least
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Least is the superlative of little—the smallest amount, degree, or importance: the least expensive option, That's the least of my worries.
As an adverb, it indicates minimum extent: the least likely outcome.
At least sets a floor or offers consolation: At least no one got hurt.
Not in the least means not at all.
Last but not least introduces a final item while affirming its importance.
Only just, almost not
- scarcelyAlmost not
- hardlyAlmost not at all
- justFair and impartial
- marginallyTo a minor extent
slightly · narrowly · minimally · fractionally · only just · at most · not quite · by a hair
Lacking importance or consequence
- inconsequentialLacking significance or impact
- trivialLacking significance or weight
- triflingOf no real importance
- unimportantLacking significance or weight
petty · nominal · meager · paltry · minute · minuscule · negligible · immaterial
Superlative of inferior
Of reduced magnitude
- lowerReduce or move downward
- fewerSmaller in number
- lighterComparative of not heavy
- shorterComparatively reduced in length
reduced · diminished · not as much · not as many · under · below · beneath
On few occasions
- rarelyNot often occurring
- infrequentlyNot happening often
- uncommonlyTo an unusual degree
- hardly everAlmost not at all
almost never · once in a while · sporadically · occasionally · not often
barely
Only just, almost not
marginally · slightly · narrowly · minimally · fractionally · only just · at most · not quite · by a hair · by a whisker
insignificant
Lacking importance or consequence
- inconsequentialLacking significance or impact
- trivialLacking significance or weight
- triflingOf no real importance
unimportant · petty · nominal · meager · paltry · minute · minuscule · negligible · immaterial · inconsiderable
worst
Superlative of inferior
smaller
Of reduced magnitude
shorter · reduced · diminished · not as much · not as many · under · below · beneath
seldom
On few occasions
- rarelyNot often occurring
- infrequentlyNot happening often
- uncommonlyTo an unusual degree
hardly ever · almost never · once in a while · sporadically · occasionally · not often
- Basic English Wordswho, what, when, where, why
- adverbsquickly, slowly, very, really, now
- comparisoncomparative, contrast, superlative, matching, positive
- extremesbest, worst, biggest, smallest, highest
- superlatives for "barely anyslightest, barest, merest, smallest, tiniest
- quantitiessome, many, few, amount, several
- at leastNo fewer than
- new lease on lifeRenewed vitality and purpose
- to say the leastPhrase signaling understatement
- last but not leastPhrase signaling final item matters
- at the very leastThe absolute minimum
- path of least resistanceCourse requiring least effort
lease, unleash, leased, leasing, leases, leastways, leastwise, least squares