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meagerly

meagerly

1 6.8
In a small way that is not enough
  • adverb
  • /ˈmiːɡərli/
  • US
translation icon : escasamente
  • So, no problem, you scrape yourself up, and when you finally get them out of your system so you can meagerly continue on with what's left of your semi-shattered life, they want you back.

Examples

  • Often, they are volunteers or meagerly paid for their time and efforts, yet they are truly dedicated to their programs and athletes.

    Academic text (2014)
  • Technically, it was a gargote, a meagerly furnished place where wine and food could be cheaply had.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The treasure of the tomb Carem sold carefully and meagerly.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The principal reward for those who give lavishly rather than meagerly is the expectation that they remain true to form and continue to give.

    Blog text (26)
  • Very likely, she was absorbed in the self-intoxication and self-complacency of her little group of fellow actors and was able to cling to the sensation that she was, however meagerly, living the life of an actress.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • To him, she had seemed—sitting shyly in their living room, the only one laughing at his desperate jokes—another threat, one more signal that his life, so meagerly lit, was about to get darker still.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The bathroom featured a single window at which the shade was currently raised, but the space remained meagerly illuminated because the glass was frosted and because the incoming sunlight was filtered through the graceful limbs of the metrosideros.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Day after day, and many long evenings, she led her solitary life in the meagerly furnished quarters, while he was away at regular cubes or seizing on this and that opportunity to earn a few dollars on the side by lectures, tutoring, and assorted odd jobs not usually included in the career of a scholar.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The fear of the Jacobin threat and the views held by meagerly educated alehouse politicians unquestionably influenced the way that ballad singing was regarded in the 1790s, but not in any straightforward manner.

    Academic text (2016)
  • The charity provides assistance to families living meagerly on very little income.

Synonyms

sparingly
vsmeagerly
15 3.5

Using only a small amount

is about lacking amount or quality, not necessarily chosen restraint
scantily
vsmeagerly
  • NSFW
14 6.4

In a way that shows a lot of skin by wearing very little clothing

means lack of amount or quality rather than revealing quality
insufficiently
vsmeagerly
9 4.7

In a way that is not enough to meet a need or standard

also implies small amount and poor quality rather than just shortfall
inadequately
vsmeagerly
8 4.4

In a way that is not good enough

stresses scarcity and low quality more than general insufficiency
deficiently
vsmeagerly
6.0

In a way that does not have enough of what is needed

focuses on small amount and poor quality rather than missing parts
slenderly
vsmeagerly
5.8

In a small amount or number

emphasizes insufficiency and poor quality more strongly
sparely
vsmeagerly
3.9

Using only a small amount

implies insufficiency in amount or quality rather than simple restraint

Antonyms

49 2.0

In a way that gives more money or help than expected

11 5.6

In a very rich and generous way using a lot of money

11 3.2

In a way that gives more than is needed

How Much

sparingly
15 3.5
meagerly
  • US
1 6.8
scantily
  • NSFW
14 6.4
hardly
1.0
barely
1.0

Surface Forms

meagerly positive

Morphology

meagerly = meager (transparent) = meager + ly

Meaning is directly formed from the adjective 'meager' with the adverbial suffix '-ly': 'in a scanty or insufficient way'.

Etymology

The word meagerly comes from meager, which comes from the Latin root macer meaning 'lean' or 'thin', so picture something very small or thin. A helpful way to remember is to think of 'lean', and if food or a room is given meagerly, there is only a small, not enough amount. So, to do something meagerly is to do it in a small or not enough way.