skimpy

adjective

ˈskim-pē 

skimpier; skimpiest

: deficient in supply or execution especially through skimping : scanty

skimpily

ˈskim-pə-lē 

adverb

skimpiness

ˈskim-pē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• exiguous
• hand-to-mouth
• light
• meager
• meagre
• niggardly
• poor
• scant
• scanty
• scarce
• skimp
• slender
• slim
• spare
• sparing
• sparse
• stingy

Choose the Right Synonym for skimpy

meager, scanty, scant, skimpy, spare, sparse mean falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable.

meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

Examples of skimpy in a Sentence

the information in the user's manual for the microwave is skimpy and not particularly helpful

Recent Examples on the Web

Perry then gets tossed from her moving automotive dance platform, falling into the arms of her hunky love interest, clad in nothing but skimpy white underwear. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Sep. 2024

But skimpy figures belie its importance as a gathering place for journalists, politicians, academics, and celebrities whose interactions resounded far beyond, according to David Nemer, who specializes in the anthropology of technology at the University of Virginia. —David Biller, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Sep. 2024

The relic opened live bidding at $34,000, and the skimpy outfit eventually achieved five times that as collectors vied for Fisher’s iconic ensemble, the house said. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 29 July 2024

Her skimpy suits gained popularity among her high school friends and acquaintances, and support from influencers including Kylie Jenner and Bella Hadid. —Deborah Belgum, WWD, 14 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

skimpy

adjective

ˈskim-pē 

skimpier; skimpiest

: barely enough : scanty

skimpily

-pə-lē 

adverb

skimpiness

-pē-nəs 

noun