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Little vs. Small

Little

/ˈlɪtl/

Small in size, amount, or degree; not much

Examples:

It wants constant attention in the littlest things.It terrified her not a little."A little over a year."

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Small

/smɔːl/

Having little size or dimension; not large.

Examples:

They live in a small town.It's sleeker and smaller.Every smallest part of each tooth was burnt into my mind.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

Little often implies a sense of endearment or affection, while small is more neutral and factual.
Little is frequently used to describe size with a more emotional or subjective tone, whereas small is used more for objective measurements.
Both words can describe size, but little can also suggest something young or insignificant, whereas small does not carry these connotations.
When thinking of little, imagine children's books referring to characters or creatures, emphasizing a cute or tender image.
Use small in more formal or technical contexts where precision is important.

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