dwarfish

[ dwawr-fish ]

adjective

1. like a dwarf, especially in being abnormally small; diminutive.

   Synonyms: runty, stunted, tiny, pygmy

Other Words From

• dwarfish·ly adverb
• dwarfish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dwarfish¹

First recorded in 1555–65; dwarf + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

While browsing a Beverly Hills record store he was approached by a “weird dwarfish man with huge eyeglasses”.

From The Daily Beast

Dialect is the elf rather than the genius of place, and a dwarfish master of the magic of local things.

From Project Gutenberg

These men are described as small and dwarfish in appearance and as possessing Eskimo characteristics.

From Project Gutenberg

And the foremost of the troop, a thick dwarfish man with a huge two-handed sword, stood aside.

From Project Gutenberg

A quaint dwarfish figure, crippled but full of vigour, stumped up to the platform.

From Project Gutenberg

Besides the extraordinary great in every species, the opposite to this, the dwarfish and diminutive, ought to be considered.

From Project Gutenberg