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

• 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

Summer dresses tend to come with skimpy straps or low-plunging necklines. —Bianca Lambert, Glamour, 24 June 2025

Hooters bankruptcy Hooters of America is known for its beer, chicken wings and waitresses who wear skimpy outfits. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2025

Because many summer dresses come with skimpy straps or too-short hemlines, they’re best reserved for weekends and travel. —Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 9 June 2025

The women were all young, many teenagers, mostly African American, and had been arrested in skimpy clothing late at night in the cold. —Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2025

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