a tad

Just ever so

A tad is a small amount—slightly more than nothing: The soup needs a tad more salt.

It works as an adverb meaning slightly or somewhat: He seemed a tad nervous, It's a tad expensive.

The word is informal and understated, often used to soften criticism or make a request seem modest.

degree

slightly

To a minor extent

somewhatTo a moderate extent
barelyOnly just, almost not
scarcelyAlmost not

hardly · marginally · a little · a bit · faintly · mildly · just · minimally · negligibly · imperceptibly

smallamount

bit

Small amount or portion

smidgeVery small quantity
touchPerceiving through physical contact
dashQuick burst or pinch

hint · pinch · little · trace · drop · speck · mite · iota · modicum · whit

understatement

rather

Somewhat, or by preference

quiteTo a notable degree
fairlyModerately or equitably
prettyPleasing in appearance

sort of · kind of · a smidgen · ever so slightly

Categories

tiny amountsbit, drop, hint, dash, dot
hedgessomewhat, I think, slightly, I believe, fairly
Amountsa lot, a few, a little, some, many
Understatementlitotes, meiosis, downplay, minimizing, undersell

Opposites

degree/quantity

To significant degree

enormously · vastly · immensely · hugely · tremendously

Family

tad, tadpole, tadpoles

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G