skimpy

/ˈskɪmpi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈskɪmpi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈskim-pē/ (ame, mw)

skimpy — adjective

  • skimpypositive
  • skimpiercomparative
  • skimpiestsuperlative

1. smaller in amount, size, or quantity than what is needed, often in a disappointi

1.形容詞B1
釋義

smaller in amount, size, or quantity than what is needed, often in a disappointing way — for example, a skimpy meal that does not fill you up, or a skimpy budget that cannot cover your costs.

例句

The hostel gave guests a skimpy towel the size of a napkin.

collocation: skimpy + concrete noun (towel, portion, meal)

Kenji felt the three-day training class was too skimpy to prepare him for the job.

同義詞
  • meager

    stronger sense of barely enough to survive on; more serious tone than 'skimpy'

  • scant

    suggests barely reaching a minimum; used with amounts and quantities

  • inadequate

    focuses on not meeting a required standard; more formal than 'skimpy'

反義詞
  • generous

    large in amount or size; positive opposite

  • ample

    more than enough; formal opposite

文法句型

skimpy + noun

be + skimpy

用法筆記

Often used with concrete nouns like portion, meal, salary, or budget — things people expect to be generous but find disappointing. The tone is mildly critical.

常見錯誤

❌The meal was skimpy' (vague).
✅The restaurant served a skimpy portion of rice.
💡'skimpy' works best when it modifies the specific thing that is too small, not as a standalone description of a general situation.

2. describes clothing that uses very little fabric, leaving much of the body uncove

2.形容詞B1
釋義

describes clothing that uses very little fabric, leaving much of the body uncovered and visible to others — for example, a skimpy bikini or a skimpy dress with thin straps.

例句

Fatima wore a skimpy bikini to the beach party last Saturday.

The store sells skimpy summer dresses with thin straps and very short hems.

collocation: skimpy dress / skimpy outfit

同義詞
  • revealing

    neutral description; less informal than 'skimpy'

  • scanty

    similar meaning but more formal and less common in everyday speech

  • brief

    used for swimwear or shorts; softer and less critical tone

反義詞
  • modest

    covers the body fully; positive opposite

  • conservative

    traditional in style, not revealing

文法句型

skimpy + clothing noun

用法筆記

Almost always describes clothing items — swimwear, dresses, tops, costumes. The tone ranges from neutral description to mild disapproval depending on context and the speaker's attitude.

常見錯誤

❌She wore a skimpy dress to the interview' (context mismatch).
✅She wore a skimpy bikini at the beach resort.
💡'skimpy' clothing is typically associated with casual, holiday, or performance settings, not formal or professional ones.