What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
measly
Example
He gave me a measly five dollars for all my hard work. [measly: adjective]
Example
The company offered a measly bonus this year, which was disappointing. [measly: adjective]
paltry
Example
The paltry sum they offered for the antique vase was insulting. [paltry: adjective]
Example
The company's paltry efforts to address the issue were not enough to satisfy the employees. [paltry: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Paltry is slightly more common than measly in everyday language, but both words are used relatively infrequently.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between measly and paltry?
Both measly and paltry are considered formal words and are not commonly used in informal speech or writing.
