meager sustenance

USAGE SUMMARY

'meager sustenance' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a minimal or inadequate amount of food or nourishment needed for one's survival. For example: While the refugees hoped for abundant provisions, they were often only able to rely on meager sustenance.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That the prisoners, with such meager sustenance, were able to dig three tunnels — known as Tom, Dick and Harry — was another astonishing element of the saga.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Appetites were meager.

The New York Times

Sustenance and titillation.

Independent

That looks meager.

The New York Times

The results were meager.

The New York Times

But first: sustenance.

The New York Times

We needed the sustenance.

The New York Times - Travel

Sustenance is key.

The Guardian

Winter sustenance, easily acquired.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Sustenance is necessary.

The New York Times - Sports

"Pill," Sharkey Meager said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing conditions of poverty, famine, or imprisonment, "meager sustenance" effectively conveys the severity of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "meager sustenance" in casual or informal contexts. The phrase is relatively formal and best suited for serious or academic writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meager sustenance" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "meager" modifies the noun "sustenance". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English, signifying a minimal or inadequate supply of food.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "meager sustenance" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe an insufficient amount of food or nourishment. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in English. While relatively rare in occurrence, it is most frequently found in news and media contexts. The phrase is suitable for formal writing when describing situations of hardship. Alternative phrases such as "scant nourishment" or "limited provisions" can be used to vary the expression while maintaining a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scant nourishment

Replaces "meager" with "scant", emphasizing the insufficiency of the nourishment.

inadequate nourishment

Substitutes "meager" with "inadequate", directly highlighting the insufficient quality of the nourishment.

paltry nourishment

Uses "paltry" to describe the small and insignificant amount of nourishment.

insufficient nutrition

Focuses on the lack of essential nutrients, highlighting the health implications.

deficient sustenance

Highlights the lack of essential elements in the sustenance.

limited provisions

Shifts from "sustenance" to "provisions", focusing on the supplied food.

sparse rations

Emphasizes a controlled and limited distribution of food supplies using the word "rations".

skimpy rations

Similar to sparse rations, but with emphasis on being cheap or frugal.

minimal fare

Replaces "sustenance" with "fare", referring to the type of food available, and "meager" with "minimal".

poor diet

Simplifies the phrase to refer to the overall quality of diet being substandard.

FAQs

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

Use "meager sustenance" to describe situations where the food supply is minimal and barely sufficient to sustain life. For example, "The prisoners survived on "meager sustenance" during their captivity".

What is the difference between "meager sustenance" and "minimal sustenance"?

Both phrases refer to a very small amount of food, but "meager" suggests inadequacy and poor quality, while "minimal" simply emphasizes the small quantity. Therefore, "meager sustenance" often implies hardship more strongly than "minimal sustenance".

What are some synonyms for "meager sustenance"?

Alternatives include "scant nourishment", "limited provisions", or "inadequate nourishment", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "meager sustenance" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "meager sustenance" is suitable for formal writing, particularly when discussing topics such as poverty, famine, or historical events involving hardship. Its somewhat formal tone makes it less appropriate for casual conversation.