meager sum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "meager sum" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a small or insufficient amount of money or resources. Example: "After working for hours, I was disappointed to receive a meager sum as my paycheck."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

It is a meager sum compared with what they made before.

The New York Times

His campaign said he had more than $300,000, a relatively meager sum at this stage for an incumbent facing a challenge.

The New York Times

The group has raised only about $12,000, a meager sum in a state where ballot campaigns come with multimillion-dollar price tags.

The New York Times

But he added, "We will reinforce our capability" by "mounting multiple warheads on our missiles" and "that will cost us a meager sum".

The New York Times

Mr. McKessy defended what was a meager sum by whistle-blower standards, saying he would be happy if his office consistently paid out small sums over many years.

The New York Times

The Americans started out with just twenty-five toousand dollaresurrecturrect Iraq's collapsed ministries, and even this meager sum came not as cash but in the form of grants that required several weeks for approval.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Many of her colleagues also spend meager sums or recycle old dresses and suits from past affairs.

The New York Times - Style

Start-up money came from Apple: first $60,000, then another $40,000 -- meager sums by today's standards, but enough to finance a modest weekly Web zine that was primarily about books.

The New York Times - Magazine

Inmates, disproportionately represented by blacks, work for meager sums, and the prison system is set up to capitalize on their presence and labor as an investment.

Vice

Inmates, disproportionately represented by blacks, work for meager sums, and the prison system is setup to capitalize on their presence and labour as an investment.

Vice

Of course $50 million is too meager a sum to rescue major arts groups, even as flailing institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts reel from budget cuts.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "meager sum" when you want to emphasize that an amount of money or resources is surprisingly or disappointingly small. It often carries a connotation of inadequacy or insufficiency for a given purpose.

Common error

While acceptable, "meager sum" can sometimes sound slightly informal or understated in very formal or academic writing. Consider stronger or more precise terms like "insufficient funds" or "limited resources" for those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meager sum" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "meager" modifies the noun "sum". It serves to describe the quantity or amount being referred to, emphasizing its smallness or inadequacy. Ludwig confirms this as a correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "meager sum" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable phrase that conveys the notion of a small or insufficient amount of something, typically money. Ludwig's analysis confirms its validity. It's commonly employed in news and media contexts to express concern over inadequate resources or financial situations. While synonyms like "paltry sum" or "small amount" exist, "meager sum" effectively communicates a sense of inadequacy and is suitable for various writing styles, though may be replaced by more formal synonyms when used in academic or business documents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

paltry sum

Substitutes "meager" with "paltry", indicating a contemptibly small amount.

small amount

Replaces the adjective "meager" with the more common adjective "small".

trifling sum

Replaces "meager" with "trifling", suggesting the sum is of little value or consequence.

scant amount

Replaces "meager" with "scant", implying a barely sufficient quantity.

insignificant amount

Emphasizes the lack of importance of the sum.

inadequate sum

Highlights the insufficiency of the sum for a particular purpose.

nominal sum

Emphasizes that the sum is so small as to be almost symbolic.

modest amount

A more neutral term, suggesting the sum is small but not necessarily insufficient or contemptible.

poor amount

Uses a more direct adjective to describe the small quantity of the sum.

limited funds

Focuses on the availability of money rather than the specific sum.

FAQs

What does "meager sum" mean?

The phrase "meager sum" refers to a small or inadequate amount of money. It suggests that the amount is less than what is needed or expected.

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

You can use "meager sum" to describe financial situations, such as "The unemployment wage former workers can receive is a "meager sum" compared with what they made before."

What are some synonyms for "meager sum"?

Alternatives to "meager sum" include "paltry sum", "small amount", or "insignificant amount".

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

While acceptable, "meager sum" may be more suitable for general or news writing. In formal academic or business contexts, more precise terms like "limited resources" or "insufficient funds" might be preferable.