1
as in pitiful
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
a paltry, underhanded scheme to get someone fired
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
the hotel's shabby, outdated exercise room was its paltry attempt at a health spa
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in vile
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
just some paltry ruse to bilk the system
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
wanted me to sell him my old records for a paltry sum
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paltry
Mexico’s economy is expected to grow a paltry 0.1% this year — almost nothing.
—
Miami Herald, 18 July 2025
Subscribers largely shrugged off Harry’s Polo, which logged paltry 500,000 views to rank #3436.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 July 2025
That the Hurricanes were able to get him for max term at a paltry $7.4 million felt like a massive win.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 29 July 2025
The relatively paltry downturn on the pay-TV front gave Charter its strongest video showing since 2021 and left Charter at the top of the heap with 12.6 million residential and small-business subs.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for paltry
Miami Herald, 18 July 2025
Subscribers largely shrugged off Harry’s Polo, which logged paltry 500,000 views to rank #3436.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 July 2025
That the Hurricanes were able to get him for max term at a paltry $7.4 million felt like a massive win.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 29 July 2025
The relatively paltry downturn on the pay-TV front gave Charter its strongest video showing since 2021 and left Charter at the top of the heap with 12.6 million residential and small-business subs.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for paltry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paltry
Adjective
-
This negative sentiment was also felt on both sides of the Atlantic, given their pitiful plummet in popularity.—
Brie Stimson , Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
25 July 2025
-
For their part, France produced a pitiful display of football, which deserved nothing less than elimination.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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In an interview, Pryor said the deputy's actions were unacceptable given the subject's age, regardless of how the series of events truly unfolded.—
Killian Baarlaer,
The Courier-Journal,
13 Aug. 2025
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The critiques have only intensified with each year that passes since the team’s last Super Bowl victory in 1996, with Jones calling the drought unacceptable at the NFL owners meeting earlier this year.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The father even heard the husband shouting vile insults at his son.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Flood died young, a couple of days after his 59th birthday, in 1997, from the vile effects of throat cancer.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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The macro hasn't changed: chronic fiscal deficits, an eventual glide lower in real rates if nominal cuts meet sticky inflation, and incentives to keep liquidity flowing.—
Bob Haber,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Yet meticulous planning means that there is always a nuanced plan — 4-3-3 is his nominal starting formation, but individual roles are tweaked depending on the opposition.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
-
My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.—
Tim Neville,
Outside Online,
23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
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This implies a poor Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 52.5% (vs. 19.4% for S&P 500).—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
-
The general manager, making a rare road trip, told reporters that his presence had more to do with his scheduling availability than the Yankees’ third-place standing or their poor play over the past two-plus months.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Whereas the Star Wars sequels woefully misused the actor's talents, this movie puts them center stage, playing one of the teen hoodlums who join forces with their victim to fight off nasty, otherworldly invaders.—
Chris Snellgrove,
EW.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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Things could be reversed if prompt actions are taken to get vaccination rates back up again before the different nasty microbes can spread too far in the U.S. population.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Rivera pushed through her routine, adapting to slight errors and fighting for the landing on the dismount.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
9 Aug. 2025
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After a slight chance of storms during the day Saturday, there is a 60% chance of rainfall overnight, leading to a more-than-likely wet Sunday.—
Jack Albright,
jsonline.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paltry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paltry. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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