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Modicum vs Scanty - What's the difference?

modicum | scanty |

As a noun modicum

is a small, modest or trifling amount.

As an adjective scanty is

somewhat less than is needed in amplitude or extent.

modicum

English

Noun

(modica)
  • A small, modest or trifling amount.
  • Unable to garner even a modicum of support for his plan, he conceded to follow the others.

    Synonyms

    * (a small amount) iota, jot, tittle * See also .

    scanty

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Somewhat less than is needed in amplitude or extent.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1864–1865, author=Charles Dickens, title=
  • , passage=Present on the table, one scanty' pot of tea, one '''scanty''' loaf, two '''scanty''' pats of butter, two ' scanty rashers of bacon, two pitiful eggs, and an abundance of handsome china bought a secondhand bargain.}}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1979, author=by B. Jonson, title=
  • , passage=Traditions older than paleoarctic, as scanty as the evidence may be, show clearly that colonization of Alberta and even as far north as southern Alaska came from the south.}}
  • Sparing; niggardly; parsimonious.
  • * I. Watts.
  • In illustrating a point of difficulty, be not too scanty of words.

    Derived terms

    * scantily * scantiness

    See also

    * meagre * scant * slender * insufficient * deficient * scarce