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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
View all antonyms for molehill

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 kingsnake
mole snake
molecule
molehill
mollusk
molly
mologa

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 Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/molehill
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