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the hotel's shabby, outdated exercise room was its paltry attempt at a health spa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

There are many legitimate reasons to bash Becerra, from his refusal to participate in more debates to his paltry number of public rallies to a platform that sounds like more of what created California’s current woes. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

The country is mired in a war with Iran with no graceful exit opportunities; a new round of tariffs threatens to further disrupt fragile global trade relations; and the domestic economy faces inflation combined with paltry growth. — Zachary Karabell, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2026

Criston Cole has a paltry force and one the Riverlanders loyal to Rhaenyra and Daemon should have no trouble with. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026

On the other side, despite shooting a paltry 4-of-9 from the field, Angel Reese still managed to secure a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 June 2026

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