meager profits

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "meager profits" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where the profits generated are minimal or insufficient, often in a business context. Example: "Despite the hard work and investment, the company reported meager profits at the end of the fiscal year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

That has meant meager profits or none for global PC brands.

The New York Times - Tech

His boat was actually owned by a policeman who shared in the meager profits.

The New York Times

In recent years, Molson's sports division has lost money or made meager profits.

The New York Times - Sports

In a report, Moody's warned that German banks suffer from meager profits, rising risk and insufficient reserves to absorb losses.

The New York Times

FRANKFURT -- The market for luxury cars is recovering, but makers of the lower-priced cars that most people drive could struggle with meager profits for years to come.

The New York Times

They are not paid by the state, relying instead on donations from the communities they serve and on meager profits from the sale of discarded items.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Last year, the top eight airlines earned $4 billion with total revenue of $122 billion, showing a meager profit margin of 3.3 percent.

The New York Times

The fear of this happening is sending farmers to the black market, where they pay a premium for solar, wiping out their meager profit margins.

The New York Times

Similarly, a coalition of retailers framed the debate as pitting the giant banks that issue the most debit cards — JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo — against mom-and-pop retailers that were trying to scrape by on meager profit margins.

The New York Times

4 41 p.m. | Updated Nomura Holdings on Monday reported a meager profit in the latest quarter as it continued to deal with fallout from an insider trading scandal and weak industry conditions.

The New York Times

The surprise announcement comes after the company's earnings report in July, when it disappointed investors in reporting a profit of $12 million for the fourth quarter -- a meager profit wiped out by the announcement yesterday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a company's financial performance, use "meager profits" to clearly indicate that the earnings are insufficient or disappointing. This phrase is suitable for formal reports and news articles.

Common error

Avoid using "meager profits" when the profits are simply lower than expected but still substantial. The phrase implies a significant lack of earnings, so ensure the context warrants such a strong descriptor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meager profits" functions as a descriptive phrase, where 'meager' modifies the noun 'profits'. It's used to characterize profits as being small, insufficient, or disappointing. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "meager profits" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote insufficient earnings, particularly in business and economic contexts. Ludwig AI analysis of numerous real-world examples confirms its usability and correctness. When using "meager profits", be sure the context warrants this strong descriptor, as it implies a significant shortfall in earnings. Consider related phrases like "slight profits" or "scant profits" for varying degrees of emphasis. The phrase appears most commonly in news and business publications, lending itself well to formal reports and analyses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight profits

Replaces "meager" with "slight", indicating a small amount of profit.

scant profits

Uses "scant" instead of "meager", emphasizing the insufficiency of the profits.

poor profits

Substitutes "meager" with "poor", highlighting the low quality of the profits.

small profits

Replaces "meager" with "small", denoting the size of the profits.

minimal profits

Uses "minimal" to underscore that the profits are barely sufficient.

weak profits

Employs "weak" instead of "meager", signifying the insubstantial nature of the earnings.

low earnings

Replaces "profits" with the more general term "earnings", indicating a broader scope of income.

modest revenues

Shifts from "profits" to "revenues", broadening the context to include all income, while "modest" replaces "meager".

thin margins

Focuses on profit margins instead of total profits, using "thin" to describe the low margins.

paltry gains

Replaces both "meager" and "profits" with "paltry" and "gains", creating a more dramatic shift in tone while retaining the core meaning.

FAQs

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

You can use "meager profits" to describe a situation where earnings are very low, such as: "Despite increased sales, the company reported "meager profits" due to high operating costs."

What are some alternatives to "meager profits"?

Alternatives include "slight profits", "scant profits", or "poor profits". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "meager profits" in formal writing?

Yes, "meager profits" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in business reports, financial analyses, and news articles. It clearly communicates the insufficiency of the earnings.

What is the difference between "meager profits" and "low revenue"?

"Meager profits" refers specifically to the earnings after expenses are deducted. "Low revenue" indicates a small amount of total income before expenses. A company can have high revenue but still report "meager profits" if its expenses are too high.