adjective

minuscule

/ˈmɪnəskjuːl/ · say it: MIN·uh·skyool

extremely small

In Describing & Comparing

In more detail

1. (adjective) extremely small in size

2. (adjective) of little importance or value; trivial

Examples

1. The text was so minuscule that I needed a magnifying glass to read it.
2. The differences between the two products are minuscule.

How to use minuscule

Minuscule is used to describe something extremely small in physical size or very trivial in importance. It is stronger and more emphatic than 'small' and often conveys a sense of insignificance or near-imperceptibility. The word carries a slightly more formal tone than casual synonyms like 'tiny' and is common in both technical and general contexts.

Common phrases

minuscule amount
minuscule detail
minuscule fraction
absolutely minuscule
minuscule size

Synonyms

tiny · minute · microscopic · insignificant · negligible

Opposites

enormous · huge · significant

Word family

minuscule (adjective) · minuscule (noun - historical writing style)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes misspell it as 'miniscule' by analogy with the prefix 'mini-', but the correct spelling is 'minuscule' (from Latin minusculus).

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