beggarly

adjective

beg·​gar·​ly ˈbe-gər-lē How to pronounce beggarly (audio)
1
: contemptibly mean, scant, petty, or paltry
2
: befitting or resembling a beggar
especially : marked by extreme poverty
beggarliness noun

Examples of beggarly in a Sentence

She received a beggarly sum for her efforts. the dictator and his inner circle lived in unconscionable luxury while the beggarly masses eked out a pitiful existence
Recent Examples on the Web The aerial railway carried its last rider in 1937, and the fare was a beggarly two Depression-era dollars. Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beggarly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beggarly was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near beggarly

Cite this Entry

“Beggarly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beggarly. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

beggarly

adjective
beg·​gar·​ly ˈbeg-ər-lē How to pronounce beggarly (audio)
: measly
beggarliness noun
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