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

He told BBC News NI those who don't believe him "can believe whatever they like" but there was no "scintilla of evidence" that he had any "hand, act or part in it".

From BBC • Sep. 12, 2023

“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