Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective skimpy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of skimpy are meager, scanty, scant, spare, and sparse. While all these words mean "falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable," skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

In what contexts can meager take the place of skimpy?

The words meager and skimpy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

When can scant be used instead of skimpy?

The words scant and skimpy can be used in similar contexts, but scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

When might scanty be a better fit than skimpy?

The meanings of scanty and skimpy largely overlap; however, scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

When would spare be a good substitute for skimpy?

While in some cases nearly identical to skimpy, spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

When could sparse be used to replace skimpy?

While the synonyms sparse and skimpy are close in meaning, sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

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 skimpy Tucked away in one corner of the show are reminders of the oppressive beauty standards pushed by fashion magazines and corporations as soon as swimwear got skimpier. Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025 While comic book writers and artists often complain about skimpy payments or lack of ample credit for the work that inspires movies, they generally are given a special thanks in the credits of those films. Simon Abrams, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025 Jones didn’t dress in skimpy tights or run around with a codename. Nola Pfau, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025 In photos and videos shared to Instagram, the actresses, who both turn 60 this year, flaunted their toned figures in skimpy two-piece swimsuits while on vacation. Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 13 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skimpy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skimpy
Adjective
  • The Spa The Recovery Lab feels more like a doctor’s office than a traditional spa, with sparse white walls and minimal decor.
    Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2025
  • But turnout at Wednesday’s sessions was sparse; at faculty and student forums, more than half of the seats were empty.
    Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • These alliances are particularly beneficial for smaller organizations that stand to gain from pooled resources or those in regions where talent is scarce but demand for specialized staff is high.
    Randy Wong, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • Ahead of Pink Elephant, the Montreal collective known for its insistent politics and uplifting lyricism was scarce and guarded in its direct communications.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Skimpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skimpy. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on skimpy

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