MEAGER Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'meager' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of meager are scanty , scant , skimpy , spare , and sparse . While all these words mean "falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable," meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency. // a meager portion of meat

Q: When is 'scant' a more appropriate choice than 'meager'?

The synonyms scant and meager are sometimes interchangeable, but scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential. // in January the daylight hours are scant

Q: When would 'scanty' be a good substitute for 'meager'?

The words scanty and meager can be used in similar contexts, but scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent. // supplies too scanty to last the winter

Q: When can 'skimpy' be used instead of 'meager'?

While in some cases nearly identical to meager , skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency. // tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

Q: When might 'spare' be a better fit than 'meager'?

The meanings of spare and meager largely overlap; however, spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity. // a spare , concise style of writing

Q: In what contexts can 'sparse' take the place of 'meager'?

The words sparse and meager are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sparse implies a thin scattering of units. // a sparse population

meager

adjective

ˈmē-gər

variants or meagre

Definition of meager next

as in sparse

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable ever since he started the diet, his dinners have been more meager than he would like

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How does the adjective meager differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of meager are scanty, scant, skimpy, spare, and sparse. While all these words mean "falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable," meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

When is scant a more appropriate choice than meager?

The synonyms scant and meager are sometimes interchangeable, but scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

When would scanty be a good substitute for meager?

The words scanty and meager can be used in similar contexts, but scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

When can skimpy be used instead of meager?

While in some cases nearly identical to meager, skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

When might spare be a better fit than meager?

The meanings of spare and meager largely overlap; however, spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

In what contexts can sparse take the place of meager?

The words sparse and meager are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of meager And even as more and more tasks were transferred to their shoulders, pay remained meager. —

Gioia Shah, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Jan. 2025 But those inefficiencies have led to meager showings from wideouts A.J. Brown (three receptions, 24 yards) and DeVonta Smith (eight receptions, 76 yards). —

Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025 Stranger still, this work of obviously ambitious architecture was executed on a spare budget for residents with meager incomes. —

Justin Davidson, Curbed, 23 Jan. 2025 The Spurs scored a meager 83.8 points per 100 plays according to Cleaning the Glass. —

Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for meager

Recent Examples of Synonyms for meager

Adjective

His words, though often sparse and cryptic, usually mattered more than those of his counterparts, fueling a political mystique of infallibility.

— Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
His characteristically sparse prose only makes this portrait of a necrophiliac serial killer haunting the hill country of eastern Tennessee that much more disturbing: Lester Ballard makes Norman Bates look like Beaver Cleaver.

— M.L. Rio, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025