skimpy

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparableinformaldisapproving

   Too small or too little in amount, so that it seems inadequate.

   Grammar: Goes before a noun or after a verb: a skimpy meal, the meal was skimpy.

   Patterns

   • a skimpy meal
   • skimpy on something

   The hotel served a skimpy breakfast of toast and tea.

   He gave only skimpy details of the plan.

   Our budget for the trip was skimpy.

2. 2adjectivecomparableinformal

   Of clothing, small and thin, covering little of the body.

   Grammar: Describes clothes: a skimpy top.

   Patterns

   • a skimpy outfit

   She wore a skimpy dress despite the cold.

   The skimpy costume drew complaints from parents.

   He packed only skimpy shorts for the winter trip.

Word forms

Common combinations

skimpy outfit

The skimpy outfit was not allowed at school.

skimpy meal

We had a skimpy meal after the long walk.

skimpy details

The news report gave skimpy details.

skimpy budget

A skimpy budget forced them to cut costs.

skimpy pay

The job had skimpy pay and long hours.

Synonyms and how they differ

scanty

Scanty is more formal and less critical than skimpy, which sounds disapproving.

meager

Meager is a more serious word for insufficient amounts such as pay or food.

stingy

Stingy describes a person unwilling to give, while skimpy describes the small amount itself.

revealing

Revealing describes clothes that show a lot of skin and is more neutral than skimpy.

Opposites

Word family

skimp verb

to use too little of something

skimpily adverb

in a way that gives too little

skimpiness noun

the quality of being too small or thin

Commonly confused: skimpy or scrimp?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “skimpy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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