Word
measly
US/ˈmizɫi/
UK/mˈiːzli/
Definitions
01contemptibly small amount
adj. describing an amount that is so small it feels insulting or disappointing.
adj. denoting an amount or quantity that is contemptibly small or inadequate.
“After working all weekend, he only received a measly ten dollars in tips.”
“The company offered a measly two percent raise, which failed to even keep pace with the current rate of inflation.”
Informal
Usage
Typically used before a noun to emphasize that the number or amount is insufficient.
Teaching tip
While the word comes from 'measles', modern speakers almost exclusively use it to complain about small amounts of money, time, or food.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02infected with measles
adj. suffering from the illness called measles, which causes red spots on the skin.
adj. afflicted with or relating to measles. This literal sense is now less common than the figurative sense regarding small amounts.
“The doctor confirmed the child was measly and needed to stay home.”
“Historical records describe the outbreak as particularly severe, leaving a large portion of the village population measly and bedridden.”
Technical
Real-World Examples
“She scored nearly half of United’s measly total of 21 goals last season.” Etymology
From measle (“singular of measles”) + -y; the word measle is either from Middle Dutch masel (“a blister filled with blood; a pustule, a skin blemish”), or Middle Low German masel (“a red skin blemish”), from Proto-Germanic masuraz (“a knot or scar in wood; a knarl”), from mas-, mēs- (“a spot; a sore; a scar”), from Proto-Indo-European mos- (“a skin sore”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/measly