meager

adjective

ˈmē-gər How to pronounce meager (audio)
variants or meagre
Definition of meagernext
as in sparse
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable ever since he started the diet, his dinners have been more meager than he would like

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective meager differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of meager are scanty, scant, skimpy, spare, and sparse. While all these words mean "falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable," meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

When is scant a more appropriate choice than meager?

The synonyms scant and meager are sometimes interchangeable, but scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

When would scanty be a good substitute for meager?

The words scanty and meager can be used in similar contexts, but scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

When can skimpy be used instead of meager?

While in some cases nearly identical to meager, skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

When might spare be a better fit than meager?

The meanings of spare and meager largely overlap; however, spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

In what contexts can sparse take the place of meager?

The words sparse and meager are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of meager Greensboro shot a meager 13% from the field, the worst rate by any USC opponent this season, while its 25 points were the second fewest in a women’s NCAA tournament game, just four from the record. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2025 This spring, Peraza has struggled posting a meager .194 batting average. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025 The University of Kinshasa, supported during the Cold War with American financial assistance as the largest center of higher learning in Africa, still has over 29,000 students, but meager resources to support young Congolese who aspire for the same hopes and dreams as us all. —Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025 Sure, prescribing poetry in the face of societal turbulence can seem a meager or even an escapist response. —Alissa Quart, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for meager
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meager
  1. sparse
  2. scarce
  3. poor
Adjective
  • Prevent seeds from establishing by maintaining a healthy lawn, stop seed germination with pre-emergent herbicides, Maintain a Healthy Lawn Dandelions thrive in thin, sparse lawns and garden beds.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The trend left a lasting impact on Marchand and others in her generation who were left with sparse, barely-there brows.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of sparse
Adjective
  • Details of who makes up the DOGE staff have been scarce despite the intense media attention on the team's efforts.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
  • As a rule, if rain is scarce, a crepe myrtle needs two to three gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter per week.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of scarce
Adjective
  • Some parents worry that Alexa's high tolerance for rudeness instills poor behavior in their kids, according to Quartz.
    — Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Road conditions are rapidly deteriorating, with the percentage of roads in poor condition expected to double in two years.
    — Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of poor

Browse Nearby Words

meads
meager
meagerly
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Cite this Entry

“Meager.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meager. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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