meager

[mee-ger] / ˈmi gər /

ADJECTIVE

small, inadequate; poor

Synonyms

STRONGEST

insufficient mere minimum miserable paltry puny scant scanty skimpy sparse tenuous

STRONG

scrimpy

WEAK

bare barren deficient exiguous flimsy inappreciable inconsiderable infertile insubstantial little scrimp shabby short skimp slender slight spare subtle too little too late unfinished unfruitful unproductive wanting weak

Antonyms

STRONGEST

adequate ample enough generous plentiful rich significant substantial sufficient wealthy

WEAK

big fat full large liberal plenty wide

ADJECTIVE

very thin

Synonyms

STRONGEST

slim tenuous

WEAK

angular bare beanpole beanstalk bony broomstick emaciated gangling gangly gaunt hungry lacking lank lanky lean lithe little narrow rattleboned rawboned scraggy scrawny skin and bones skinny slender spare starved stinted stunted underfed wanting willowy withered

Antonyms

WEAK

adequate big fat full large liberal plenty substantial sufficient wide

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The family scraped by with meager income his mother obtained from such jobs as waitress and laundry worker.

From The Wall Street Journal

They often live in spartan conditions and earn meager wages.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet after this meager performance, and weakened in the war, the regime spent the past few months repeating the same threats from before June.

From The Wall Street Journal

The next woman took her meager rations without a word, and the rest of the villagers did too.

From Literature

The nation’s trade deficit fell in 2025 by a meager 0.2% to $901.5 billion, but only due to a large and quirky increase in gold exports tied to U.S. tariff policy.

From MarketWatch

meager

Example Sentences

Related Words