paltry

[ pawl-tree ]

/ ˈpɔl tri /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR paltry ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, pal·tri·er, pal·tri·est.

ridiculously or insultingly small: a paltry sum.

utterly worthless.

mean or contemptible: a paltry coward.

Words nearby paltry

palstave, palsy, palsy-walsy, palter, paltrow, paltry, paludal, paludamentum, paludism, paludrine, palustrine

Origin of paltry

1560–70; < Low German paltrig ragged, equivalent to *palter rag (dialectal German Palter) + -ig -y¹

SYNONYMS FOR paltry

1 minor, inconsiderable, slight, insignificant. See petty.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR paltry ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR paltry

1 important, major.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR paltry ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM paltry

pal·tri·ly, adverbpal·tri·ness, nounun·pal·try, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH paltry

paltry poultry

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

Examples from the Web for paltry

In all these elections, it was the suburbs—not paltry gains in the cities—that made the difference.
The Progressives’ War on Suburbia|Joel Kotkin|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Also shown are the (paltry) sums spent by each organization on candidates and campaigns.
Flushing Money Down the Tea Party Toilet|Tom Dougherty|August 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Salem the prep school kid felt so slighted by a paltry $3 million bonus in 2011 that he left the firm.
Too Big to Jail: Confessions of a Goldman Sachs Brat|Michael Daly|June 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In his first season as owner of the San Diego Clippers, the team drew a paltry 4,344 fans a game.
How to Rescue the Clippers From Donald Sterling’s Racist Clutches|Jesse Lawrence|April 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Yes, women make up 45% of the Swedish parliament compared to a paltry 18% in the U.S Congress.
Can the Gender Gap Be Solved?|Kay Hymowitz|April 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Tolstoy's eyes they were false, paltry, and immoral, and he was at no pains to disguise his opinions.
The Forged Coupon and Other Stories|Leo Tolstoy
What self-respecting heroine would abandon her husband and children for sin and a paltry five thousand a year?
The Angel and the Author - and Others|Jerome K. Jerome
The principals in all great offices will reside in England, make some paltry allowance to deputies for doing the business here.
Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies|John Dickinson
No taste, no arrangement, paltry looking-glasses, and rats-tail candles.
Italy; with sketches of Spain and Portugal|William Beckford
Even this paltry means of support was precarious, and it was resolved to keep the marriage secret.
Celebrated Claimants from Perkin Warbeck to Arthur Orton|Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for paltry

paltry

/ (ˈpɔːltrɪ) /

adjective -trier or -triest

insignificant; meagre

worthless or petty

Derived forms of paltry

paltrily, adverbpaltriness, noun

Word Origin for paltry

C16: from Low Germanic palter, paltrig ragged

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

paltry

adjective, pal·tri·er, pal·tri·est.

Words related to paltry

Words nearby paltry

Origin of paltry

SYNONYMS FOR paltry

ANTONYMS FOR paltry

OTHER WORDS FROM paltry

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH paltry

Examples from the Web for paltry

British Dictionary definitions for paltry

adjective -trier or -triest

Derived forms of paltry

Word Origin for paltry