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Paltriest: meaning, definitions and examples

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paltriest

 

[ ˈpɔːltriːɛst ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

degree of quality

The term 'paltriest' is the superlative form of 'paltry', meaning the least significant or most trivial. It is often used to describe something that is meager, inadequate, or of little value. In this context, 'paltriest' emphasizes the extreme lack of worth or importance in comparison to other things. This word can be applied to various aspects such as effort, achievements, or even items that are deemed unworthy. It's used primarily to express a strong sense of disparagement.

Synonyms

inconsequential, insignificant, meager, petty, trivial

Examples of usage

  • He received the paltriest amount of praise for his work.
  • The donation was the paltriest contribution they could make.
  • Her excuses were the paltriest I've ever heard.
  • They offered the paltriest resources for such a large project.

Translations

Translations of the word "paltriest" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mais insignificante

🇮🇳 सबसे तुच्छ

🇩🇪 miserabelster

🇮🇩 paling tidak berarti

🇺🇦 найбідніший

🇵🇱 najbardziej żałosny

🇯🇵 最も卑しい

🇫🇷 le plus pathétique

🇪🇸 el más miserable

🇹🇷 en zavallı

🇰🇷 가장 하찮은

🇸🇦 الأكثر بؤسًا

🇨🇿 nejnepatrnější

🇸🇰 najmenší

🇨🇳 最无用的

🇸🇮 najbolj nezadostno

🇮🇸 sveinlegur

🇰🇿 ең кедей

🇬🇪 ყველაზე სუსტი

🇦🇿 ən fəqət

🇲🇽 el más miserable

Etymology

The word 'paltry' originated in the late 14th century from the Middle English word 'paltrie', which meant 'trivial or worthless', and is believed to have possible connections to the Old French word 'palto', meaning 'a small thing'. The diminutive suffix ‘-y’ was added to endow the term with a qualitative sense of being small or insignificant. Over time, the form 'paltriest' evolved as the superlative of 'paltry'. This usage emphasizes the concept of something being the least important or least significant. Additionally, it reflects societal changes where assessments of worth or value have begun to reflect personal or collective attitudes towards various aspects of life. The evolution showcases a consistent disdain for anything deemed as insufficiently substantial in contexts ranging from personal accomplishments to societal contributions.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #42,401, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.