paltry resources

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "paltry resources" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where the available resources are insufficient or meager. Example: "The organization struggled to complete the project due to its paltry resources, which limited their ability to hire additional staff."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The USDP has vastly outspent its opponents, most of them puny upstarts put together at short notice with paltry resources.

The Economist

Gary Gensler, the head of the commodities commission, has been tough, but has been limited by his agency's paltry resources.

The New York Times

The elections, for president this year and parliament next, will be murderously difficult to carry off, not least because of the paltry resources devoted to voter registration.

The Economist

"Coming out here [New Orleans] in 1998, talking to clients and seeing the paltry resources given to their cases was terrible," he said then.

The Guardian

Given such paltry resources, journalists who write about celebrities probably can't be blamed for succumbing to an amateur lesson in gastronomic semiotics — one in which each bite is supposed to yield a tiny goldmine of insight.

The New York Times - Food

Their manager, Russell Slade, had excelled on paltry resources to lift his team so far, but was left with the bitter taste of another play-off defeat, the third in his career after similar ordeals at Grimsby and Yeovil.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Sunny Jacobs, played by Kristin Davis of "Sex and the City" on the night Ms. White saw the show, said the state of Florida gave her only the paltriest resources with which to defend her life.

The New York Times

And this is not West Africa with its relatively poor sanitation, paltry medical resources, and bulging shanty towns that are virtual human incubators for the spread of an Ebola viral infection.

Huffington Post

The poor, the invaded, seem to be able to throw them off even with paltry weapons and resources.

Huffington Post

This film is a meditation on the scale of a catastrophe so enormous that all the assembled resources seem paltry and inadequate.

The New York Times

Ultimately, the Japanese war effort fell victim to the fact that Japan's resources were paltry compared with those of the Allies.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "paltry resources", ensure that the context clearly indicates why the resources are considered inadequate. Provide specific examples to illustrate the limitations caused by the lack of resources.

Common error

While "paltry" is a valid word, it can sometimes come across as overly informal or judgmental in formal writing. In business or academic contexts, consider using more neutral terms like "limited", "scarce", or "insufficient" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "paltry resources" functions as a descriptive phrase, where the adjective "paltry" modifies the noun "resources". It is used to characterize the resources as being insufficient, inadequate, or of little value. Ludwig confirms this usage with examples showing the phrase in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "paltry resources" is used to describe situations where available resources are insufficient or inadequate. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in English. While synonyms like "meager resources" or "scarce resources" exist, "paltry" carries a slightly more judgmental tone. In formal contexts, it's advisable to opt for more neutral alternatives like "limited" or "insufficient". The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, as well as in academic writing, indicating its relevance in discussing limitations and challenges across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meager resources

Replaces "paltry" with "meager", suggesting a similarly insufficient quantity but with a slightly more neutral tone.

scarce resources

Substitutes "paltry" with "scarce", emphasizing the limited availability of the resources.

limited resources

Uses "limited" instead of "paltry", highlighting the restricted nature of the resources without necessarily implying worthlessness.

inadequate resources

Replaces "paltry" with "inadequate", focusing on the insufficiency of the resources for a particular purpose.

insufficient resources

Similar to "inadequate resources", this phrase underscores the resources' failure to meet the required amount.

deficient resources

Emphasizes that the resources are lacking or incomplete, making them less effective.

minimal resources

Highlights the very small amount of resources available.

scant resources

Similar to "scarce resources", suggesting that there is very little of the resources available.

thin resources

Suggests resources are spread too thinly or are insufficient to cover needs adequately.

derisory resources

Uses "derisory", implying that the resources are so small as to be laughable or contemptible.

FAQs

What does "paltry resources" mean?

"Paltry resources" refers to a situation where the available resources are inadequate, insufficient, or of a very small amount, often implying that they are so limited as to be almost worthless for the intended purpose.

What are some synonyms for "paltry resources"?

Some synonyms for "paltry resources" include "meager resources", "scarce resources", "limited resources", and "inadequate resources". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How can I use "paltry resources" in a sentence?

You can use "paltry resources" in a sentence like this: "The organization struggled to achieve its goals due to its paltry resources." Or: "The research team was hampered by the paltry resources allocated to the project."

Is it better to use "paltry resources" or "limited resources"?

Both "paltry resources" and "limited resources" are correct, but they carry slightly different connotations. "Paltry" suggests that the resources are not only limited but also insignificant or contemptible, while "limited" is more neutral and simply indicates a restriction in quantity. Choose the word that best reflects the situation you are describing.