molehill

noun

mole·​hill ˈmōl-ˌhil How to pronounce molehill (audio)
: a little mound or ridge of earth pushed up by a mole

Examples of molehill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Creatively speaking, isn’t this making a Matterhorn out of a molehill? Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2024 From my perspective, this mountain which should’ve stayed a molehill is a perfect encapsulation of why accessibility, and other disability matters in the technology industry, deserves so much more eyeballs in journalism. Steven Aquino, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 In 2015, more than 4,000 bronze and silver coins from around the end of the third century C.E. were found in a molehill. Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 May 2022 It is played in the 72,000-seat, roofed home of the Houston Texans that makes the adjacent Astrodome, once the world’s tallest domed sports venue, look like a molehill. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2023 The counterargument is that a molehill can soon enough become a mountain. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 5 July 2022 The one run scored earlier appeared to be more than enough for Detroit, a molehill in the shape of a mountain the Orioles were incapable of climbing, until Trey Mancini’s solo homer in the ninth inning of the 5-1 loss. Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 15 May 2022 But Congress didn’t hide Mount Everest in a molehill. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 29 Apr. 2022 In short, the appeals court told the lawyer to pick the correct remedy and to not make a mountain out of a molehill. Jack Greiner, The Enquirer, 12 Apr. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'molehill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of molehill was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near molehill

Cite this Entry

“Molehill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molehill. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

molehill

noun
mole·​hill ˈmōl-ˌhil How to pronounce molehill (audio)
1
: a small mound or ridge of earth pushed up by a burrowing mole
2
: an unimportant obstacle or difficulty
made a mountain out of a molehill

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