1
as in pitiful
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
a paltry, underhanded scheme to get someone fired
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2
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
the hotel's shabby, outdated exercise room was its paltry attempt at a health spa
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3
as in vile
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
just some paltry ruse to bilk the system
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4
as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
wanted me to sell him my old records for a paltry sum
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of paltry
When the dust settled on this three-game stretch, Antetokounmpo had converted just 27 of 49 attempts within five feet—a paltry 55.1 percent.
—
Brian Sampson, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
Daboll is a great leader but has guided the Giants to a paltry 18-31-1 record in three seasons.
—James Brizuela, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025
Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims the company slashed shipments mere months after the headset launched, from between roughly 700,000 and 800,000 units to between 400,000 and 450,000—paltry for a new Apple product.
—Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2024
Typically, retailer trade-in valuations are poor in comparison to the huge figures that manufacturers are happy to pay, with Amazon’s valuations particularly paltry.
—Janhoi McGregor, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paltry 
Brian Sampson, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
Daboll is a great leader but has guided the Giants to a paltry 18-31-1 record in three seasons.
—James Brizuela, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025
Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims the company slashed shipments mere months after the headset launched, from between roughly 700,000 and 800,000 units to between 400,000 and 450,000—paltry for a new Apple product.
—Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2024
Typically, retailer trade-in valuations are poor in comparison to the huge figures that manufacturers are happy to pay, with Amazon’s valuations particularly paltry.
—Janhoi McGregor, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paltry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paltry
Adjective
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This isn’t to say Orlok isn’t evil, but that his evilness does not exclude him from being pitiful.—
Alex Abad-Santos,
Vox,
10 Jan. 2025
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Perhaps this weekend can be a get-right game against the pitiful New York Jets, but there’s not much to be excited about.—
Fox News Staff,
Fox News,
13 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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In this team, calling in sick for shady reasons is unacceptable.—
Lieke ten Brummelhuis,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Greenwashing and intentional misinformation are unacceptable, but silence from the best actors is an even bigger risk.—
Jesper Brodin,
TIME,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Alexander Basara and his fiancée, Ally Keller, attended Sunday’s game in Philadelphia, but their experience supporting their team was soured when an Eagles fan, identified as Ryan Caldwell, lashed out at Keller and Basara in a vile tirade.—
Paulina Dedaj,
Fox News,
17 Jan. 2025
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The vile act prompted Hodges to snatch a plastic bottle and hurl it at the suspect, who dodged the drink and then drew a knife, the deli worker said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Ever since, however, TCU has started three wings alongside Van Lith and Sedona Prince, once again making the fifth-year senior the nominal point guard.—
Sabreena Merchant,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
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The object of their largesse was an obscure nonprofit called the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation which, for the better part of two decades, had quietly helped firefighters by raising funds for equipment — often things as nominal as gloves and flashlights — not covered in the city budget.—
David Wharton,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
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My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.—
Tim Neville,
Outside Online,
23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
-
Understand that poor sleep hygiene can negatively impact the quantity and quality of sleep.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
24 Jan. 2025
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The Texans’ offensive line was mostly poor this season, unable to consistently protect Stroud.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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First Lady Nancy Reagan was upset, thinking her husband was being too nasty.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2025
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The fight has been particularly nasty, with both sides trading harsh accusations against the other.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune Asia,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The snow started falling Sunday afternoon, with a slight mix of hail.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
19 Jan. 2025
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That slight warming trend is expected to continue Friday, when high temperatures reach the upper 30s, with lows in the upper teens.—
Matt Hubbard,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near paltry
Cite this Entry
“Paltry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paltry. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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