What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
meagerly
Example
The family lived meagerly on a tight budget. [meagerly: adverb]
Example
The company provided meagerly for its employees, offering only the bare minimum benefits. [meagerly: adjective]
sparingly
Example
She used the spices sparingly to avoid overpowering the dish. [sparingly: adverb]
Example
He spoke sparingly about his personal life, preferring to keep it private. [sparingly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sparingly is more commonly used than meagerly in everyday language. Sparingly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while meagerly is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between meagerly and sparingly?
Both meagerly and sparingly are formal words, but meagerly may be considered more formal due to its less common usage and specific connotations.
