measly
A small amount or quantity is considered measly.
When people say something is measly, they usually mean it's not very much or that it doesn't meet their expectations. For example, if a restaurant offers a tiny portion of food for a big price, someone might call the serving measly. It can also be used to describe a small payment or reward that seems unfair.
How common is "measly"?
Word measly is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions
adjective
Particularly of pigs or pork: infected with larval tapeworms or trichinae (parasitic roundworms).
Real examples of "measly" in context
