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paltry

[pawl-tree] / ˈpɔl tri /


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.

Phil Taylor, director of the charity Open Seas, described the fine as "paltry".

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Net foreign direct investment in the fiscal year that ended March 31 was a paltry $7.7 billion, down from $28 billion three years earlier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

But no candidate ever had much more than a paltry 20% support; for all the heavy breathing, the race was always pretty much a multi-candidate tie.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

If it returns a paltry 2% over the next 13 years, that child will graduate high school with $300,000—enough for college, trade school or a down payment on a home.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

Some are insignificant, paltry collections of a few dozen galaxies.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan




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