PALTRY
measly, miserable, paltry
(adjective) contemptibly small in amount; “a measly tip”; “the company donated a miserable $100 for flood relief”; “a paltry wage”; “almost depleted his miserable store of dried beans”
negligible, paltry, trifling
(adjective) not worth considering; “he considered the prize too paltry for the lives it must cost”; “piffling efforts”; “a trifling matter”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
paltry (comparative paltrier, superlative paltriest)
Trashy, trivial, of little value.
Synonyms: insignificant, unimportant, petty, trivial
Of little monetary worth.
Synonyms: meager, worthless, pitiful, trifling
Usage notes
• Nouns to which "paltry" is often applied: sum, rate, amount, number, price, salary, wages, fellow, pay, excuse, income, gain, compensation.
Anagrams
• partly, raptly
Source: Wiktionary
Pal"try, a. [Compar. Paltrier (; superl. Paltriest.] Etym: [Cf. Prov.
E. paltry refuse, rubbish, LG. paltering ragged, palte, palter, a
rag, a tatter, Dan. pialt, Sw. palta, pl. paltor.]
Definition: Mean; vile; worthless; despicable; contemptible; pitiful;
trifling; as, a paltry excuse; paltry gold. Cowper.
The paltry prize is hardly worth the cost. Byron.
Syn.
– See Contemptible.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition