scantily

American  

[skan-tuh-lee] / ˈskæn tə li /

adverb

1. to a barely sufficient degree; in a meager or barely adequate quantity or way.

   We ate in a room adorned with posters of various scantily clad models.

   The first pioneers arrived in the valley just before winter, worn out and scantily supplied with provisions.

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Etymology

Origin of scantily

First recorded in 1620–30; scanty ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

Although crop substitution has had some success in Colombia, experts say, it is an especially difficult transition for farmers in far-flung, scantily populated areas like Guaviare.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2022

There were discussions last summer during the anti-racism protests about how police officers were very scantily masking.

From Slate • May 6, 2021

Photos of the accuser scantily clad, as well as her full name, were taken from her social media accounts and have been widely published by Russian media.

From Washington Post • May 28, 2019

“People of color were often scantily clothed, people of color were usually not seen in cities, people of color were not often surrounded by technologies of automobiles, airplanes or trains or factories,” he said.

From Washington Times • Mar. 12, 2018

An icy wind howled, whipping its way through my scantily dressed limbs, and the thought of waiting another four hours numbed me.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

Related Words

• almost
• hardly
• scarcely