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Definition of molehill

molehill

/ˈmoʊl.hɪl/
mole · hill
Plural:molehills
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molehill Lexical Profile

molehill Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A trivial, insignificant matter or minor obstacle (often contrasted with a mountain).

Example

"By stressing over a single delayed email, he was turning a harmless molehill into a major crisis."

2

A small mound or ridge of earth thrown up by a mole excavating its underground tunnels.

Example

"The gardener was frustrated to find several new molehills scattered across the freshly mowed lawn."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for molehill
Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Most frequently encountered in modern English within the idiom 'make a mountain out of a molehill,' meaning to exaggerate a trivial issue.

• Nearby Words

mole snake
molecular
molecule
molehill
moleskin
molest
molestation

Word Origin & Etymology

Late Middle English, formed as a compound of 'mole' (the burrowing animal) and 'hill'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Molehill. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/molehill
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