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scintilla

scintilla

7 9.9
A very small amount of something that is hard to notice
  • noun
  • /sɪnˈtɪlə/
  • Formal
translation icon : escintila
  • Probably not one iota, not even a scintilla, of regret?
  • a scintilla of evidence
  • a scintilla of doubt
  • a scintilla of proof

So I'm sorry if I can't feel a scintilla of sympathy.

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Examples

  • No person with a scintilla of intelligence could possibly take Mr. Sullivan seriously.

    Blog text (5)
  • Again, you leave not a scintilla of substance.

    Blog text (17)
  • If he has a scintilla of taste, he'll hate these.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • No one ever offers a scintilla of evidence.

    Blog text (6)
  • It's difficult to imagine they could make it through eleven games without a scintilla of improvement, but they did.

    Blog text (3)
  • There's not one scintilla of evidence that a crime's even been committed.

  • Let me humbly suggest that before trying to make such a linkage, you first secure at least a scintilla of evidence.

    Blog text (16)
  • In Alexandria, VA, the federal judge said they have not provided a scintilla of evidence of wrongdoing by us.

  • The IPCC has never offered a scintilla of evidence for its baseless charge against Professor Henderson and me.

    Blog text (20)
  • The investigation found not even a scintilla of evidence to support the allegations.

Synonyms

hint
vsscintilla
153 1.5

A very small amount of something you can taste, see, or feel

is the same idea rather than a different quantity
speck
vsscintilla
66 1.3

A very small spot or amount of something

refers to a small trace broadly, not only a visible spot
shred
vsscintilla
57 3.5

A very small amount or piece that is almost nothing

focuses on trace amount rather than being a physical fragment
iota
vsscintilla
23 7.7

A very small amount, almost nothing

denotes a small trace without stressing extreme tiny degree
smidge
vsscintilla
  • Informal
14 7.9

A very small amount of something

names a tiny trace in more general or neutral language
smidgen
vsscintilla
  • Informal
9 7.3

A very small amount, like a tiny bit of salt

is the neutral term for a tiny trace rather than informal
whit
vsscintilla
  • Archaic
9 8.6

A very small amount of something

refers to a tiny trace without stressing smallest possible wording
tittle
vsscintilla
  • Archaic
3 9.9

A very small amount or sign

is the same basic trace meaning without extra emphasis
smidgin
vsscintilla
  • UK
8.4

A very small amount, almost none

expresses the same tiny quantity in more neutral terms

Antonyms

1.0

A large amount that is more than needed

91 3.3

A large amount of something, more than you need

Compounds

1 7.9

A very small feeling that something may not be true

7.6

A tiny bit of hope

8.4

A very small feeling of being sorry

How Much

much
1 1.0
some
1.0
scintilla
  • Formal
7 9.9
trace
492 3.3
speck
66 1.3

Surface Forms

scintilla singular
scintillas plural
scintillae plural

Etymology

The word scintilla comes from the Latin scintilla, which means 'spark', so think of a tiny spark you can hardly see. That's why scintilla means a very small amount or bit of something.