Synonyms of paltry

paltry

adjective

ˈpȯl-trē 

1

as in pitiful

arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust

a paltry, underhanded scheme to get someone fired

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pitiful
• lame
• cheap
• wretched
• dirty
• mean
• nasty
• disgusting
• hateful
• lousy
• pitiable
• contemptible
• deplorable
• vile
• sorry
• grubby
• despicable
• scabby
• sneaking
• scurvy
• ratty
• cruddy
• scummy
• shameful
• abominable
• odious
• loathsome
• disgraceful
• execrable
• repulsive
• abhorrent
• detestable
• repugnant
• ignominious
• revolting
• shabby
• ignoble
• disreputable
• sordid
• dishonorable
• squalid
• base
• discreditable
• condemnable
• craven
• reptilian
• low
• reprehensible
• dastardly
• cowardly
• unscrupulous
• revulsive
• unprincipled
• unethical
• censurable
• reproachable
• blamable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• admirable
• laudable
• creditable
• commendable
• meritorious
• praiseworthy
• noble
• honorable
• honest
• scrupulous
• redoubtable
• good
• reputable
• upright
• moral
• principled
• right
• ethical
• virtuous
• righteous
• high-minded
• right-minded

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the hotel's shabby, outdated exercise room was its paltry attempt at a health spa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

• unacceptable
• poor
• lame
• wrong
• bad
• pathetic
• deficient
• terrible
• horrible
• awful
• disastrous
• flawed
• unsatisfactory
• wretched
• inferior
• substandard
• bastard
• dreadful
• brutal
• crummy
• lacking
• suboptimal
• subpar
• lousy
• sour
• inadequate
• off
• from hunger
• bush
• ill
• wanting
• insufficient
• short
• dissatisfactory
• bush-league
• defective
• useless
• rotten
• wack
• below par
• meager
• gross
• lesser
• punk
• abysmal
• worthless
• miserable
• unspeakable
• damnable
• atrocious
• horrendous
• deplorable
• mediocre
• egregious
• execrable
• detestable
• vile
• common
• shoddy
• flagrant
• stinky
• faulty
• miserly
• abominable
• odious
• low-grade
• gnarly
• crappy
• low-rent
• sucky
• bum
• scanty
• skimpy
• reprehensible
• valueless
• second-rate
• coarse
• cheesy
• shabby
• stingy
• rubbishy
• trashy
• spare
• sleazy
• bitchin'
• scurrilous
• mean
• villainous
• cut-rate
• junky
• phony
• sham
• fake
• counterfeit
• skimp
• miscreant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adequate
• standard
• decent
• satisfactory
• respectable
• acceptable
• fine
• tolerable
• all right
• great
• passable
• excellent
• sufficient
• superior
• perfect
• splendid
• OK
• better
• classical
• prime
• stellar
• special
• average
• wonderful
• grand
• superb
• terrific
• divine
• top
• classic
• superlative
• marvelous
• noble
• first-class
• minimal
• sensational
• nifty
• heavenly
• mean
• sterling
• premium
• neat
• exceptional
• fabulous
• swell
• fancy
• banner
• mediocre
• dandy
• choice
• unsurpassed
• slick
• capital
• middling
• keen
• fair
• par excellence
• worthy
• high-grade
• boss
• A1
• useful
• suitable
• borderline
• first-rate
• top-notch
• high-test
• supernal
• crackerjack
• groovy
• bang-up
• unexceptional
• tip-top
• jim-dandy
• satisfying
• so-so
• gratifying

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

• vile
• nasty
• dirty
• contemptible
• cruel
• immoral
• ignominious
• ignoble
• wretched
• sordid
• bad
• vicious
• execrable
• low
• corrupt
• base
• dishonorable
• despicable
• mean
• low-down
• detestable
• snide
• evil
• low-minded
• wrong
• currish
• foul
• wicked
• iniquitous
• atrocious
• shameful
• reprehensible
• unworthy
• disgraceful
• miscreant
• debased
• perverted
• villainous
• dissolute
• censurable
• blameworthy
• depraved
• degenerate
• unscrupulous
• disreputable
• debauched
• blamable
• unprincipled
• discreditable
• unethical

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• high
• lofty
• noble
• honorable
• venerable
• straight
• virtuous
• excellent
• good
• just
• moral
• upright
• honest
• ethical
• decent
• scrupulous
• respectable
• right
• righteous
• proper
• commendable
• exemplary
• principled
• high-minded
• reputable
• right-minded
• blameless
• seemly
• guiltless
• irreproachable
• incorruptible
• unerring
• uncorrupted

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nominal
• slight
• measly
• tiny
• petty
• piddling
• piffling
• trifling
• insignificant
• trivial
• inconsiderable
• negligible
• piddly
• inconsequential
• minute
• niggling
• footling
• pimping
• picayune
• Mickey Mouse
• chicken
• puny
• peanut
• no-account
• de minimis
• little
• inappreciable
• imperceptible
• inferior
• mean
• small-fry
• pettifogging
• one-horse
• quibbling
• nitpicking
• two-bit
• hairsplitting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• considerable
• significant
• important
• big
• substantial
• serious
• material
• remarkable
• outstanding
• consequential
• striking
• noteworthy
• conspicuous
• prominent
• weighty
• appreciable
• momentous
• measurable
• pivotal
• eventful
• discernible

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of paltry

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

Of the nearly 80 works by Gonzales shown, only a paltry sold; most were ultimately repurchased by Guérard, and remained in the family. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 21 May 2026

The other candidates in the races have raised sums that are paltry in comparison to Bera and Hall. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026

Ultimately, their preferred candidate, a moderate, prevailed, but Jude said that he is disappointed with the new administration’s policies, which have cut already paltry funding for public education. — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

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