measly

adjective mea·sly \ ˈmēz-lē , ˈmē-zə- \

Definition of measly

measlier; measliest

1 : infected with measles

2 a : containing larval tapeworms

b : infested with trichinae

3 : contemptibly small

See measly defined for English-language learners

See measly defined for kids

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 of measly from the Web

Buffalo’s 34-14 win over the Raiders came two days after Dareus was dealt to Jacksonville for a measly sixth-round pick that can become a fifth-rounder.

— albert breer, SI.com, "Four Downs: How the Cowboys Will Cope Without Ezekiel Elliott; Why Dolphins Dealt Jay Ajayi," 2 Nov. 2017
For comparison’s sake, when Cook’s Illustrated did a taste test of supermarket bacon, the thickest strips clocked in at a measly ⅕ inch.

— rachel tepper paley, Bon Appetit, "Bless This Beautiful Peter Luger's Bacon, the Thickest in the Land," 24 Aug. 2017
The measly total of just seven points in the first quarter this season runs counter to claiming early leads.

— tom krasovic, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Vegas sharps: Chargers lost home edge they had in SD," 18 Oct. 2017
Several years ago, there were some concerns about Google's profitability, as attention shifted to mobile devices, where ads are puny, annoying, and a more measly source of revenue on a cost-per-click basis.

— derek thompson, The Atlantic, "Google Cannot Be Stopped," 27 Oct. 2017
Yeah, Justin Verlander, that Houston Astros pitcher who makes an entire household income by throwing a dozen or so measly baseballs, is also married to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model and ride-or-die baseball champion Kate Upton.

— aj willingham, CNN, "Your complete guide to the 2017 MLB World Series," 24 Oct. 2017
This day-in-the-life movie follows a Chinese deliveryman on his frantic struggle to scrounge up the funds — through loans and measly tips — to pay off the smugglers who brought him to the United States.

— monica castillo, New York Times, "Hollywood’s Diversity Problem and Undocumented Immigrants," 20 Oct. 2017
Rookie seventh rounder Chris Carson has ran hard and looked pretty good (4.5 yards per carry), but there just hasn’t been any room, hence the measly 37 attempts.

— scott horner, Indianapolis Star, "Can the Colts beat the Seahawks? Can they cover?," 28 Sep. 2017
Three measly points are all Jay Heaps's side have been able to muster outside the friendly confines of Gillette Stadium, where the club is 10-2-2.

— avi creditor, SI.com, "The MLS XI, Week 28: Atlanta is Soccer Central; Toronto Showcases Its Depth," 18 Sep. 2017

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.