paltry

[pawl-tree]

adjective

paltrier, paltriest 

1. ridiculously or insultingly small.

   a paltry sum.

   Synonyms: insignificant, slight, inconsiderable, minor
   Antonyms: major, important

2. utterly worthless.

3. mean or contemptible.

   a paltry coward.

paltry

/ ˈpɔːltrɪ /

adjective

1. insignificant; meagre

2. worthless or petty

Other Word Forms

• paltrily adverb
• paltriness noun
• unpaltry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of paltry¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Low German paltrig “ragged,” equivalent to *palter “rag” ( dialectal German Palter ) + -ig -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of paltry¹

C16: from Low Germanic palter, paltrig ragged

Synonym Study

See petty.

Example Sentences

The EU is expected to offer its expertise to help build up intra-African trade, which currently accounts for a paltry 15 percent of the total, diplomats said.

Read more on Barron's

This could anger poorer countries who want stronger support from richer nations and heavily criticised a deal at last year's COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, which they considered paltry.

Read more on BBC

It seems Quantum Computing may be immune to that pressure, as its share price reflects its paltry revenue and the limited commercialization of its technology.

Read more on Barron's

A late October poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies showed paltry numbers for all candidates.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Now, 1 gigawatt, which the Energy Department once noted was roughly half the power generated by the Hoover Dam, seems paltry.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• insignificant 
• meager 
• measly 
• miserable 
• pitiful 
• puny 
• trivial