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verb

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downsize - To reduce the size, amount, or extent of something.

Bill saved money by moving into a smaller apartment, and tried to downsize his lifestyle and live more simply.

noun

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gig - A single professional engagement, usually of short duration, as of jazz or rock musicians

Before they became superstars, The Beatles were playing small gigs across England.

adjective

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transitory - Not lasting, enduring, or permanent; temporay and lasting only a short time.

As a teenager he realized that he had to make every day count to achieve his lofty goals, because life is transitory.

adjective

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rinky-dink - Describing something that is low-quality, makeshift, or unimpressive, often used in a dismissive or humorous manner.

The company’s rinky-dink website was embarrasing to the company, and they blamed the web designer.

adjective

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mere - Barely enough or minimal — used to emphasize how small or unimportant something is.

The mere thought that the exam was the next day made it difficult for her to concentrate.

noun

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nub - A small lump or protuberance

To end a call when using old rotary phones, a person would have to place the phone down on the two nubs sticking out on top of the dial.

verb

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skimp - To expend or use less time, money, or material on something than is necessary in an attempt to economize

When Dana saw the pizza only had tomato sauce and pepperoni, she knew the chef had skimped on the cheese.

noun

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shortfall - An insufficient amount of something necessary, such as funds or supplies.

Due to a shortfall in food supplies, the government had to provide food for the people in a makeshift meal on the street.

adjective

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paltry - A very small amount of something, indicating that it has little importance or worth

One day John spoke to his friends with anger as they were going down into the mine, "How does the company expect us to support our families on the paltry wages they give us?"

noun

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smattering - A slight superficial knowledge of a language or subject

The museum tour guide presented himself as expert about art history, though he only had a smattering of knowledge about the subject.

noun

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morsel - A small piece or amount of food; a mouthful

Calvin was so hungry that even a morsel of food would have satisfied him.

noun

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vestige - A very small sign of something that has almost disappeared or stopped existing

As they dug deeper, they found vestiges of the civilization that existed 4000 years ago.