Synonyms for measly

Most common

stingy · paltry · trifling · measled

All synonyms

Adjective

Definitions

1. adj. 1

   Small (especially contemptibly small) in amount.

   For one whole day's work all I was given was twenty measly pounds.

Example sentences

• stingy Shylock is greedy, and what is worse, very stingy.
• paltry These shoes cost me the paltry sum of ten euros.
• trifling Their trouble stems from a trifling matter.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters

poor¹

6 letters

meager², stingy², paltry², meagre

7 letters

measled

8 letters

trifling²

9 letters

miserable⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (meager² = 2 syllables).