paltry
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 top performing sectors during these periods were healthcare and consumer-discretionary stocks like restaurants, delivering relatively paltry returns of 0.29% and 0.31% a month, respectively.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
Phil Taylor, director of the charity Open Seas, described the fine as "paltry".
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
It still was far from their worst defensive showing of the season, and mostly they couldn’t claw their way back with a paltry 30.8% from the field.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026
There is no single, standard definition of middle class, or upper middle class, and what counts as a hefty income in one city can feel paltry in another.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
The sales column for the last few months held paltry sums for curios and a few smaller pieces of furniture.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
![]()
Vocabulary lists containing paltry
"The Black Cat" by Edgar Allan Poe
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Paltry Parlance: Synonyms for "Few"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Odyssey
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!