of concentration

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Opposites

long

6 (adjective) in the sense of mean

Definition

contemptible, mean, or disagreeable

I won't play your little mind-games.

Synonyms

mean

Upstaging the bride was a particularly mean trick.

base

cheap (informal)

That was a cheap trick to play on anyone.

petty

I think that attitude is a bit petty.

narrow-minded

He's just a narrow-minded bigot.

small-minded

their small-minded preoccupation with making money

illiberal

His views are markedly illiberal.

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1 (adverb) in the sense of hardly

Definition

not at all, or hardly

On the way back they spoke very little.

Synonyms

hardly

I could hardly see the garden for the fog.

barely

His voice was barely audible.

not quite

not much

only just

scarcely

He could scarcely breathe.

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Opposites

much

2 (adverb) in the sense of rarely

Definition

not much or often

We go there very little nowadays.

Synonyms

rarely

seldom

They seldom speak.

scarcely

I scarcely ever re-read my published writings.

not often

infrequently

hardly ever

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Opposites

much

always

(noun) in the sense of bit

Don't give me too much. Just a little.

Synonyms

bit

a bit of cake

touch

She thought she might have a touch of flu.

spot (British)

We've given all the club members tea, coffee and a spot of lunch.

trace

Wash them in cold water to remove all traces of sand.

hint

I glanced at her and saw no hint of irony on her face.

dash

Add a dash of balsamic vinegar.

particle

Particles of food can get stuck between the teeth.

fragment

She read everything, digesting every fragment of news.

pinch

a pinch of salt

small amount

dab

a dab of glue

trifle

tad (informal)

snippet

I read a snippet she had cut from a magazine.

speck

He leaned forward and brushed a speck of dust off his shoes.

modicum

I like to think I've had a modicum of success.

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Opposites

much

lot

phrase

See a little

idiom

See little by little

Quotation

Little things affect little minds [Benjamin Disraeli – Sybil]

Synonyms of 'little'

little

phrase

idiom

Quotation

Additional synonyms

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little

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little

Related terms of
little

Source

Synonyms of 'little'

little

phrase

idiom

Quotation

Additional synonyms

Video: pronunciation of little

Browse alphabetically little

Related terms of little

Source

Video: pronunciation of
little

Browse alphabetically
little

Related terms of
little