paltry
UK: ˈpɔːltri | US: ˈpɔːltri
adj. 1. (of an amount) very small; meager or insignificant.
adj. 2. (of something non-material) trivial or contemptible.
The word "paltry" likely derives from the obsolete Dutch word palter or Low German paltrig, meaning "ragged" or "worthless." The suffix -ry (or -ery) was added to form an adjective, emphasizing the notion of insignificance or triviality. Over time, "paltry" evolved to describe not just physical shabbiness but also metaphorical smallness or unimportance.
He received a paltry sum for his hard work.
The committee dismissed her concerns as paltry excuses.
Despite their efforts, the team made only paltry progress.
She refused to accept such a paltry apology.
The donation was a paltry amount compared to what was needed.