measly
29
6.3
- adjective
- /ˈmiːzli/
- Informal
:
mísero
- The company offered a measly salary that barely covered living expenses.
- measly buck
- measly dollars
- measly million
Also, I apologise for the very measly voice that you're hearing.
- Also, I apologise for the very measly voice that you're hearing.
- And we had measly growth followed by a real crisis.
- Don't worry that three banks have just collapsed in a span of five measly days.
- It's quite large but would make a rather measly throw rug.
Examples
-
I had spent my measly savings and was in the furniture-selling phase.
Fiction book (2002) -
"And he gave a measly four thousand pounds to get rid of me."
Fiction book (1997) -
And we had measly growth followed by a real crisis.
-
Just perform one measly song for us and then you guys can leave.
-
It's quite a measly little place.
-
Six straight hours in front of the computer, and I had managed to write only a measly thousand words.
Fiction book (2000) -
His mistake has cost over 2.8 million dollars; a measly fine will not be enough!
Blog text (21) -
All my savings except for a measly 600 dollars.
Fiction book (2001) -
Guy wins a measly eleven hundred bucks, and someone else wins a quarter of a million.
Fiction book (2000) -
You think I'd sacrifice my dignity, my self-esteem, my whole way of life... for a few measly dollars?
Synonyms
∞
1.0
So small it can fit in your hand
594
1.2
Small in amount or degree
414
3.4
Showing that something is only small and not important
87
2.0
Small in amount or number, not large
78
1.0
Very small in size so you can hold it in one hand
58
8.1
Very small, like a baby mouse
56
3.4
Very small and weak, not impressive
52
4.8
So small that only a microscope can see it
50
2.8
A very small amount or poor quality
48
4.8
Too small in amount or quality to be enough
37
4.4
Very small in size or amount
31
5.6
Very small or unimportant and not worth worrying about
30
5.5
A small amount that is barely enough
23
5.4
Very small and hard to notice
22
7.1
Very small and not important, not worth paying attention to
12
8.6
Very small, almost too small to measure
10
2.0
A little smaller than usual
8
6.3
A very small thing that is much smaller than usual
3
6.8
Too small or not important enough to matter
2
6.6
A small amount or number that is barely enough
1
7.2
Much smaller than what is normal or expected
1
4.3
Very small and easy to miss
Very small in amount or number
Extremely small and hard to see
Small in size or amount, often used in law and food
Very small or unimportant
A person or thing that seems very small and weak
Antonyms
Compounds
How Small
Surface Forms
Morphology
measly = measle (opaque) = measle + y
The adjective is historically formed from 'measle' + '-y', but the modern sense 'contemptibly small' is not predictable from the base for most learners.
Etymology
The word measly comes from the old word measle, which meant 'a small spot' and named the illness we call 'measles'. So, measly now describes an amount that is 'very small' or 'not nearly enough'.