Diminutive
adjective
Smaller than usual or average.
The diminutive bird barely covered the palm of my hand.
Often appears as...
- diminutive size
- diminutive stature
noun
A word or suffix that indicates a small size or youth.
In Spanish, '-ito' is a common diminutive.
Often appears as...
- diminutive form
- diminutive suffix
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Used to express affection or to belittle someone or something.
She used a diminutive name to refer to her son.
Often appears as...
- diminutive nickname
- diminutive term
adjective
Smaller than usual or average.
The diminutive bird barely covered the palm of my hand.
Often appears as...
- diminutive size
- diminutive stature
noun
A word or suffix that indicates a small size or youth.
In Spanish, '-ito' is a common diminutive.
Often appears as...
- diminutive form
- diminutive suffix
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Used to express affection or to belittle someone or something.
She used a diminutive name to refer to her son.
Often appears as...
- diminutive nickname
- diminutive term
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Smallness
Refers to something physically small and often implies cuteness or charm.
The diminutive charm hung delicately from her bracelet.
Pro Tip 2/3Not for Emphasis
Does not emphasize an object's size but refers to it actually being small.
The diminutive cottage looked like a child's playhouse.
Pro Tip 3/3Comparative Size
Often used when comparing similar items where one is noticeably smaller.
He chose the diminutive cupcake among the regular-sized ones.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Smallness
Refers to something physically small and often implies cuteness or charm.
The diminutive charm hung delicately from her bracelet.
Pro Tip 2/3Not for Emphasis
Does not emphasize an object's size but refers to it actually being small.
The diminutive cottage looked like a child's playhouse.
Pro Tip 3/3Comparative Size
Often used when comparing similar items where one is noticeably smaller.
He chose the diminutive cupcake among the regular-sized ones.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Smallness
Refers to something physically small and often implies cuteness or charm.
The diminutive charm hung delicately from her bracelet.
Pro Tip 2/3Not for Emphasis
Does not emphasize an object's size but refers to it actually being small.
The diminutive cottage looked like a child's playhouse.
Pro Tip 3/3Comparative Size
Often used when comparing similar items where one is noticeably smaller.
He chose the diminutive cupcake among the regular-sized ones.
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Video examples
Are athletes really...
Had Leonardo wanted to draw the Vitruvian NBA Player, he would have needed a rectangle and an ellipse, not a circle and a square. So in sports where large size is prized, the large athletes have gotten larger. Conversely, in sports where diminutive stature is an advantage, the small athletes got smaller. The average elite female gymnast
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 218 PIPE...
who's sort of trying to eat from some fresh flush it has just come on the second of spring yes is he's very upset you can see didn't feature in the map and so now he is offended deeply so once we have had a good look at these elephants we will probably introduce you to a new character very diminutive
Video examples
Who are you, really? The...
Extroverts, when they interact, want to have lots of social encounter punctuated by closeness. They'd like to stand close for comfortable communication. They like to have a lot of eye contact, or mutual gaze. We found in some research that they use more diminutive terms when they meet somebody.
Video examples
Mysteries of vernacular:...
the prominence of certain portions of text was to set them off with large, ornate, and colorful capital letters, often surrounded by tiny, detailed paintings. The Italians began to refer to these elaborate and diminutive paintings
Video examples
The Secret World of...
size matters in this world so even the nips of the largest dragonflies need look to survive the first few months of their lives when the diminutive saw is exposes them to predation by larger nymphs
Video examples
King Cobra vs. Saltwater...
they are the longest venomous snakes in the world king cobras though they may grow to be 18 feet in length these babies are a mere 15 inches long despite their diminutive size they
Video examples
The Last Untouched Land...
were stripped of this black gold for fertilizer boss talks diminutive size protected it from guano mining this is what people destroy his Island for ya really incredible
Video examples
Stop defining yourself...
from the idea of limitation if we're able to let go of the idea of the body as the self if we're able to let go of any diminutive Conscription as a
Video examples
Amazing Clownfish...
her white face marks her out as the boss the diminutive male has to prove his worth so he works tirelessly
Video examples
The Sex-Shifting Fish PIPE...
much larger than the diminutive female and he is ready to breed he attempts to mate with her and with
Video examples
Are athletes really...
Had Leonardo wanted to draw the Vitruvian NBA Player, he would have needed a rectangle and an ellipse, not a circle and a square. So in sports where large size is prized, the large athletes have gotten larger. Conversely, in sports where diminutive stature is an advantage, the small athletes got smaller. The average elite female gymnast
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 218 PIPE...
who's sort of trying to eat from some fresh flush it has just come on the second of spring yes is he's very upset you can see didn't feature in the map and so now he is offended deeply so once we have had a good look at these elephants we will probably introduce you to a new character very diminutive
Video examples
Who are you, really? The...
Extroverts, when they interact, want to have lots of social encounter punctuated by closeness. They'd like to stand close for comfortable communication. They like to have a lot of eye contact, or mutual gaze. We found in some research that they use more diminutive terms when they meet somebody.
