Paltry Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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Accepted Answer

Word	Description / Examples
paltry	Describes something that is ridiculously or insultingly small in amount, often with a negative connotation. The company offered a paltry raise of just 2% this year His efforts were considered paltry compared to what was needed
meager	Describes something that is very small in quantity or quality, often used to highlight scarcity. They survived on a meager diet during the hard times Her salary was meager compared to the industry standard
scanty	Indicates that something is barely adequate or lacking in quantity, often with a negative implication of scarcity. The information provided was scanty and poorly researched The rations were scanty, barely enough to keep them going
insufficient	Refers to something that does not meet the necessary amount, often neutral but can imply a shortfall. The food supply was insufficient to feed all the guests His qualifications were deemed insufficient for the job
inadequate	Used when something is not enough for the intended purpose, often with a focus on insufficiency for meeting standards or requirements. The funding for the project was inadequate and couldn't cover all expenses His explanation was inadequate to clarify the situation
minimal	Used to describe the smallest possible amount or degree, often neutral or positive when talking about keeping something to a low level. She put in minimal effort and still succeeded The damage to the house was minimal after the storm

Definition