What does skimpily mean?
Skimpily means in a stingy or inadequate manner, with too little of a resource being supplied or used. The word often suggests deliberate economy, as in describing a meal served skimpily or a room furnished skimpily, but it can also indicate simple neglect or a failure to provide an adequate amount. Its tone is usually critical: it implies that the result is meagre, poorly provisioned, or not good enough for the purpose. Alongside its sense of miserliness, skimpily can describe practical shortfalls, such as a poorly maintained trail or a building whose decoration has been cut back. The adverb is derived from the adjective skimpy, whose established senses include stingy and insufficient. Although it occurs in both British and American English, it is less common than words such as sparingly, meanly, or inadequately and often carries a more pointed, evaluative flavour.
adverbIn a skimpy manner, especially by using too little of something or providing an insufficient amount.
- In a stingy or miserly manner, using or supplying too little.
- In an insufficient or inadequate manner, with less of something than is needed or expected.
"The kitchen was furnished skimpily, with only a table and two mismatched chairs."
"He poured the coffee skimpily, as though reluctant to share it."
"The trail was skimpily marked, forcing hikers to guess which path to follow."
Skimpily describes a shortfall you can measure: a skimpily served meal leaves everyone a little hungrier.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does skimpily come from?
Skimpily is an adverb formed from the adjective skimpy, with the suffix -ly. The adjective emerged in the nineteenth century for senses connected with stinginess and insufficiency, but its precise earlier origin is uncertain. The related verb skimp is also attested for acting stingily or providing too little, although the development of all three forms cannot be traced with certainty.
Related word forms
How skimpily is actually used
The adverb is somewhat formal and evaluative. It commonly describes provisions, funding, clothing, decoration, or other resources that are insufficient, stingily limited, or poorly supplied.