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.

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

McDonald’s Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski had taken what social media mocked as a paltry nibble in a video promoting the chain’s new Big Arch burger, or “product,” as the CEO called it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

Another local, Gilberto Herrera, 67, works as a public employee and earns a paltry salary of less than one dollar a month.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 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

Near the center of the Milky Way, millions of brilliant stars would be visible to the naked eye, compared to our paltry few thousand.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan