Word
scantily
Phoneticsscant·i·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈskæntəɫi/
UK/skˈɑːntɪli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a way that gives or shows very little — not enough to fully cover or fill something. You most often see it about clothes that cover very little of the body.
adv. in a minimal or insufficient way, providing barely enough coverage, supply, or detail. Most often modifies participles and adjectives denoting covering, furnishing, or documentation.
Examples
“They live in a scantily furnished flat.”
“The refugees sleep in scantily heated tents through the cold winter months.”
“The report remains scantily sourced, relying on anonymous quotes that leave its central claim unproven.”
Examples
simple
“They live in a scantily furnished flat.”
contextual
“The refugees sleep in scantily heated tents through the cold winter months.”
complex
“The report remains scantily sourced, relying on anonymous quotes that leave its central claim unproven.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “scantily” in context.
Verb
01. cover scantily
“The child was covered scantily by a thin blanket.”
verb + adv
02. dress scantily
“She dressed scantily because of the intense summer heat.”
verb + adv
03. furnish scantily
“The student flat was furnished scantily with only a bed and desk.”
verb + adv
Adjective
04. scantily attired
“The waiters were scantily attired in shorts and bow ties.”
adv + adj
05. scantily clad
“Two scantily clad dancers performed on the beach stage.”
adv + adj
06. scantily dressed
“Tourists in the resort town were often scantily dressed.”
adv + adj
07. scantily furnished
“They lived in a scantily furnished flat with no curtains.”
adv + adj
08. dress scantily in summer
“Many tourists dress scantily in summer because of the heat.”
09. scantily clad dancers
“Scantily clad dancers entertained the crowd at the carnival.”
10. scantily clad woman
“A scantily clad woman advertised the nightclub on the poster.”
11. scantily covered body
“She wrapped her scantily covered body in a beach towel.”
12. scantily furnished room
“He rented a scantily furnished room with just a mattress.”
Usage
Typically placed directly before the adjective or participle it modifies, as in scantily clad.
Real-World Examples
“But we do hear how Hawking’s victory in a scientific bet was celebrated by making his opponents deliver lectures in T-shirts showing scantily clad women.” “This year, there have already been three lawsuits filed against professional football clubs in the National Football League (NFL) arguing that the scantily-clad, well-trained dancers who work the sidelines aren't compensated fairly for their work, at best, and are subject to degrading work conditions and unwanted sexual contact at worst.” Etymology
From scanty + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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