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paltry

[pawl-tree] / ˈpɔl tri /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There is no single, standard definition of middle class, or upper middle class, and what counts as a hefty income in one city can feel paltry in another.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

"It's a paltry sum when you think about the number of households on heating oil," he said.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

“Years of narrow, large cap leadership have forced active investors into mega caps, leaving the average stock out in the cold — it’s 20% underweight, and owned by a paltry 10% of funds on average.”

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

Natural population growth last year was a paltry 519,000, down from 1.1 million in 2017 and between 1.6 million and 1.9 million during the 2000s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

Grog had fared even worse, racing thirty-seven times before being claimed for a paltry $ 1,500.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand




Vocabulary lists containing paltry