dwarf

8 synonyms and 1 antonym for dwarf, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A person, animal, or plant much smaller than typical for its kind.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

shadow

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

stunt midget

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

gnome runt overshadow tower over nanus

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A person, animal, or plant much smaller than typical for its kind.

“The greenhouse specialised in dwarf fruit trees.”

gnome runt stunt overshadow tower over midget nanus

Opposites

giant

2. noun

In folklore, a small humanlike being often skilled in crafting and mining.

“In the story, a dwarf forged the hero's sword.”

Opposites

giant

3. verb

To make something appear much smaller by comparison.

“The new skyscraper dwarfs every other building in the city.”

overshadow shadow

How to use dwarf

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

dwarf star dwarf tree dwarf someone/something (make it look small)

Etymology

From Old English dweorg, going back to a very old Germanic word for a small, sometimes magical, being.

Full origin of dwarf →

Frequently asked questions

What does “dwarf” mean?

The word “dwarf” means a person, animal, or plant much smaller than typical for its kind. In plain terms, something much smaller than usual, a mythical small being, or (as a verb) to make something look tiny by comparison.

How do you pronounce “dwarf”?

“Dwarf” is pronounced dwawf (/dwɔɹf/ in IPA).

How do you use “dwarf” in a sentence?

Here is “dwarf” used in a sentence: “The greenhouse specialised in dwarf fruit trees.”

What part of speech is “dwarf”?

Depending on how it is used, “dwarf” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “dwarf” come from?

The word “dwarf” comes from Old English. From Old English dweorg, going back to a very old Germanic word for a small, sometimes magical, being.

Is “dwarf” a common word?

“Dwarf” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “dwarf” have?

“Dwarf” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person, animal, or plant much smaller than typical for its kind.

What is the difference between a dwarf and a midget?

Dwarf is the standard, accepted term for a person with dwarfism, a medical condition resulting in unusually short stature. Midget is now widely considered offensive and outdated, and has fallen out of respectful use.

Is dwarf or dwarves the correct plural?

Both dwarfs and dwarves are used, but they tend to split by context: dwarfs is more common in scientific and everyday usage, such as describing celestial bodies or garden plants. Dwarves became popular through fantasy fiction, particularly J.R.R. Tolkien's work, and is now the standard plural for the folklore beings.

How is dwarf used as a verb?

As a verb, dwarf means to make something look much smaller by comparison, as in 'the skyscraper dwarfs the houses around it.' It is commonly used figuratively to describe one thing being overshadowed in size, scale, or importance by another.

People also searched

giant shadow stunt midget gnome overshadow runt

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of dwarf