measly

[ mee-zlee ]

adjective

, mea·sli·er, mea·sli·est.

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.

measly

/ ˈmiːzlɪ /

adjective

1. informal.
   meagre in quality or quantity
2. (of meat) measled
3. having or relating to measles

Word History and Origins

Origin of measly¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of measly¹

C17: see measles

Example Sentences

I frequently fell, smearing the mud on my skin across my clothes while fighting to maintain a measly one-mile-per-hour pace.

From Outside Online

Home teams favored by three or more points don’t provide value, either, with a measly 22-22 record against the spread in that span.

From Washington Post

Emails obtained by VOSD attest to Manchester’s unhappiness over the deal and suggest he tried to spite the city in whatever measly way he could.

From Voice of San Diego

One measly year later, Pam woke to find a naked Ewing grinning at her in the shower.

From The Daily Beast

When he ran for the House of Burgesses in 1755, the father of our nation got a measly 40 votes.

From The Daily Beast

His profit margin on the quarter pounds he admitted to selling was a measly $200.

From The Daily Beast

A tapestry like this was the ultimate luxury good and status symbol, worth so much more than a measly painting.

From The Daily Beast

His now infamous Twitter account has a measly 186 followers.

From The Daily Beast

Mr. Slocum, did you ever hear o' me pointin' s'uth for home with only a measly four hundred barrel of ile in the hold?

From Project Gutenberg

Dave Keeney, what boasts he's the best whalin' skipper out o' Homeport, comin' back with a measly four hundred barrel of ile!

From Project Gutenberg

Nature can chase the measly savage fleeing naked through the bush.

From Project Gutenberg

And here we are yet, each perched on a measly old slippery rock, in the middle of the rapids.

From Project Gutenberg

That measly little tap of yours in the last round was certainly a soporific wallop.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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