skimpy

adjective

ˈskim-pē 

skimpier; skimpiest

: deficient in supply or execution especially through skimping : scanty

skimpily

ˈskim-pə-lē 

adverb

skimpiness

ˈskim-pē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of skimpy

• sparse
• scarce

Choose the Right Synonym for skimpy

meager, scanty, scant, skimpy, spare, sparse mean falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable.

meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

Examples of skimpy in a Sentence

the information in the user's manual for the microwave is skimpy and not particularly helpful

Recent Examples on the Web

That's skimpy compared with the more robust suite of AI-powered features on the MPG 271QR, and even that monitor’s use of AI is a bit gimmicky. —Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026

Newsweek obtained more photos of barren food trays on the USS Abraham Lincoln holding two eggs and a gloppy scoop of porridge, among other skimpy meals. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026

Margo paints her skin alien blue, dons an orange bouffant wig and skimpy silver ensemble, and names her character Hungry Ghost, reclaiming an allusion from one of Mark’s purple poems. —Judy Berman, Time, 15 Apr. 2026

On Sunday, Kylie shared more photos to Instagram from the weekend, sporting a skimpy sheer lace bra top with a plunging neckline and long sleeves. —Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for skimpy

• wimpy

Kids Definition

skimpy

adjective

ˈskim-pē 

skimpier; skimpiest

: barely enough : scanty

skimpily

-pə-lē 

adverb

skimpiness

-pē-nəs 

noun