adj
measly
MEEZ-lee
Measly (adj) means So small an amount that it seems insulting or inadequate. Example: “He tipped the waiter a measly two dollars on a hundred-dollar bill.”
adj
1
So small an amount that it seems insulting or inadequate.
"The visiting tourists eagerly forked over a measly two dollars per group to their guides as payment for their services. This amount was measly sum to the givers, but a princely sum to the takers."
— Richard Rizun, Ora (2004)
"For one whole day's work all I was given was twenty measly pounds."
"He tipped the waiter a measly two dollars on a hundred-dollar bill."
"All that work for a measly paycheck."
How to use measly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDisappointingly small or stingy in amount.
When to use it
Informal and usually used to express annoyance at how little something is.
Common pairings
measly amount
measly sum
measly portion
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like measly.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- measlier
- Superlative
- measliest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He tipped the waiter a _____ two dollars on a hundred-dollar bill.
Etymology
From measle (an old word for a skin blemish caused by measles or, in pigs, tapeworm cysts) plus -y; the sense shifted from "diseased/spotty" to "pathetically small".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “measly” mean?
The word “measly” means so small an amount that it seems insulting or inadequate. In plain terms, disappointingly small or stingy in amount.
How do you pronounce “measly”?
“Measly” is pronounced MEEZ-lee (/ˈmizli/ in IPA).
How do you use “measly” in a sentence?
Here is “measly” used in a sentence: “He tipped the waiter a measly two dollars on a hundred-dollar bill.”
What part of speech is “measly”?
“Measly” is an adjective.
