What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
meager
Example
The family's income was meager and barely enough to cover their basic needs. [meager: adjective]
Example
The restaurant offered a meager selection of vegetarian options. [meager: adjective]
paltry
Example
The company's offer of a paltry raise was insulting to the employees. [paltry: adjective]
Example
The athlete's performance was marred by a paltry effort in the final round. [paltry: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Meager is more commonly used than paltry in everyday language. Meager is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while paltry is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between meager and paltry?
Both meager and paltry are considered formal words and are appropriate for use in academic or professional writing.
