What does meagrely mean?
Meagrely is an adverb meaning in a small, sparse, or conspicuously inadequate degree. It is especially used when describing resources, funding, support, attention, or provision that falls well short of what might reasonably be expected. For example, a library described as being meagrely funded receives little money, and an exhibition that is meagrely stocked contains too few examples for visitors to explore fully. The word has a strongly evaluative quality: unlike simply saying that something is limited, it suggests that the limitation is disappointing, inadequate, or unlikely to meet present needs. It is therefore useful in editorial, academic, and analytical writing when an author wants to emphasize not only scarcity but also the consequences of that scarcity. In British English the adverb is usually spelled “meagrely,” while American English generally uses “meagerly.”
adverbIn a small, insufficient, or inadequate amount or degree; sparingly and inadequately.
- In a small, scarce, or inadequate amount or degree.
"The funding was distributed meagrely among the community projects."
"Resources were distributed meagrely, leaving several departments unable to complete their work."
"The novel's historical detail is meagrely developed, though its central argument remains compelling."
Meagrely turns an already modest amount into an unmistakable signal of scarcity: it describes not merely what is small, but how insufficiently it is provided.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does meagrely come from?
The word belongs to a family derived through French from Latin macer, meaning lean or thin and, by extension, insufficient or poor in quality or quantity. English acquired the adjective in the Middle English period, and the adverb developed from it in the early modern period. The same Latin root also underlies words such as macerate and emaciate, which retain senses connected with thinness or wasting away.
How meagrely is actually used
The adverb is somewhat formal and commonly carries a critical tone, emphasizing insufficiency rather than simply describing a small quantity. The spelling “meagrely” is traditional British English; “meagerly” is standard in American English.
Easily confused with meagrely
“Meagre” is the standard spelling in British English, while “meager” is the standard spelling in American English; both are adjectives and have the same meaning.