paltry

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.

Prisoners were allowed to slowly build up the paltry offerings of its libraries.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Against Ireland a fortnight ago, England made 16 visits to the opposition 22, but returned with a relatively paltry 21 points.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

State funding for the issue is generally paltry.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

Nearly all of the country’s paltry output in recent years had ultimately flowed there in largely black-market purchases, at a steep discount to global prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 24, 2026

I longed to speak, but could summon only words of paltry thanks and pale affection, so I left them unsaid.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein