as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention
offered her guest only one measly cookie
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of measly
That's down from last year's record-setting $12.2 billion, but way up from the measly $7-$9 billion Americans spent between 2014-2020.
—
Karri Peifer, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024
Rather than hanging out with John Fisher, maybe Bob Nutting should spend some time in Kansas City with John Sherman or in Detroit with Christopher Ilitch, and learn how an investment in players, and a commitment to winning, can pay dividends well beyond a measly $200,000.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
These aren’t measly sales with no-name brands either.
—Megan McCarty, StyleCaster, 23 July 2024
Forrest is a war hero, college graduate, and gazillionaire, but a couple of measly IQ points, and he is automatically filed as incompetent and incapable.
—Ciara Moloney, IndieWire, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for measly 
Karri Peifer, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024
Rather than hanging out with John Fisher, maybe Bob Nutting should spend some time in Kansas City with John Sherman or in Detroit with Christopher Ilitch, and learn how an investment in players, and a commitment to winning, can pay dividends well beyond a measly $200,000.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
These aren’t measly sales with no-name brands either.
—Megan McCarty, StyleCaster, 23 July 2024
Forrest is a war hero, college graduate, and gazillionaire, but a couple of measly IQ points, and he is automatically filed as incompetent and incapable.
—Ciara Moloney, IndieWire, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for measly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for measly
Adjective
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Ever since, however, TCU has started three wings alongside Van Lith and Sedona Prince, once again making the fifth-year senior the nominal point guard.—
Sabreena Merchant,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
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The object of their largesse was an obscure nonprofit called the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation which, for the better part of two decades, had quietly helped firefighters by raising funds for equipment — often things as nominal as gloves and flashlights — not covered in the city budget.—
David Wharton,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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According to the weather service, there were be a marginal to slight risk of flooding in the North Bay; in the interior portions of the East Bay and South Bay; and in the Santa Cruz Mountains.—
Jason Green,
The Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2025
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Overall, personal income grew 0.4% in December, marking a slight acceleration from the 0.3% gain seen the month before, according to Friday’s report.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The pup worked for 13 years helping make others smile — including countless patients at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where he was named the tiniest therapy dog out of more than 100 enrolled in the hospital’s Amerman Family Foundation Dog Therapy Program.—
Luke Chinman,
People.com,
27 Jan. 2025
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There was a tiny cell, its walls painted deep red and carved with graffiti, where prisoners who were to be executed were kept.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Despite the idea that some conservatives attempted to advance, Blacks comprised a paltry 4 percent of DEI positions in the workplace.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
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Your savings Most people with savings accounts at the biggest banks settle for paltry returns on their money — the national average interest rate on savings accounts is just 0.55%, according to Bankrate.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN,
29 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near measly
Cite this Entry
“Measly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/measly. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
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