as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average
a pygmy elephant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also pigmy
1
as in dwarf
a living thing much smaller than others of its kind
hummingbirds may be the pygmies of the avian world, but what they lack in size they make up for in beauty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in number
a person of no importance or influence
regrettably, most of the candidates for the party's nomination that year were political pygmies
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 pygmy
Angel Saunders, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
This weekend’s public debut of twin six-month-old cubs at Ocean Park will serve as a litmus test, with hopes the bears will spark a viral moment similar to Moo Deng, the pygmy hippo in Thailand who took social media by storm last year and saw a flood of tourists visit her zoo.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Asia, 14 Feb. 2025
Common hippos usually give birth underwater, while pygmy hippo calves can be born on land or in water.
—Calvin Milliner, ABC News, 27 Dec. 2024
Tupi's undeniable cuteness and quirky personality have turned the capybara into a viral sensation, helping boost visibility for the San Antonio Zoo during a time when zoos are eager to replicate the viral success of animals like Moo Deng, the pygmy hippo.
—Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Noun
Together, Hook and Nivola learned that pygmy hippos like Moo Deng are not carnivores.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
This weekend’s public debut of twin six-month-old cubs at Ocean Park will serve as a litmus test, with hopes the bears will spark a viral moment similar to Moo Deng, the pygmy hippo in Thailand who took social media by storm last year and saw a flood of tourists visit her zoo.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Asia, 14 Feb. 2025
Common hippos usually give birth underwater, while pygmy hippo calves can be born on land or in water.
—Calvin Milliner, ABC News, 27 Dec. 2024
Tupi's undeniable cuteness and quirky personality have turned the capybara into a viral sensation, helping boost visibility for the San Antonio Zoo during a time when zoos are eager to replicate the viral success of animals like Moo Deng, the pygmy hippo.
—Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
Adjective
-
The 2024 edition of this diminutive all-arounder—capable of gaming, media playback, and light productivity—sees an improvement in processing power over previous iterations thanks to the A17 Pro chip.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2025
-
The button bush is not a diminutive plant, reaching up to 12 feet tall by 4 feet wide at maturity.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Emperor tamarins are dwarf monkeys with whiskers that resemble a white moustache.—
Robert Higgs,
cleveland,
1 Feb. 2023
-
The dwarf variety grows to be about 5 to 7 feet, ideal for a small garden or accent in a room with limited space.—
Bryce Jones,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
According to tracking, the tentpole is headed for a domestic debut in the $63 million to $77 million range, with a target number of $70 million.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Her individuality brushed off on a huge number of people.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Teeny loves keeping the German shepherds and Bernese Mountain dog in line, despite being much smaller.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
-
For anyone doing this for the first time, do be warned this station is extremely small with just six ticket barriers in total.—
Caoimhe O'Neill,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Pour the sauce over and gently toss with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until the shrimp and avocado are thoroughly coated.—
Janelle Davis,
CNN,
7 Feb. 2023
-
Brine shrimp are a critical food source for the aquaculture industry.—
Evan Bush,
NBC News,
21 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
Their main food sources are energy-rich liquids, such as the honeydew produced by insects like scale bugs and mealybugs and nectar secreted from specialized glands on plants.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
These attract a variety of beneficial insects including parasitoid wasps, lacewings, and syrphid flies, all of which feed on aphids, whiteflies, insects eggs, and other garden pests.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Even with Hollywood’s diminished state in China, the film business is one sector where the U.S. maintains a sizable trade surplus with its geopolitical rival, as Chinese films, despite their enormous earnings in the home market, have made little headway with mainstream North American moviegoers.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
-
For starters, the clear formula comes in a cute little bottle that looks more like a serum than tanning drops.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Most of the movie is a vaguely comical swipe at Napoleon in domestic life—an awkward lover, a jealous husband, an inveterate complainer, and in sum an annoying twerp.—
Kyle Smith,
WSJ,
21 Nov. 2023
-
Kind of a little twerp, now and again.—
Ashley Fetters Maloy,
Washington Post,
7 Nov. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Pygmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pygmy. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share