measly

American  

[mee-zlee] / ˈmi zli /

adjective

measlier, measliest

1. Informal.

   1. contemptibly small, meager, or slight.

      They paid me a measly fifteen dollars for a day's work.

   2. wretchedly bad or unsatisfactory.

      a measly performance.

2. infected with measles, as an animal or its flesh.

3. pertaining to or resembling measles.

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measly British  

/ ˈmiːzlɪ /

adjective

1. informal meagre in quality or quantity

2. (of meat) measled

3. having or relating to measles

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Etymology

Origin of measly

First recorded in 1680–90; measl(es) + -y ¹

Example Sentences

In fact, XLP has been a laggard for some time, with owners seeing a measly 16% gain over the past five years, a period when the S&P 500 gained nearly 85%.

From Barron's

In fact, XLP has been a laggard for some time, with owners seeing a measly 16% gain over the past five years, a period when the S&P 500 gained nearly 85%.

From Barron's

Our measly four seasons are insufficient in describing the way nature undulates around us, week to week and month to month.

From The Wall Street Journal

But in the worst-case scenario, the economy remains on a measly path.

From BBC

They must bob for apples and drop them into a bucket next to their basin before rummaging through a measly pile of autumn-colored leaves in search of a golden leaf.

From Salon

Related Words

• meager
• miserable
• miserly
• paltry
• pitiful
• puny