measly

adjective
mea·​sly | \ ˈmēz-lē How to pronounce measly (audio) , ˈmē-zə-\
measlier; measliest

Definition of measly

1 : infected with measles
2a : containing larval tapeworms
b : infested with trichinae
3 : contemptibly small

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Examples of measly in a Sentence

She complained about being given such a measly raise. All I want is a few measly minutes of your time.

Recent Examples on the Web

He's managed just three goals in the last two seasons combined and his measly return of just 33 points last season speaks for itself. SI.com, "Crystal Palace Fantasy Football: Every Eagles Player's Price in 2019/20 Game Revealed," 7 July 2019 Batters, striking pitches 69% of the time compared with nearly 75% last year, had a measly .199 average against Ramirez. Maria Torres, latimes.com, "Angels’ Noe Ramirez made a quick fix and pitched himself into a bigger role," 28 June 2019 Four months down the line, Matri had scored just one measly goal for Milan and was offloaded to fellow Serie A side Fiorentina. SI.com, "André Silva & 6 Other Strikers Who Flopped at AC Milan," 22 July 2019 Hourly wages for rank-and-file workers are up since Trump’s inauguration, but only at a measly rate after inflation. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, "Column: Trump has turned the Department of Labor into the Department of Employer Rights," 22 July 2019 There is no more pathetic team in Major League Soccer than our beloved Chicago Fire, with four measly victories, six draws and six losses. John Kass, chicagotribune.com, "The loneliness of the Chicago Fire fan," 14 June 2019 Think of it this way: One whole orange is about 60 calories and 15 grams sugar; one serving of orange juice (a measly half cup, or 4 ounces) is about the same. Jaclyn London, Ms, Rd, Cdn, Good Housekeeping, "Is Jamba Juice Healthy? Smoothie Fans Might Not Like the Answer," 29 Aug. 2018 Fortnite is making its way to Android, but not until Samsung device owners get a stab at it first... for a measly couple of days. Makena Kelly, The Verge, "Samsung’s Fortnite exclusive will expire before the Note 9 even launches," 9 Aug. 2018 The median annual wage for creatives in the Miami metro area is a relatively measly $54,000, a far cry from the $97,000 creatives earn in the U.S. innovation capital of Silicon Valley. Andres Viglucci, miamiherald, "Miami wants to be a creative hub. Here’s what might keep that from happening.," 2 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'measly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of measly

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for measly

measly

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of measly

informal + disapproving : very small or too small in size or amount

measly

adjective
mea·​sly | \ ˈmēz-lē How to pronounce measly (audio) \
measlier; measliest

Kids Definition of measly

: so small or unimportant as to be rejected with scorn They left a measly tip for the waiter.

measly

adjective
mea·​sly | \ ˈmēz-(ə-)lē How to pronounce measly (audio) \
measlier; measliest

Medical Definition of measly

1 : infected with measles
2a : containing larval tapeworms
b : infected with trichinae

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