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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.

Phil Taylor, director of the charity Open Seas, described the fine as "paltry".

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

But no candidate ever had much more than a paltry 20% support; for all the heavy breathing, the race was always pretty much a multi-candidate tie.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

If it returns a paltry 2% over the next 13 years, that child will graduate high school with $300,000—enough for college, trade school or a down payment on a home.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

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

Instead I give her something paltry and useless: a verb to conjugate.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein




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