Pick the common, formal, serious but cute-sounding word "diminutive" when you want to emphasize something's unusual smallness.

You might talk about diminutive things, like animals, cars, toys, or baby clothes (awwww).

Although it's generally fine to talk about diminutive children, especially if you're pointing out how cute they are, I would hesitate before describing an adult as diminutive. Many writers do. But most of them probably stop to think, is there a good reason to point out this person's shortness? Does it add to the richness of description? Am I saying it with kindness? Or humor, and not at their expense? Here's an example from Michelle Obama, where she describes a person as diminutive in a descriptive, respectful way: "Queen Elizabeth II was eighty-two years old then, diminutive and graceful with a delicate smile and her white hair curled regally away from her forehead."

"Black bears, the most diminutive type of bear in North America, are omnivores that prefer wooded habitats."
   — Christine Chung, New York Times, 9 January 2023

"The name's Louis Napoleon. No relation to the diminutive temperamental French emperor, I'm afraid."
   — Daniel José Older, Dactyl Hill Squad, 2018

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If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

study it:

Explain the meaning of "diminutive" without saying "teeny" or "itty-bitty."

try it out:

Fill in the blanks: "In spite of (his, her, its, or their) diminutive (size or stature), (someone or something) (does something impressive)."

Example 1: "In spite of their diminutive size, mustard seeds add a powerful burst of flavor."

Example 2: "In spite of his diminutive stature he has a commanding, captivating presence in the room."
   — Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake, 2003

If you like, use this space to write. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.)

before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game for May is "The Rock & Roll Hall of Game."

It's inspired by a Jeopardy! category called Foodstock.

I'll give you a clue, and you'll try to come up with the tweaked name of a group or solo artist from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

For example, if I give you "They're an American boy band fond of surfing, California, rich vocal harmonies, and helping the Mario Brothers rescue the princess," then you give me "The Peach Boys" (a playful blend of "The Beach Boys" and "Princess Peach" from the Mario games).

Try this one today: These Chicago performers with an elemental name formed in the early 70s and blended rock, jazz, soul, funk, and more, singing about peace, love, and spirituality. These days you'll find them on their PCs playing as Bilbo, lingering in his tranquil home rather than heading out on adventures.

To see the answer, scroll all the way down!

review this word:

1. A near opposite of DIMINUTIVE is

A. AUGMENTED (made large).
B. RELUCTANT (unwilling).
C. PEJORATIVE (insulting).

2. When a character in Traci Chee's The Reader is struck with dizziness and vertigo, he feels _____, "a diminutive _____."

A. small .. speck
B. unreal .. figment
C. immobile .. statue

Answers to the review questions: 1. A 2. A Answer to the game question: Earth, Wind, & Shire. (Also a good answer for when Gandalf stops by: Earth, Wind, & Fireworks.)

a final word:

I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From my blog: On vocabulary...       36 ways to study words.       Why we forget words, & how to remember them.       How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. On writing...       How to improve any sentence.       How to motivate our kids to write.       How to stop procrastinating and start writing.       How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count. From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.