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minuscule

minuscule

23 4.4
Very small in size or amount
  • adjective
  • /ˈmɪnəˌskjul/
: minúsculo
  • And so we are able to transfer minuscule amounts of wealth at a time, but in the aggregate, this adds up to a huge tax on the rest of the world.
  • minuscule amounts
  • minuscule compared to
  • minuscule in comparison

That all the stuff that we actually eat is like a minuscule fraction of the total.

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Examples

  • First, the overall impact of immigration is minuscule given the enormous size of the American economy.

    Academic text (1998)
  • A week later, that would have only a minuscule impact on my life.

  • As people, we tend to forget how really minuscule we are and how our actions truly mean nothing.

  • His strike zone was minuscule.

  • That all the stuff that we actually eat is like a minuscule fraction of the total.

  • I mean, the chances are always minuscule.

  • At the same time, environmental agencies, working with a relatively minuscule budget, have tried to stop deforestation.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Relatively, the volume of pharmaceuticals is minuscule by comparison to industrial chemicals.

  • Sunlight slipping into the house through the hole creates a light beam filled with minuscule dust particles.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The difference in size between the two models is minuscule, making it hard to choose between them.

Synonyms

little
vsminuscule
∞ 1.0

Small in size or amount, often used to show care

focuses strictly on extreme smallness without emotional tone
tiny
vsminuscule
∞ 1.0

So small it can fit in your hand

is the same extreme smallness but with a more formal tone
minimal
vsminuscule
196 3.3

Very small in amount or degree

refers to extreme small size rather than just the least possible amount
micro
vsminuscule
123 5.1

Very small in size, amount, or effect

is about physical or amount smallness rather than abstract scale
miniature
vsminuscule
108 3.6

Very small in size compared with the usual type

refers to absolute extreme smallness regardless of typical size
wee
vsminuscule
  • UK
108 7.5

Very small in size or amount

is the general extreme smallness term used widely in writing
teeny
vsminuscule
  • Informal
86 1.0

Very small in size so you can hold it in one hand

is the neutral descriptor for extreme smallness rather than slang
microscopic
vsminuscule
57 4.8

So small that only a microscope can see it

means extreme smallness without requiring invisibility to the eye
bitty
vsminuscule
  • Informal
55 8.1

Very small, like a baby mouse

is the neutral extreme smallness label rather than slang
minute
vsminuscule
38 5.8

Extremely small and hard to see

focuses on tiny size but often reads as more plain
negligible
vsminuscule
31 5.6

Very small or unimportant and not worth worrying about

is about physical or amount smallness, not importance
measly
vsminuscule
  • Informal
31 6.3

Too small to be useful

is neutral extreme smallness without a negative judgment
itty
vsminuscule
  • Informal
29 8.1

Very small in size

is the more formal extreme smallness description rather than colloquial
itty-bitty
vsminuscule
  • Informal
27 5.4

Very small and hard to notice

is the neutral formal way to state extreme smallness
teensy
vsminuscule
  • Informal
23 4.6

Very small, almost too small to notice

states extreme small size more formally and directly
itsy-bitsy
vsminuscule
  • Informal
20 2.1

Very small and often looking cute

is the formal descriptor for the same high degree of smallness
mini
vsminuscule
20 3.5

A small version of an item made smaller than the normal size

is about extreme tininess itself rather than being a small model
diminutive
vsminuscule
17 6.8

Very small in size

means extreme smallness but is more common and direct
miniscule
vsminuscule
  • US
17 4.3

Very small and easy to miss

is the standard spelling form rather than the alternate
infinitesimal
vsminuscule
11 8.6

Very small, almost too small to measure

means extreme smallness but without implying near immeasurability
teeny-weeny
vsminuscule
  • Informal
10 6.3

A very small thing that is much smaller than usual

is the straightforward extreme smallness term without playfulness
teensy-weensy
vsminuscule
  • Informal
7 7.7

Very small and hard to see

expresses the same size idea but in neutral language
petit
vsminuscule
1 7.1

Small in size or amount, often used in law and food

is general extreme smallness rather than context-specific usage
dwarfish
vsminuscule
1 7.2

Much smaller than what is normal or expected

indicates extreme tininess regardless of what is typical
ultrafine
vsminuscule
1 5.2

Something that is very small, like tiny particles or thin fibers

means extreme smallness broadly, not only for tiny particles
lilliputian
vsminuscule
1 9.9

Very small or unimportant

is the plain extreme smallness term rather than literary flourish
microscopical
vsminuscule
  • Specialized
9.1

So small that you can only see it with a microscope

covers extreme smallness more generally, not only microscopic cases
bittie
vsminuscule
  • Informal
9.9

Very small in size or amount

expresses extreme tininess but without the casual tone
teentsy
vsminuscule
  • Informal
8.4

So small that you can hardly see it

is the standard extreme smallness expression rather than colloquial

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Very large in size, amount, or degree

754 2.1

Very large in size, amount, or effect

165 3.1

Very large and heavy

How Small

infinitesimal
11 8.6
microscopic
57 4.8
minuscule
23 4.4
tiny
∞ 1.0
little
∞ 1.0
small
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

minuscule positive
minuscule comparative
minuscule superlative

Etymology

Minuscule comes from the Latin word minus meaning 'less' or 'smaller', a useful memory hook is to think of English minus or 'mini' for something tiny. That is why minuscule now also means 'extremely small' or 'very tiny'.