150+ Synonyms For Meager with Meanings and Examples In 2026

Quick Answer

Meager means small in amount or poor in quality. Common swaps include scant, scanty, sparse, paltry, and inadequate.

You are writing a report on food supplies and the word meager appears in every other line. The repetition makes the shortage sound less urgent. This article offers 50 synonyms of meager, each with a short meaning and two example sentences. The adjective describes something that is too small, too thin, or not enough for the purpose. It fits reports on income, harvests, portions, and resources. Writers seek alternatives because the same term loses force when overused. A news story may need a precise word, while a story may want something sharper. Some options describe small amounts, and others point to poor quality or thinness. The list ahead covers that range, followed by a short quiz and common questions. Use it whenever a sentence needs a fresher way to describe something lacking.

Table of Contents

50 Synonyms for Meager

1. Scant

Short Meaning: Very little in amount or supply.

Example 1: The hikers had scant water left after the long climb.

Example 2: Scant evidence supported the claim in the report.

2. Scanty

Short Meaning: Too small in size or amount.

Example 1: The scanty rainfall hurt the whole harvest.

Example 2: His scanty notes made revision difficult.

3. Sparse

Short Meaning: Thinly spread or few in number.

Example 1: The sparse crowd barely filled the hall.

Example 2: Trees are sparse on that dry hillside.

4. Paltry

Short Meaning: Small and not worth much.

Example 1: The workers rejected the paltry pay rise.

Example 2: He left a paltry tip on the table.

5. Inadequate

Short Meaning: Not enough for what is needed.

Example 1: The shelter was inadequate for the cold night.

Example 2: Her training proved inadequate for the role.

6. Insufficient

Short Meaning: Lacking in quantity or power.

Example 1: Insufficient funds stopped the project early.

Example 2: The evidence was insufficient for a conviction.

7. Skimpy

Short Meaning: Too small or too little in size or amount.

Example 1: The skimpy portions left everyone hungry.

Example 2: She wore a skimpy jacket for the cold.

8. Slender

Short Meaning: Small in amount or slight.

Example 1: The team held a slender lead at halftime.

Example 2: He had a slender chance of winning.

9. Slim

Short Meaning: Small and not much to spare.

Example 1: The firm survived on slim profits.

Example 2: There is a slim chance of rain today.

10. Thin

Short Meaning: Not dense or not enough in amount.

Example 1: The soup was thin and lacked flavor.

Example 2: Attendance was thin at the morning session.

11. Poor

Short Meaning: Low in quality or quantity.

Example 1: The soil gave a poor crop this year.

Example 2: He made a poor effort on the task.

12. Puny

Short Meaning: Small and weak.

Example 1: The puny plant struggled in the shade.

Example 2: They offered a puny sum for the house.

13. Measly

Short Meaning: Very small and disappointing, in casual talk.

Example 1: He earned a measly wage for long hours.

Example 2: They gave a measly slice of cake.

14. Negligible

Short Meaning: So small it hardly matters.

Example 1: The change in price was negligible.

Example 2: The risk to visitors is negligible.

15. Trifling

Short Meaning: Small and unimportant.

Example 1: He lost his temper over a trifling matter.

Example 2: The savings were trifling but welcome.

16. Exiguous

Short Meaning: Very small in size or amount, in formal use.

Example 1: The exiguous budget limited all plans.

Example 2: They lived on an exiguous income.

17. Deficient

Short Meaning: Lacking something that is needed.

Example 1: The diet was deficient in iron.

Example 2: His report was deficient in key facts.

18. Lacking

Short Meaning: Missing or not having enough.

Example 1: The plan is lacking in clear steps.

Example 2: The team was lacking in experience.

19. Wanting

Short Meaning: Not good enough or missing something.

Example 1: The service was wanting in speed.

Example 2: His effort was found wanting.

20. Short

Short Meaning: Not reaching the needed amount.

Example 1: We are short of chairs for the guests.

Example 2: The crops came up short this season.

21. Limited

Short Meaning: Restricted in amount or range.

Example 1: The shop has a limited supply of the item.

Example 2: Seats are limited for the evening show.

22. Restricted

Short Meaning: Kept within narrow limits.

Example 1: The team worked with a restricted budget.

Example 2: Access to the site is restricted.

23. Bare

Short Meaning: Only just enough.

Example 1: They survived on the bare essentials.

Example 2: The room had the bare minimum of furniture.

24. Spare

Short Meaning: Small and plain, with nothing extra.

Example 1: The meal was spare but filling.

Example 2: He keeps a spare diet during training.

25. Frugal

Short Meaning: Simple and careful with money.

Example 1: They lived a frugal life in the country.

Example 2: The frugal meal cost very little.

26. Stingy

Short Meaning: Unwilling to give or spend much.

Example 1: The boss was stingy with bonuses.

Example 2: He gave a stingy portion to each guest.

27. Miserly

Short Meaning: Extremely unwilling to spend.

Example 1: The miserly landlord refused all repairs.

Example 2: She kept a miserly grip on the funds.

28. Niggardly

Short Meaning: Very small and mean in amount.

Example 1: They offered a niggardly sum for the work.

Example 2: The niggardly portion upset the diners.

29. Begrudging

Short Meaning: Given in a slow and unwilling way.

Example 1: He gave a begrudging nod of approval.

