meager attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "meager attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an effort that is insufficient or lacking in quality or quantity. Example: "His meager attempt to fix the car only made the problem worse."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In a meager attempt to nudge companies to authorize more compassionate use cases, the federal right-to-try bill offers companies immunity from legal recourse should drug-related adverse events occur.

Huffington Post

On Sunday, the New York Times reported that an intelligence official and general who has since been fired in what looked like a meager attempt at damage control was among a group of Saudi officials who broached international assassinations in private-sector meetings last year.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Both, our meager attempts at access.

The New York Times - Travel

The story reveals were meager attempts at creating deep mythos and a multi-franchise build.

Huffington Post

It's hard to fathom that anyone who supports full equality believes these meager attempts are really worth keeping the Senate in the hands of the GOP.

Huffington Post

Several meager attempts at chants by the collected alt-right fizzled out as quickly as they emerged, and shouts meant to provoke the protesters never reached the ears they were meant for.

Vice

It's a huge payoff for the meager effort.

The New York Times - Food

Yet political candidates campaign -- and win -- on promises of reducing taxes on companies and muzzling even meager regulatory attempts to harness corporate actions in ways that limit the damage to society.

Huffington Post

Following war with the United States in the 1970s, farmers started a second crop, and then a third in an attempt to increase meager incomes.

Vice

Even if the town's lone Internet provider is having a bad day, they can load CD-ROM's with interactive, multimedia electronic textbooks by Tomsk's leading physics professors -- which also allows them to see their professors, even though meager megabytes have thwarted videoconferencing attempts They can also conduct independent electronic laboratory experiments.

The New York Times

But the chase continues off the track, too, with his would-be rivals (does he have any true rivals?) playing tricks with time in an attempt to optimize their meager chances against him in Sunday's semifinals and, presumably, final.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "meager attempt", ensure the context clearly indicates why the effort is considered insufficient. Be specific about the resources, effort, or impact that is lacking.

Common error

Avoid using "meager attempt" when the result was surprisingly successful. This phrase suggests failure or insignificance, so it is not suitable for describing unexpectedly positive outcomes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meager attempt" functions as a descriptive term, typically used to qualify a noun (attempt) indicating that it is deficient or insufficient. The adjective "meager" modifies "attempt", emphasizing its inadequacy. According to Ludwig AI, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "meager attempt" is a phrase used to describe an effort that is insufficient or inadequate. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While the phrase is relatively rare, synonyms like "paltry effort" or "insignificant attempt" can be used to convey similar meanings. When using "meager attempt", ensure the context clearly highlights the deficiency of the effort being described and be mindful of overstating an outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

paltry effort

Replaces "meager" with "paltry", emphasizing the insignificance of the effort.

insignificant attempt

Substitutes "meager" with "insignificant", highlighting the lack of importance or impact.

feeble attempt

Replaces "meager" with "feeble", suggesting a lack of strength or effectiveness.

weak effort

Uses "weak" instead of "meager" and "effort" instead of "attempt", indicating a lack of force or power.

slight effort

Emphasizes the small degree or extent of the effort.

limited attempt

Highlights the restricted scope or extent of the attempt.

trivial effort

Suggests the attempt was of little value or importance.

poorly executed attempt

Focuses on the quality of the attempt, indicating it was not done well.

half-hearted attempt

Implies a lack of enthusiasm or commitment in the attempt.

superficial attempt

Highlights the lack of depth or thoroughness in the attempt.

FAQs

What does "meager attempt" mean?

A "meager attempt" describes an effort that is small, insufficient, or lacking in quality and is not expected to be successful. It suggests a minimal level of effort was applied.

How can I use "meager attempt" in a sentence?

You can use "meager attempt" to describe someone's unsuccessful or inadequate effort to achieve something. For example: "His "meager attempt" to fix the car only made the problem worse."

What are some synonyms for "meager attempt"?

Alternatives to "meager attempt" include "paltry effort", "insignificant attempt", or "feeble attempt". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "meager attempt"?

Use "meager attempt" when you want to emphasize the insufficiency or inadequacy of an effort. It is appropriate when the attempt is clearly not enough to achieve the desired result and you want to convey a sense of disappointment or futility.