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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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falling short of a standard the hotel's shabby, outdated exercise room was its paltry attempt at a health spa

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Laying an egg against the Raiders in Year 3 of the Harbaugh era is unacceptable.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Kip Dellinger Santa Monica The type of play by the Chargers on Sunday was completely unacceptable, lackluster and disappointing for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of unacceptable

Adjective

Patients in Medicaid, the state- and federally-funded program for people with low incomes, already pay a nominal co-payment of a few dollars to fill their prescriptions, but lower prices could help state budgets that fund the programs.

— Fatima Hussein, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
But recent wars have exposed the gap between nominal power and usable military capability.

— NADIA SCHADLOW, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of nominal

Adjective

The next big issue for me was that Axl shimmied from side to side with an unusual snakelike move that struck me as effeminate and lame.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026
Trump, meanwhile, will be at best a lame-duck president within weeks of the summit—or worse, if the Democrats are able to take back the House or the Senate.

— Jonathan A. Czin, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of lame

Adjective

Renovation will only yield temporary improvement unless the original cause of a poor-quality lawn is remedied.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026
The consequences of a poor performance in the takeaway department sets a very high standard for rookies, something that can only bode well for the future.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of poor

Adjective

Back then, researchers were focused on eradicating the New World screwworm, a nasty pest that lays its eggs in wounds on living creatures.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
Paul and Matthews have been embroiled in a nasty social media feud that sparked after ABC pulled The Bachelorette season 22.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of nasty

Adjective

Another clever stunt that Althoff pulled off on the The Really Good Podcast was that she was involved in a slight-of-hand brand stunt with L’Oreal’s CeraVe.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
Chubb was a slight disappointment in his Bills debut from a pass-rushing perspective.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of slight

Browse Nearby Words

paltriness

paltry

pampa

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“Paltry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paltry. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of paltry

adjective

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