Definition of paltry
paltrier
;paltriest
1 : inferior, trashy built paltry houses unfit for occupancy
2 : mean, despicable a paltry trick
3 : trivial a paltry excuse they in their greatness don't have to bother with such paltry restrictions — Vanessa Feltz
4 : meager, measly made a paltry donation Sales have increased by a paltry two percent.
paltriness
nounExplore Merriam-Webster
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Examples of paltry in a Sentence
a paltry, underhanded scheme to get someone fired
the hotel's shabby, outdated exercise room was its paltry attempt at a health spa
Did You Know?
Before "paltry" was an adjective, it was a noun meaning "trash." That now obsolete noun in turn came from "palt" or "pelt," dialect terms meaning "a piece of coarse cloth," or broadly, "trash." The adjective "paltry" first meant "trashy," but currently has a number of senses, all generally meaning "no good." A "paltry house" might be run-down and unfit for occupancy; a "paltry trick" is a trick that is low-down and dirty; a "paltry excuse" is a trivial one; and a "paltry sum" is small and insufficient.
Origin and Etymology of paltry
obsolete paltry trash, from dialect palt, pelt piece of coarse cloth, trash; akin to Middle Low German palte rag
First Known Use: 1565
PALTRY Defined for English Language Learners
paltry
playDefinition of paltry for English Language Learners
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: very small or too small in amount
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: having little meaning, importance, or worth
PALTRY Defined for Kids
paltry
playDefinition of paltry for Students
paltrier
;paltriest
: of little amount, value, or importance “I will not be exchanged for such a trifle. My mere weight? A paltry treasure you could carry on a shoulder?” — Sid Fleischman, The Whipping Boy
Learn More about paltry
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for paltry Spanish Central: Translation of paltry Nglish: Translation of paltry for Spanish speakers
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