›disapprovingused to describe an amount of money that is very small: The savers were getting a paltry 0.1% interest regardless of the balance in their accounts.a paltry amount/sum/figureMidwives are paid paltry sums to do truly demanding jobs.a paltry payment/salary/returnMiners' families get by on paltry salaries, and from time to time lose their loved ones in accidents.Ms. Page said the settlement from the state is paltry.
›of low quality: The research in this area has been paltry and weak.