measly

/ˈmiːzli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmiːzli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmēz-lē ˈmē-zə-/ (ame, mw)

measly — adjective

  • measlypositive
  • measliercomparative
  • measliestsuperlative

1. annoyingly small in amount or number, especially when you were expecting or hopi

1.形容詞C1
釋義

annoyingly small in amount or number, especially when you were expecting or hoping for much more.

例句

After three years of overtime, Nikhil received a measly five-dollar raise.

a measly + [amount] for disappointment about size of reward

The charity dinner raised a measly two hundred dollars for the children's hospital.

a measly + [number/amount] for a disappointingly small total

同義詞
  • paltry

    more formal; same idea of contemptibly small amount

  • piddling

    informal; emphasises that the amount is too trivial to bother with

  • miserable

    informal in this sense; same complaining tone about a low amount

  • stingy

    describes a portion or serving that is unfairly small, often of food or pay

反義詞
  • generous

    of an amount that exceeds expectation in a pleasing way

  • hefty

    informal; of an amount that is impressively large

文法句型

a measly + amount/number

only a measly + noun

用法筆記

Almost always attributive, in the pattern 'a measly + number/amount + noun'. Carries the speaker's complaint that the quantity falls far below what was expected — the word itself signals the speaker's annoyance, not just smallness.

常見錯誤

❌My grandmother is measly.
✅My grandmother gave me a measly five dollars for my birthday.
💡'measly' describes the amount or item, not the person; the person is 'stingy' or 'mean'.
❌The cup of coffee was measly hot.
✅The cup of coffee was barely warm.
💡'measly' does not modify adjectives; it only modifies amounts or countable items.