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 of skimpy

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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.
And American bosses were almost as skimpy with new employees, adding staff 77% below the post-Great Recession norm. — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 10 Aug. 2026 Ali Larter flaunted her fit physique in several skimpy bikinis while soaking up the sun during a vacation in Italy. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 This time, the diva is face down in her pool, and the pilgrim is in skimpy lingerie. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2026 The salade de homard has skimpy pieces of lobster tossed on greens with some green beans, and the steak filet is awfully small, though perfectly cooked. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 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 12 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on skimpy

Nglish: Translation of skimpy for Spanish Speakers

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