PALTRY Synonyms: 334 Similar and Opposite Words

paltry

adjective

ˈpȯl-trē

Definition of paltry

as in pitiful

arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust a paltry, underhanded scheme to get someone fired

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in unacceptable

falling short of a standard the hotel's shabby, outdated exercise room was its paltry attempt at a health spa

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in vile

not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency just some paltry ruse to bilk the system

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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 See All Example Sentences for paltry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for paltry

Adjective

Completing the hat trick in pitiful style, Taking on the World was shot on a shoestring budget, helmed by the man behind Highlander III, and forced to rely on stock footage of real-life footballers.

— Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Given the national team’s pitiful demise at the Oval, with New Zealand completing victory on the fifth morning, Ben Stokes’ revival in absentia feels like the only consolation from a miserable week.

— Hector Vickers, New York Times, 21 June 2026

Definition of pitiful

Adjective

That’s an unacceptable delay for units in active combat operations.

— Nir Goldstein, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
The algorithm is designed to prevent planners from choosing a technically suitable location that may be unacceptable to the people living or working nearby.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of unacceptable

Adjective

For a nominal sum, the paper each day serves up authoritative accounts of sports events that occurred as much as a day earlier, give or take.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
The calculation refers to nominal total returns, combining coupon income and changes in the bond's market price.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of nominal

Adjective

Respondents questioned Dave Aranda’s roster construction, the program’s lack of identity and why everybody is pretending this isn’t a lame-duck season.

— Manny Navarro, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Post-election powers Keisha Lance Bottoms has a message for Republicans who might be tempted to limit her powers in a lame-duck special session if the Democrat wins the race for governor in November.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of lame

Adjective

The following season, Chelsea topped their Champions League group, but poor Premier League form saw Mourinho sacked in mid-December.

— Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Many are in poor shape, with thin, uninsulated walls, leaky windows, old or broken swamp coolers and electrical systems that can't always handle air conditioners.

— Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of poor

Adjective

Those tempers were not helped by the nasty collision between Guehi and Veiga just before the break, as the Englishman clattered into the midfielder in attempt to head the ball away.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
His nasty spirit comes unstuck from the grave when Antonia, the brown-haired Millennial witch, works a wonky raise-the-dead spell directed at her late great aunt.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of nasty

Adjective

The slight worry is that Zheng will run out of gas at some point after coming through the qualifying tournament and winning six matches in New York.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
For all their advantages, quantum technologies are extremely sensitive, and these devices can be thrown out of gear by the slightest changes in temperature or environmental noise.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of slight

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paltriness

paltry

pampa

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“Paltry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paltry. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of paltry

adjective

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