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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Recent Examples of measly
The real, or inflation-adjusted, increase was a measly 2% during his term — less than half a percent per year.
—
Peter St. Onge, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The answer ultimately lies in the inverted pyramid’s layout, a bright red steak and giant stick of butter prominently featured above a measly sliver of whole grains.
—Tania Fabo, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Not when All-Pro cornerback Quinyon Mitchell’s two interceptions only yielded a field goal in a measly exchange rate that would infuriate any economist.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
What was she supposed to do after that, write a bunch of measly recipes?
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for measly
Peter St. Onge, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The answer ultimately lies in the inverted pyramid’s layout, a bright red steak and giant stick of butter prominently featured above a measly sliver of whole grains.
—Tania Fabo, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Not when All-Pro cornerback Quinyon Mitchell’s two interceptions only yielded a field goal in a measly exchange rate that would infuriate any economist.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
What was she supposed to do after that, write a bunch of measly recipes?
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for measly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for measly
Adjective
-
Israeli forces seized a 12th-century Crusader castle in southern Lebanon, as Israel intensifies its farthest incursion into the country in 26 years, despite a nominal ceasefire.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
31 May 2026
-
Achraf Hakimi, despite his nominal position, rarely plays on the right or at the back, and instead is often high and central as an extra midfielder and to provide the right-winger with underlapping runs.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
The finish is short, with lingering notes of citrus, pepper, and a slight mineral edge.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
That slight tweak—far from the grandiose promise of political revolution—might find power in the voters’ verdict.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
Keep scrolling for tiny travel essentials that'll fit right in your personal item.—
Aly Walansky,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
-
These migratory aerial acrobats need a lot of energy to beat their tiny wings so fast.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
The budget is slightly smaller than the current one, sets aside $14 billion in reserves and contains a paltry menu of tax cuts worth $146 million.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
28 May 2026
-
The free-agent market is paltry at best, so Guerin will likely have to make his mark via trade.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Measly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/measly. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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