paltry — very small in amount; insignificant or worthless
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: very small in amount; insignificant or worthless
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpɔːltri/
Example Sentences
- The CEO's paltry donation of $10 to charity became a social media scandal.
- After working overtime for months, she received a paltry bonus that couldn't even buy lunch.
- His paltry attempt at cooking resulted in ordering pizza for the third time this week.
paltry
ADJECTIVE[/ˈpɔːltri/]
very small in amount; insignificant or worthless
The workers refused the paltry reward because it did not match their hard work.
The charity received only a paltry donation after months of fundraising. (paltry → pal + try : Imagine your pal says, "At least I tried.")
The farmer earned only a paltry profit from his poultry business after supplying the entire country.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle Low German 'paltrig' or Dutch 'paltrig', meaning ragged or worthless. The word entered English in the 16th century, likely through trade contact with the Low Countries.
Breakdown
palt- (base meaning ragged/worthless) + -ry (noun-forming suffix) = paltry
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The CEO's paltry donation of $10 to charity became a social media scandal.”
“After working overtime for months, she received a paltry bonus that couldn't even buy lunch.”
“His paltry attempt at cooking resulted in ordering pizza for the third time this week.”
“The company's paltry investment in employee training showed in their poor performance.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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