meager funds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "meager funds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where financial resources are limited or insufficient. Example: "Due to meager funds, the organization struggled to maintain its programs and services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

We had meager funds in those days.

The New York Times - Sports

After People's Songs went under in 1949, having exhausted its meager funds on Henry Wallace's failed 1948 presidential campaign, Mr. Silber, Mr. Seeger and others founded Sing Out!

The New York Times - Arts

With meager funds and a compressed time horizon, the club favored cheap, volatile technology companies -- stocks like Antennas America and StemCells.

The New York Times

Now his family, its meager funds exhausted, cannot raise the $46 it needs to get his body out of the morgue and into the city cemetery.

The New York Times

The myth of medical research is colossal grants and egos to match, but I went looking for a scientist working on the margins, toiling away with meager funds against a condition everyone would just as soon ignore.

The New York Times - Magazine

One problem was that in the months before his arrest, Mr. Dreier had drained his liquid assets, including his firm's accounts, leaving only meager funds for the receiver to close the firm and carry out his duties.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Despite her enthusiasm, Sclafani offered only a few funded programs, all with (by Washington standards) meager funding.

Science Magazine

But some parents of students at the school said that mismanagement preceded the financial crisis, and that a sudden rise in tuition in 2009 had led to the departure of many students, and that the problem had been made worse by a lack of investment and meager fund-raising efforts.

The New York Times

In particular, U.S.-based startups saw meager funding, with less than $7 million invested in early-stage prospects that described themselves as dating companies.

TechCrunch

He ticks off big problems: a dearth of doctors who specialize in geriatrics, meager funding for prevention of diseases like Alzheimer's, and fragmented long-term care services.

Forbes

The meager funding available from the state is only a small step in that direction, the administrators say.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing financial constraints, use "meager funds" to convey the idea of a small or insufficient amount of money available for a particular purpose. Ensure the context clearly indicates what the funds are inadequate for.

Common error

Avoid using "meager funds" when you simply want to state the amount of money, without emphasizing its insufficiency. If the amount is the only point, a more neutral phrase like "limited funds" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meager funds" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "meager" modifies the noun "funds". This construction is used to describe the state of financial resources, emphasizing their scarcity or inadequacy, as validated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "meager funds" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a limited or insufficient amount of money. As affirmed by Ludwig, it is most commonly found in news and media, academic writing, and scientific reports. When using this phrase, be mindful of its connotation of inadequacy and ensure it aligns with your intended message. Alternatives like "limited funds" or "scarce funds" can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances. Be careful not to misuse the term merely to specify an amount without implying its insufficiency. Remember to maintain consistency with Ludwig AI analysis and ensure accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited funds

Replaces "meager" with "limited", suggesting a restriction on available financial resources.

scarce funds

Uses "scarce" to emphasize the rarity or insufficient quantity of funds.

restricted funds

Highlights that the funds are subject to limitations or constraints.

insufficient funds

Directly states that the funds are not enough to meet the requirements.

paltry funds

Emphasizes the insignificance or worthlessness of the funds available.

exiguous funds

A more formal synonym for "meager", implying a very small amount of funds.

inadequate funds

Indicates that the funds are not sufficient for a particular purpose.

minimal funds

Stresses that the funds are reduced to the lowest possible amount.

small amount of funds

Expresses the idea using a more descriptive phrase rather than a direct adjective.

tight budget

Refers to the situation where the budget is strictly controlled due to limited funds.

FAQs

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

You can use "meager funds" to describe situations where financial resources are limited. For example, "Due to "meager funds", the project faced significant delays."

What are some alternatives to "meager funds"?

Alternatives include phrases like "limited funds", "scarce funds", or "insufficient funds". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "meager funds"?

While grammatically correct, "meager funds" carries a connotation of inadequacy. Use it when you want to emphasize the insufficiency of the funds, not just to state the amount. If you are simply stating the amount then something like "limited funds" may be better.

What's the difference between "meager funds" and "limited funding"?

"Meager funds" typically refers to the small amount of money itself, while "limited funding" focuses on the act of providing the funds. While similar in meaning, "limited funding" is normally used when talking about a process of the finance being distributed, or allocated.