Paltry means so small or insignificant that it's almost insulting. When something is paltry, it's disappointingly, surprisingly, or even offensively small compared to what was expected or needed.

Imagine saving up your allowance for months to buy something important, only to discover the store is offering a paltry two-dollar discount. Or picture a cafeteria serving paltry portions of food that leave everyone still hungry. The word carries a sense of contempt or disappointment: a paltry amount of snow might cancel school in some places, but it's barely enough to make a snowball.

In stories, villains sometimes offer heroes paltry rewards for difficult tasks, revealing their stinginess or lack of respect. A boss who gives hardworking employees a paltry raise shows they don't value their effort.

The word often appears in phrases like “a paltry sum” or “a paltry excuse.” When someone offers a paltry excuse for forgetting your birthday, they're giving a weak, insufficient reason that doesn't match the situation. Paltry suggests that whatever is being offered falls far short of what's reasonable, deserved, or expected.