Video examples
Mysteries of vernacular:...
the prominence of certain portions of text was to set them off with large, ornate, and colorful capital letters, often surrounded by tiny, detailed paintings. The Italians began to refer to these elaborate and diminutive paintings
Video examples
The Secret World of...
size matters in this world so even the nips of the largest dragonflies need look to survive the first few months of their lives when the diminutive saw is exposes them to predation by larger nymphs
Video examples
King Cobra vs. Saltwater...
they are the longest venomous snakes in the world king cobras though they may grow to be 18 feet in length these babies are a mere 15 inches long despite their diminutive size they
Video examples
The Last Untouched Land...
were stripped of this black gold for fertilizer boss talks diminutive size protected it from guano mining this is what people destroy his Island for ya really incredible
Video examples
Stop defining yourself...
from the idea of limitation if we're able to let go of the idea of the body as the self if we're able to let go of any diminutive Conscription as a
Video examples
Amazing Clownfish...
her white face marks her out as the boss the diminutive male has to prove his worth so he works tirelessly
Video examples
The Sex-Shifting Fish PIPE...
much larger than the diminutive female and he is ready to breed he attempts to mate with her and with
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Alan Stern
American Scientist
It's interesting - Pluto's almost a brand unto itself. It's the farthest. It's the most diminutive of the classical planets. It's been maligned by astronomers. It's always the one with all the question marks in the back of the textbook in the table. I think children identify with it because it's smaller, kind of cute.
Quote examples
Eric Bischoff
American Businessman
When I created the Cruiserweight division in WCW, nobody called them cruiserweights in the industry at that point. That was a boxing term, not a wrestling term, but I did not want to call them junior heavyweights, light heavyweights, or anything that made them sound diminutive. I wanted it to sound special and cool.
Quote examples
Isabella Bird
English Explorer
The Japanese look most diminutive in European dress. Each garment is a misfit and exaggerates the miserable physique and the national defects of concave chests and bow legs. The lack of 'complexion' and of hair upon the face makes it nearly impossible to judge of the ages of men.
Quote examples
Saira Banu
Indian Actress
Producer Ram Mukherjee was making 'Hum Hindustani' and he wanted to cast me opposite Sunil Dutt. But it was decided that I would look diminutive before him and the character too was such that she portrays herself to be opposite of what she is.
Quote examples
Ryan Murphy
American Writer
Joan Crawford and Bette Davis are larger than life. They just are. They sucked all the oxygen out of a room: they're icons; they loom large in our imaginations. But the truth of the matter is both women were diminutive.
Quote examples
Elizabeth Marvel
American Actress
In some ways, I missed my era because I'm big and messy and have big feelings and take up space on a stage rather than being diminutive and childlike in my woman-ness.
Quote examples
Patrick Cox
Canadian Designer
Rock stars love Cuban heels because a lot of them tend to be diminutive. And I've never met a man who doesn't mind having an extra inch or two anywhere on his body.
Quote examples
Sandi Toksvig
British Writer
I am always slightly mystified by the whole 'Snow White' story. What are the chances of coming across that many diminutive men living in one house in the woods?
Quote examples
Hoda Kotb
American Journalist
When you're a big girl like me, you want someone who makes you feel diminutive. I think fat guys are sexy.
Quote examples
Garry Trudeau
American Cartoonist
Because I was a diminutive, arty kid, I felt like a misfit in high school - but who doesn't?
Quote examples
Alan Stern
American Scientist
It's interesting - Pluto's almost a brand unto itself. It's the farthest. It's the most diminutive of the classical planets. It's been maligned by astronomers. It's always the one with all the question marks in the back of the textbook in the table. I think children identify with it because it's smaller, kind of cute.
Quote examples
Eric Bischoff
American Businessman
When I created the Cruiserweight division in WCW, nobody called them cruiserweights in the industry at that point. That was a boxing term, not a wrestling term, but I did not want to call them junior heavyweights, light heavyweights, or anything that made them sound diminutive. I wanted it to sound special and cool.
Quote examples
Isabella Bird
English Explorer
The Japanese look most diminutive in European dress. Each garment is a misfit and exaggerates the miserable physique and the national defects of concave chests and bow legs. The lack of 'complexion' and of hair upon the face makes it nearly impossible to judge of the ages of men.
Quote examples
Saira Banu
Indian Actress
Producer Ram Mukherjee was making 'Hum Hindustani' and he wanted to cast me opposite Sunil Dutt. But it was decided that I would look diminutive before him and the character too was such that she portrays herself to be opposite of what she is.
Quote examples
Ryan Murphy
American Writer
Joan Crawford and Bette Davis are larger than life. They just are. They sucked all the oxygen out of a room: they're icons; they loom large in our imaginations. But the truth of the matter is both women were diminutive.
Quote examples
Elizabeth Marvel
American Actress
In some ways, I missed my era because I'm big and messy and have big feelings and take up space on a stage rather than being diminutive and childlike in my woman-ness.
Quote examples
Patrick Cox
Canadian Designer
Rock stars love Cuban heels because a lot of them tend to be diminutive. And I've never met a man who doesn't mind having an extra inch or two anywhere on his body.
Quote examples
Sandi Toksvig
British Writer
I am always slightly mystified by the whole 'Snow White' story. What are the chances of coming across that many diminutive men living in one house in the woods?
Quote examples
Hoda Kotb
American Journalist
When you're a big girl like me, you want someone who makes you feel diminutive. I think fat guys are sexy.
Quote examples
Garry Trudeau
American Cartoonist
Because I was a diminutive, arty kid, I felt like a misfit in high school - but who doesn't?
Example 1 of 10
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