measly

[ mee-zlee ]

/ ˈmi zli /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR measly ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, mea·sli·er, mea·sli·est.

Informal.

contemptibly small, meager, or slight: They paid me a measly fifteen dollars for a day's work.
wretchedly bad or unsatisfactory: a measly performance.

infected with measles, as an animal or its flesh.

pertaining to or resembling measles.

Words nearby measly

measles, measles immune globulin, measles virus, measles virus vaccine, measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, measly, measurable, measure, measure for measure, measure of central tendency, measure off

Origin of measly

First recorded in 1680–90; measl(es) + -y¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for measly

One measly year later, Pam woke to find a naked Ewing grinning at her in the shower.
‘The Walking Dead’ Fans Demand: Bring Back Beth!|Melissa Leon|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When he ran for the House of Burgesses in 1755, the father of our nation got a measly 40 votes.
Founding Fathers Loved Drunk Voters|Kevin Bleyer|November 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His profit margin on the quarter pounds he admitted to selling was a measly $200.
Preppy Drug Bust High on Hype|Christopher Moraff|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A tapestry like this was the ultimate luxury good and status symbol, worth so much more than a measly painting.
Unicorn, the Luxury Meat|Blake Gopnik|July 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST

His now infamous Twitter account has a measly 186 followers.
Who Wants To Be Prime Minister? Not Rami Hamdallah|Maysoon Zayid|June 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Besides what about that Police rifle out there on that measly cayuse, an' the buckskin jacket?
The Long Patrol|H. A. Cody
I've bin on the Wabash, an' I don't want to never see the measly, muddy, agery ditch agin'.
Si Klegg, Book 2 (of 6)|John McElroy
Some stunt over the other side, or only another sea-trip out and home again, without catching sight of a measly Hun.
The Thick of the Fray at Zeebrugge|Percy F. Westerman
"The measly little varmint," said Walter, wrathfully, as they crouched beside the blaze.
The Boy Chums in the Gulf of Mexico|Wilmer M. Ely
While I am waiting for some one to appear, face rises at window—the measly boy!
Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 93, September 3, 1887|Various

British Dictionary definitions for measly

measly

/ (ˈmiːzlɪ) /

adjective -slier or -sliest

informal meagre in quality or quantity

(of meat) measled

having or relating to measles

Word Origin for measly

C17: see measles

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

measly

adjective, mea·sli·er, mea·sli·est.

Words related to measly

Words nearby measly

Origin of measly

Examples from the Web for measly

British Dictionary definitions for measly

adjective -slier or -sliest

Word Origin for measly