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

See Examples For:

scantily

That trend has been further illustrated by his decision to host an MMA competition -- a particularly brutal sport with scantily clad, musclebound men -- at the White House for his 80th birthday on Sunday.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

Guests of this Coffin Creek attraction were carted along from one breached containment scenario to the next, with roving monsters periodically surprising them in the darkness between the scantily lighted vignettes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2025

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

From Slate ● May 6, 2021

What is known is scantily and contradictorily documented, when not purely anecdotal.

From New York Times ● Jul. 22, 2020

Many of the women standing on line had infants strapped to their backs; others clutched fearful, scantily dressed, barefooted six- and seven-year-old boys and girls.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

Related Words

• almost
• hardly
• scarcely