measly

adjective

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mea·sly | \ ˈmēz-lē

, ˈmē-zə- \

measlier; measliest

Definition of measly

1 : infected with measles

2a : containing larval tapeworms

b : infested with trichinae

3 : contemptibly small

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about measly

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Examples of measly in a Sentence

She complained about being given such a measly raise. All I want is a few measly minutes of your time.

Recent Examples on the Web About 20 years ago, the government paid an average 6.6 percent on its measly $3.4 trillion of debt. — Michael Taylor, San Antonio Express-News, "Taylor: How much national debt is too much?," 10 Feb. 2021 After the initial $1,200 checks went out in April, most Americans did not see any more money from the government until the measly $600 checks went out last month. — Photo: Jessica Mcgowan/getty Images., refinery29.com, "The Senate Is Now Blue. How Soon Can We Get That $2,000 Stimulus Payment?," 6 Jan. 2021 This phone sports a longer-lasting battery, fingerprint ID on the touchscreen, but a measly 32 GBs of storage, which won't last very long. — Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY, "Consumer guide: 15 Samsung Galaxy smartphones, priced from $99 to $1,999," 11 Dec. 2020 Toledo's shot quality decreased dramatically during the first half, and the Rockets entered halftime averaging a measly 0.70 points per possession while shooting just 28.3% from the field. — Orion Sang, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan basketball blows out Toledo, 91-71, in nonconference finale, lose Austin Davis," 10 Dec. 2020 Ezekiel Elliott, who finished the game with a measly 32 yards rushing, lost a fumble 43 seconds into the third quarter to put Washington in position for a cheap touchdown. — David Moore, Dallas News, "The Cowboys just squandered their only chance to make the playoffs in a well-deserved loss," 26 Nov. 2020 What's more, the interior of the Dyson Sphere could, in theory, provide far more habitable real estate than a measly planet. — Adam Hadhazy, Popular Mechanics, "Could We Build a Dyson Sphere?," 30 Oct. 2020 What's more, the interior of the Dyson Sphere could, in theory, provide far more habitable real estate than a measly planet. — Adam Hadhazy, Popular Mechanics, "Could We Build a Dyson Sphere?," 30 Oct. 2020 The Spartans ran for just 50 yards on 39 carries, a measly average of 1.3 per carry. — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan State football moves past Rutgers, steps into intensity of Michigan week," 28 Oct. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'measly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.