Example 2: Her begrudging help came too late.

30. Scrimpy

Short Meaning: Too small and barely enough.

Example 1: The scrimpy meal left them tired.

Example 2: They lived on scrimpy rations for weeks.

31. Shabby

Short Meaning: Poor in quality or condition.

Example 1: The hotel room looked shabby and old.

Example 2: He wore a shabby coat all winter.

32. Pathetic

Short Meaning: Sadly small or weak.

Example 1: The turnout was pathetic for such a big event.

Example 2: He made a pathetic attempt at an excuse.

33. Sorry

Short Meaning: Poor and not worth much.

Example 1: They made a sorry effort at the clean up.

Example 2: The garden looked a sorry sight after the frost.

34. Wretched

Short Meaning: Very poor or of low quality.

Example 1: The family lived in wretched conditions.

Example 2: He gave a wretched performance on stage.

35. Miserable

Short Meaning: Very small or very poor in quality.

Example 1: They earned a miserable wage for hard work.

Example 2: The team made a miserable start to the season.

36. Pitiful

Short Meaning: So small or poor it stirs pity.

Example 1: The harvest was pitiful after the drought.

Example 2: He gave a pitiful excuse for being late.

37. Lean

Short Meaning: Small, thin, or lacking extra.

Example 1: The company survived the lean years.

Example 2: They ate a lean meal of bread and soup.

38. Stark

Short Meaning: Plain and without comfort.

Example 1: The room was stark and cold.

Example 2: The report painted a stark picture of the shortage.

39. Barren

Short Meaning: Unable to produce much.

Example 1: The barren field yielded almost nothing.

Example 2: The talks ended in a barren result.

40. Unproductive

Short Meaning: Not producing good results.

Example 1: The meeting was long and unproductive.

Example 2: The land is unproductive without water.

41. Fruitless

Short Meaning: Producing no useful result.

Example 1: The search proved fruitless after two days.

Example 2: Their fruitless efforts left them tired.

42. Empty

Short Meaning: Containing nothing or very little.

Example 1: The shelves were empty after the sale.

Example 2: He made an empty promise to help.

43. Hollow

Short Meaning: Without real value or meaning.

Example 1: The victory felt hollow after the injury.

Example 2: His hollow words convinced no one.

44. Trivial

Short Meaning: Very small and unimportant.

Example 1: They argued over a trivial detail.

Example 2: The fee was trivial compared to the total.

45. Insignificant

Short Meaning: Too small to matter.

Example 1: The error was insignificant and easily fixed.

Example 2: Their share of the market is insignificant.

46. Minor

Short Meaning: Small and not serious.

Example 1: The car suffered only minor damage.

Example 2: She made a few minor changes to the plan.

47. Inconsiderable

Short Meaning: Small and not worth noticing.

Example 1: The sum was inconsiderable to the firm.

Example 2: He played an inconsiderable role in the project.

48. Marginal

Short Meaning: Very small and near the limit.

Example 1: The party won a marginal victory.

Example 2: The change made only a marginal difference.

49. Nominal

Short Meaning: Very small, often in name only.

Example 1: They charged a nominal fee for entry.

Example 2: He holds a nominal title with little power.

50. Token

Short Meaning: Small and done only for show.

Example 1: The firm made a token effort at reform.

Example 2: They gave a token gift to each guest.

Short Quiz

1: What does meager mean in simple terms?

A. Large and generous
B. Small in amount or poor in quality
C. Very bright and colorful
D. Easy to find

2: Which word best fits this sentence? The hikers had ______ water left after the long climb.

A. Scant
B. Plenty
C. Abundant
D. Ample

3: How does sparse differ from paltry?

A. They mean exactly the same thing
B. Sparse means thinly spread, paltry means small and not worth much
C. Sparse is casual slang
D. Paltry only applies to money

4: Which choice sounds most formal in a report?

A. Measly
B. Skimpy
C. Exiguous
D. Puny

5: A meal is very small and barely enough. Which word fits best?

A. Scrimpy
B. Abundant
C. Generous
D. Plentiful

Quiz Answers

B. It means small in amount or poor in quality.

A. Scant fits because it means very little in amount or supply.

B. Sparse means thinly spread, while paltry means small and not worth much.

C. Exiguous suits a formal report because it means very small in size or amount.

A. Scrimpy works because it means too small and barely enough.

FAQs

1: What is the best synonym for meager?

Scant is often the best general choice among the many synonyms of meager.

2: What is the simple meaning of meager?

It means small in amount or poor in quality.

3: What is a suitable formal alternative?

Exiguous works well in academic, legal, and official writing.

4: Can these words describe food and portions?

Yes, terms like skimpy, scrimpy, and paltry all fit food and portions.

5: What is the opposite of meager?

Abundant is a common opposite, meaning large in amount or more than enough.

Conclusion

This set of synonyms of meager gives writers, students, and reporters many ways to describe shortage and poor quality. Some options point to small amounts, such as scant or sparse, while others describe poor quality, like shabby or wretched. The right pick depends on context, tone, and the exact shade of meaning you need. A news report may call for insufficient, yet a story may prefer bare. Think about your reader before choosing a word. Read the sentence aloud and check that it sounds natural. Careful choices keep your writing clear and precise. Keep this list nearby during editing, and let every sentence carry its full weight.