scrimpy

8.8

Too small to be enough

adjective
/ˈskrɪm.pi/

: escaso

Guests complained about the hotel's scrimpy breakfast portions.

Examples

The scrimpy fabric barely covered the window, letting in too much light.
She always buys scrimpy gifts for her friends.
His scrimpy lunch left him still feeling hungry by afternoon.
The portions were scrimpy at the restaurant.
Guests complained about the hotel's scrimpy breakfast portions.
His scrimpy lunch left him still feeling hungry by afternoon.
The scrimpy fabric barely covered the window, letting in too much light.

Synonyms

meager

vsscrimpy

48 4.8

Too small in amount or quality to be enough

has identical meaning but is a different word form

skimpy

vsscrimpy

5 5.3

Too small in amount or size for what is needed

includes that lack but also covers poor quality and limited extent

stingy

vsscrimpy

4 4.4

Small in amount and not enough for what you need

is the general term for small or limited amounts

scrimy

vsscrimpy

Archaic

9.9

Unwilling to give money or things

describes plain insufficiency of amount, quality, or extent

Antonyms

generous

328 1.6

Willing to give more than is expected, especially money or time

ample

104 3.7

More than enough for what is needed

abundant

77 3.0

Present in large amounts or more than needed

How Much

abundant

77 3.0

ample

104 3.7

adequate

234 2.7

scrimpy

8.8

scant

30 5.5

minimal

196 3.3

Surface Forms

scrimpy positive

scrimpier comparative

scrimpiest superlative

Morphology

scrimpy = scrimp (transparent) = scrimp + y

Standard adjectival formation from the verb 'scrimp' (to be sparing), yielding the sense 'scanty' or 'stingy'.

Etymology

Scrimpy comes from the verb scrimp, which means 'to give very little' or to be stingy. So, if something is scrimpy it is 'meager' or too small because someone has 'scrimped' on it.