as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
offered her guest only one measly cookie
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Recent Examples of measly
Tesla’s European loss leaders include Norway, where sales dropped an astonishing 93 percent in two years, from 1,108 units in January 2024 to a measly 83 in January of this year.
—
Joe Wilkins Published Feb 18, Futurism, 18 Feb. 2026
The real, or inflation-adjusted, increase was a measly 2% during his term — less than half a percent per year.
—Peter St. Onge, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The answer ultimately lies in the inverted pyramid’s layout, a bright red steak and giant stick of butter prominently featured above a measly sliver of whole grains.
—Tania Fabo, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Not when All-Pro cornerback Quinyon Mitchell’s two interceptions only yielded a field goal in a measly exchange rate that would infuriate any economist.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for measly
Joe Wilkins Published Feb 18, Futurism, 18 Feb. 2026
The real, or inflation-adjusted, increase was a measly 2% during his term — less than half a percent per year.
—Peter St. Onge, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The answer ultimately lies in the inverted pyramid’s layout, a bright red steak and giant stick of butter prominently featured above a measly sliver of whole grains.
—Tania Fabo, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Not when All-Pro cornerback Quinyon Mitchell’s two interceptions only yielded a field goal in a measly exchange rate that would infuriate any economist.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for measly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for measly
Adjective
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The quality adjustment problem does not reside in nominal GDP, which simply asks what was spent, earned, or produced in current dollars, but rather in the deflator applied to convert those nominal figures into real terms.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
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In a recent client note, Thomas argued that real interest rates, or the difference between nominal rates and inflation, were much higher under Greenspan and thus more restrictive then, giving the Fed leeway.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Adjective
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The 37 mm case, integrated bracelet, and dial are crafted in 18-karat gold, with the eight white-gold screws on the bezel providing only the slightest bit of contrast.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
6 June 2026
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Pivoting effortlessly from family man to ruthless felon, Cranston once again puts his acting range on full display, with a nuanced performance that is underscored by the knowledge that the slightest misstep could cost him — and his family — their lives.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
From the train windows, expect to spot the aquamarine waves of Ligurian Sea crashing against the stony coast, candy-colored houses huddled together on the hillsides, tiny wooden boats gliding through village harbors, and flecks of golden-sand beaches.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 June 2026
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Tribby, of Miles City, noted that, absent a court ruling that defines the legality of corner crossing in Montana, the PLPW council should consider access corridors rather than single-point access to a tiny corner that might be on a steep sidehill or monumented by a tree.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
The budget is slightly smaller than the current one, sets aside $14 billion in reserves and contains a paltry menu of tax cuts worth $146 million.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
28 May 2026
-
The free-agent market is paltry at best, so Guerin will likely have to make his mark via trade.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Measly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/measly. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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