a little
To some degree
A little functions as an adverb or noun phrase indicating a small amount or degree.
As an adverb, it softens verbs and adjectives: I'm a little tired, Could you move a little to the left?
As a noun phrase, it refers to a small quantity: A little goes a long way.
The phrase often serves as a polite minimizer, making requests or criticisms seem less demanding: Could I borrow a little sugar?
It can also express understatement, where "a little upset" might mean quite upset indeed.
Small in number
- scantyInsufficient in amount
- meagerDeficient in quantity
- scantBarely adequate amount
- sparseThinly scattered or distributed
limited · scarce · handful · paltry · minimal · insufficient · bit · touch
Extremely small in size
- petiteSmall and delicate
- miniatureReduced-scale representation
- minusculeExtremely small in size
- weeExtremely small
pint-sized · dinky · teensy · bitty · elfin · pocket-sized · compact · small-scale
To a moderate extent
- faintlyIn a weak manner
- mildlyIn a gentle way
- marginallyTo a minor extent
- negligiblyTo a trifling extent
barely · scarcely · hardly · just · subtly · vaguely · dimly · weakly
Moderately or equitably
- reasonablyTo a sensible degree
- moderatelyTo a limited degree
- relativelyIn proportion to another
- comparativelyBy relative measure
passably · tolerably · adequately · decently · respectably · kind of · sort of · to some extent
For a very short time
- brieflyIn few words
- shortlyIn little time
- temporarilyFor a limited time
- fleetinglyFor a very short time
quickly · soon · presently · in a moment · for a while · not long
few
Small in number
sparse · limited · scarce · handful · paltry · minimal · insufficient · bit · touch · dash
tiny
Extremely small in size
wee · pint-sized · dinky · teensy · bitty · elfin · pocket-sized · compact · small-scale · bite-sized
somewhat
To a moderate extent
- faintlyIn a weak manner
- mildlyIn a gentle way
- marginallyTo a minor extent
negligibly · barely · scarcely · hardly · just · subtly · vaguely · dimly · weakly · thinly
fairly
Moderately or equitably
- reasonablyTo a sensible degree
- moderatelyTo a limited degree
- relativelyIn proportion to another
comparatively · passably · tolerably · adequately · decently · respectably · kind of · sort of · to some extent · in part
momentarily
For a very short time
- brieflyIn few words
- shortlyIn little time
- temporarilyFor a limited time
fleetingly · quickly · soon · presently · in a moment · for a while · not long
little, slight, slightly, belittle, littlest, littler, belittling, belittlement, littleness