mniejszym

Mniejszym is the instrumental singular form of the Polish adjective mniejszy, which means smaller or lesser. It is used when the adjective governs a noun in the instrumental case, often after prepositions such as z (with) or przy (with/from a perspective of), to express manner, measure, or comparison within a phrase.

Morphology and usage: Polish adjectives decline by gender, number, and case. The instrumental singular form mniejszym is used for masculine personal and neuter nouns, while the feminine instrumental singular is mniejszą. plural instrumental is mniejszymi for all genders. For example: z mniejszym ryzykiem (with less risk), przy mniejszym zużyciu energii (with lower energy consumption), or przy mniejszym koszcie (with a smaller cost).

Meaning and nuance: mniejszym functions as part of a comparative sense derived from mniejszy, which is the comparative form of mały, meaning small. It conveys that something is of a smaller size, amount, degree, or intensity relative to another reference point. In many contexts, it is used in formal or written language, including technical, economic, or statistical descriptions.

Common contexts: It appears in phrases describing reductions, efficiencies, or constraints, such as z mniejszymi kosztami, z mniejszym zużyciem zasobów, or przy mniejszym wpływie na środowisko. It can also appear in legal or policy language to specify conditions that involve smaller scales or lower levels.

Related forms: The positive form is mniejszy (smaller); the feminine instrumental is mniejszą; the plural instrumental is mniejszymi. Other related words include większy (bigger) and najmniejszy (smallest), which provide a broader range of comparative and superlative expressions.