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

Examples 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 Some argue that those salaries, while meager in comparison to male athletes’ earnings, aren’t so bad in context—after all, the WNBA season is four months, not year round, and players have other financial opportunities too. —

Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2024 Tyreek Hill, while having the most meager numbers of his career, has made the Pro Bowl and/or All-Pro team in each of his first eight seasons. —

Steve Svekis, Sun Sentinel, 29 Nov. 2024 From Supreme Court Rulings To Drunk Trespassers, The Pupfish Has Seen It All If the environmental threats to the Devils Hole pupfish weren’t enough, humanity has thrown its fair share of challenges at this defiant little fish that continues to maintain its meager numbers. —

Scott Travers, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024 The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 index and Nasdaq all closed Wednesday with losses of roughly 0.5 percent, a meager downturn driven largely by investors cashing out on tech stocks. —

Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for meager

Recent Examples of Synonyms for meager

Adjective

Technology IPOs have been sparse since late 2021, when inflation and rising interest rates pushed investors out of riskier assets.

Jordan Novet, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2024
And, once again, the region’s harsh climate and sparse daylight requires design elements that can improve the quality of day-to-day life.

Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024