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

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

Last summer the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, banned advertisements showing scantily clad women from the city’s public transportation system, saying they promoted unhealthy or unrealistic body images.

From New York Times ● Jan. 25, 2017

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