paltry

paltry — adjective

1. (used of a sum, payment, or quantity) so small that the speaker feels it is unfa

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

(used of a sum, payment, or quantity) so small that the speaker feels it is unfair, mean, or insulting.

Example

After thirty years on the line, Marcus retired on a paltry pension of $480 a month.

paltry + noun (pension); shows perceived unfairness

The charity raised a paltry $300 for the hospital, far less than last year's total.

paltry + sum of money; comparison sharpens the inadequacy

Common collocations
  • a paltry sum
  • a paltry amount
  • a paltry wage
  • a paltry pension
  • a paltry fee
  • a paltry handful
Synonyms
  • meager

    neutral-to-formal; describes scarcity without the strong contempt of 'paltry'.

  • measly

    informal version of 'paltry'; also implies the amount is insultingly small.

  • derisory

    formal British; an offer or sum so small it deserves to be laughed at.

  • negligible

    purely about size — too small to matter — without the emotional sting.

Antonyms
  • generous

    describes amounts felt to be larger than expected.

  • substantial

    neutral; large enough to be significant.

  • handsome

    of a payment or sum, pleasingly large.

Grammar Patterns

paltry + noun (sum/amount/wage/fee)

Usage Note

Almost always sits directly in front of the noun it modifies, and carries a clear note of complaint or contempt. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense focuses on quantity (money, time, numbers); sense 2 focuses on quality or worth.

Common Mistakes

The salary was paltry but the work was great.
The salary was a paltry $25,000, but the work was great.
'paltry' is most natural in front of a noun, especially with a specific number that drives home how small the amount is.
I have paltry money in my wallet.
I have a paltry ten dollars in my wallet.
pair 'paltry' with a countable amount, not with the bare noun 'money'.

2. so weak, poor, or unimpressive that it deserves to be brushed aside; typically s

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

so weak, poor, or unimpressive that it deserves to be brushed aside; typically said of an excuse, effort, gift, or argument.

Example

Sarah dismissed her paltry excuse for missing her birthday dinner with a cold stare.

paltry + excuse; shows judgment of low worth

The defense lawyer made a paltry attempt to challenge the witness, and the jury noticed.

paltry + attempt/effort

Common collocations
  • a paltry excuse
  • a paltry effort
  • a paltry attempt
  • a paltry gesture
  • a paltry tribute
Synonyms
  • feeble

    weak in force or conviction, especially of an excuse or attempt.

  • trifling

    formal; too small or unimportant to take seriously.

  • pitiful

    carries a note of pity as well as contempt; the effort is so weak it is almost sad.

  • lame

    informal; mostly used of excuses and weak attempts.

Antonyms
  • impressive

    of a quality or effort that earns respect.

  • worthy

    deserving of attention or praise.

  • considerable

    of effort or value, large enough to matter.

Grammar Patterns

paltry + noun (excuse/effort/attempt)

Usage Note

Object is usually something the speaker expected to be more impressive: an excuse, effort, gift, attempt, or piece of work. Distinguish from sense 1: here the sting is about quality, not the size of a number.

Common Mistakes

The painting itself is paltry.
The gallery's whole collection felt like a paltry display next to the National Museum.
the word fits things judged by effort, attempt, or presentation, not standalone art objects.
He gave me a paltry, beautiful card.
He gave me a paltry card with just his name scrawled inside.
'paltry' is negative; it does not mix with positive descriptions of the same item.

Word family

  • paltrily
    adverbC2
  • paltriness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe an amount that is small, but the attitude behind each is very different. 'Meager' is the most neutral — a meager harvest is simply a thin one, with no judgment of who is to blame. 'Negligible' goes further in the same neutral direction: the amount is so small that it can be safely ignored in a calculation. 'Paltry' adds clear emotional colour: the speaker thinks the amount is unfairly or shamefully small, as in 'a paltry pension after thirty years'. 'Measly' carries the same complaint but in everyday speech, often with a tone of mild whining ('only a measly five dollars off?'). 'Derisory' is the strongest and most formal, especially in British English: a derisory pay offer is so small it almost insults the workers.

paltry ↗meagermeaslyderisorynegligible ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a paltry sum of money
  • a paltry handful of

Prepositions

  • paltry compared to
  • paltry by comparison

Etymology

Low GermanEnglish dialectModern English

Recorded in English from the late 1500s, 'paltry' grew out of the dialect word 'paltry' meaning rags, trash, or rubbish. That noun is related to Low German 'paltrig' (ragged) and to similar words in Danish and Swedish meaning rags or worn-out cloth. The image is of a small, worthless scrap, which is why the modern adjective still carries a sneer: a paltry sum is, in effect, a sum fit only for the rag heap.