Synonyms

scintilla

American

[sin-til-uh] / sɪnˈtɪl ə /

noun

a minute particle; spark; trace.

not a scintilla of remorse.

scintilla British

/ sɪnˈtɪlə /

noun

a minute amount; hint, trace, or particle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of scintilla

1685–95; < Latin: spark

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Callaghan gives off a scintilla of Matt Damon vibes, but is his own Rudy, keeping his naive idealist free from leading-man tics.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2025

Thomas de la Mare KC, representing Newcastle United, said Sports Direct had not produced a "scintilla of evidence" to show the deal would harm competition and there was "simply no evidence" to substantiate the claim.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2024

“When it comes to police, if there’s a scintilla of doubt they decide not to prosecute,” Morris said.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 11, 2023

There is not a scintilla of evidence supporting the scandalous allegations that the Church harassed the accusers.

From Salon • Jun. 1, 2023

A scintilla of doubt had begun to insinuate itself.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023