underpaid

The company underpaid its employees for their hard work.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Receiving insufficient compensation: "underpaid" describes a person who is paid too little for the work they do, typically in relation to the effort, skill, or market value involved.

2. Verb (past tense of 'underpay'):

   • To have paid less than is fair or required: "underpaid" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "underpay," meaning to give someone less money for their work than is appropriate or legally required.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Many teachers feel they are underpaid for the long hours they work. (They believe their salary is too low relative to their effort.)
  • The company was criticized for having an underpaid workforce. (The employees received wages that were below a fair standard.)

• Verb:

  • She was underpaid for her consulting services last month. (She received less payment than agreed or deserved.)
  • The contractor underpaid the laborers by offering only half the agreed rate. (The contractor paid less than the amount promised.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be chronically underpaid": to consistently receive insufficient pay over a long period.

  • Nurses in this region are chronically underpaid despite their critical role. (They have been systematically undercompensated for years.)

• "underpaid and overworked": a common phrase describing a situation where someone works hard but receives little financial reward.

  • The interns described themselves as underpaid and overworked. (They felt their salary was low while their workload was excessive.)

Variants and Related Words

• Underpay (verb): to pay someone less than is fair or required.

  • The employer should not underpay any worker. (The employer must pay a fair wage.)

• Underpayment (noun): the act or instance of paying too little.

  • The underpayment of taxes led to a penalty. (The insufficient payment resulted in a fine.)

Synonyms

• Low-paid: earning a small amount of money.

  • Low-paid workers often struggle to cover basic expenses. (They receive minimal wages.)

• Undercompensated: not given enough financial or other rewards.

  • Volunteers are often undercompensated for their time. (They receive little or no payment.)

Antonyms

• Overpaid: receiving more money than is fair or typical.

  • Some executives are considered overpaid compared to average employees. (They earn excessively high salaries.)

• Well-paid: receiving a good or fair amount of money.

  • Skilled engineers are usually well-paid. (They earn a satisfactory wage.)

Related Idioms

• Paid peanuts: to receive a very small amount of money for work.

  • He was paid peanuts for his first job. (He earned very little.)

• Working for a pittance: to work for a very low wage.

  • Many artists work for a pittance before gaining recognition. (They earn a minimal amount.)