What is another word for paltry?
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A
Insignificant
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B
Punitive
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C
Prolonged
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D
Economical
Paltry describes something trivial, meager, or lacking substantive value, thus insignificant
A) Insignificant
Insignificant captures paltry's core meaning: lacking meaningful magnitude, importance, or impact. Paltry portions disappoint through meagerness; paltry excuses fail through inadequacy, both reflecting insignificance across quantitative and qualitative dimensions.
B) Punitive
Punitive relates to punishment, disciplinary intent rather than value assessment. Something may be punitively severe yet substantial, or paltrily mild yet non-punitive. These represent orthogonal concepts: intent versus magnitude.
C) Prolonged
Prolongation addresses temporal duration, extended timeframes rather than value assessment. Paltry describes insufficiency regardless of duration (brief paltry speech; lengthy paltry speech). Time and significance represent independent evaluative dimensions.
D) Economical
Economy denotes efficient resource use, positive connotation of prudent allocation. Paltry implies inadequate allocation, negative insufficiency. These represent inverse value judgments: economical praises restraint; paltry condemns scarcity.
Conclusion
Paltry denotes insufficiency of magnitude or importance, triviality that fails to meet expectations across quantitative or qualitative domains. Unlike punitive (disciplinary), prolonged (temporal), or economical (efficient), insignificant alone captures paltry's essential character: the failure to achieve meaningful scale or impact that renders something dismissible.
Topic Flashcards
Click to FlipWhat does negligible mean?
So small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant.
What is the meaning of meager?
Lacking in quantity or quality; deficient in amount (e.g., a meager meal).
What is an antonym (opposite) of paltry?
Substantial, significant, or considerable.
What does derisory mean?
Ridiculously small or inadequate; inviting or deserving mockery (e.g., a derisory offer).
What is a direct synonym for paltry?
Insignificant, trivial, or meager.