skimpy

adjective

ˈskim-pē How to pronounce skimpy (audio)
skimpier; skimpiest
Synonyms of skimpynext
: deficient in supply or execution especially through skimping : scanty
skimpily
ˈskim-pə-lē How to pronounce skimpy (audio)
adverb
skimpiness
ˈskim-pē-nəs How to pronounce skimpy (audio)
noun

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for skimpy

meager, scanty, scant, skimpy, spare, sparse 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

scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

Examples of skimpy in a Sentence

the information in the user's manual for the microwave is skimpy and not particularly helpful
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The tier also includes 30GB of NVMe SSD storage space and an incredibly skimpy one email account. — Robert Anderson, PC Magazine, 15 July 2025 To entertain a short, albeit deceptive ceasefire on American terms would contradict the urgency of that false story, and risk undermining the skimpy morale of his troops, whose lives his commanders often fritter away in brutal, frontal assaults. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 July 2025 Notably, Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Simpson also shared pictures of themselves in skimpy swimwear. — Michael Nied, People.com, 8 July 2025 Both styles are served on a toasty, buttery brioche bun — tasty, but a little heavy, swallowing the skimpy serving of lobster on top. — Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for skimpy

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of skimpy was in 1842

Rhymes for skimpy

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Browse Nearby Words

skimpingly
skimpy
skin
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Cite this Entry

“Skimpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skimpy. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of skimpy for Spanish Speakers

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