dwarf 1 of 3

noun

ˈdwȯrf How to pronounce dwarf (audio)
Definition of dwarfnext
1
as in elf
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers Snow White and the seven dwarfs

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2
as in diminutive
something (such as an animal) much smaller than others of its kind Shetland ponies are the dwarfs of the horse world

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nobody
a person of no importance or influence it would be ridiculous to compare the two sculptors—one's a giant of the art world and the other's a dwarf

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dwarf

2 of 3

verb

as in to halt
to hold back the normal growth of shrubs dwarfed by the lack of water

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dwarf

3 of 3

adjective

as in dwarfish

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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 dwarf
Noun
Winterberry holly ranges between 3 and 15 feet in height and width; for a small yard, select a dwarf cultivar like ‘Little Goblin’. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 13 Aug. 2026 Around the dozens of containers that make Toolik the US’s largest research station in the Arctic, musk ox and caribou graze on dwarf birches and fragrant labrador tea, while Arctic ground squirrels pop out of their burrows to survey the tundra. — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Verb
Starlink alone has doubled the mass of objects in low-Earth orbit, and this orbital data center constellation would dwarf that—and dispose of at least some satellites by pushing them away from Earth. — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026 Paramount has promised to produce 30 movies a year between the two studios, dwarfing the output of any other legacy studio, and to adhere to a longer theatrical window. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Bearss Lime The Bearss lime tree (Citrus × latifolia), also known as Persian or Tahitian lime, is one of the most popular dwarf citrus trees to grow in containers. — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 5 June 2026 Currently cloud calls dwarf local model usage for custom agents simply calculated by adoption. — Amir Husain, Forbes.com, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dwarf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dwarf
  1. elf
  2. diminutive
  3. nobody
  4. halt
  5. fairy
  6. toy
  7. cipher
  8. suppress
Noun
  • Elf Once again, the sphynx was crossed with another breed, this time the American Curl, to create the elf’s distinct look.
    — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Yes, there were moments of humor, such as getting magic potions around the campfire at the end of each stage by whacking helpless little elves, but most of it was played straight, to great effect.
    — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of elf
Noun
  • The more common nickname, El Mencho, is said to be a diminutive of his first name, Nemesio.
    — Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Another gender-neutral name that had a burst of popularity in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Jamie was a go-to for girls or a diminutive of James for boys.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 20 Feb. 2026
Definition of diminutive
Noun
  • In the trailer, the civilians are selling themselves as a new breed of nobodies.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Despite the tragicomic instability and the rotating cast of nobodies temporarily tasked with running the country, when seen in macroeconomic terms, Peru appears to be doing just fine, thank you.
    — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Definition of nobody
Verb
  • Trade groups representing cities, counties and businesses argued the first provision would give tribes power to delay or halt projects, including those that had already been reviewed under the California Environmental Quality Act.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But the index has stayed within 2% of the peak, the pullbacks so far halting a handful of points above what had been the top of the former multi-month range.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of halt
Noun
  • At a party one night, struggling musician Owen strikes a connection with a young woman (Sadie Soverall) that feels downright magical — she’s even dressed as a fairy, emphasizing the dreaminess of the moment.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The song ‘Enchanted’ is about falling in love and that sort of glittery, twinkly fairy lights feeling.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of fairy
Noun
  • Russian drones hit three major distribution centers, destroying depots belonging to a toy store chain and a confectionery company, and damaging another run by an electronics retailer, the companies said.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Cullen’s voice gave a sense of gravitas and importance to what many (adults) at the time considered a half hour toy ad.
    — Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of toy
Noun
  • But in my view, our relationships to animals, whose lives are untouched by the existential woes and artifices of personhood, are the richest and most evident ciphers for our own often inscrutable psyches.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 June 2026
  • Consider a dashboard that shows applications, including keys and libraries; network traffic protocols and ciphers; hardware, such as HSMs and TPMs; and third-party dependencies, including cryptographic or software bills of materials.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Definition of cipher
Verb
  • This isn’t a matter of suppressing your emotions, which research has proven doesn't work.
    — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • In one of the findings, bat houses — artificial roosts in urban environments, similar to nest boxes for birds — were doing their job helping to suppress pests on pecan farms in Texas.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of suppress

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DVDs
dwarf
dwarfed
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Cite this Entry

“Dwarf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dwarf. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dwarf

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dwarf

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