scrimp

scrimp

verb \ˈskrimp\

Definition of SCRIMP

transitive verb

1

: to be stingy in providing for

2

: to make too small, short, or scanty

intransitive verb

: to be frugal or stingy

— scrimpy \ˈskrim-pē\ adjective

Examples of SCRIMP

1. They scrimped and saved for their big vacation.
2. <had to scrimp and save for years in order to be able to afford a house>

Origin of SCRIMP

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish skrympa to shrink, Middle Low German schrempen to contract — more at shrimp

First Known Use: circa 1774

Related to SCRIMP

Synonyms

pinch, save, economize, skimp, spare

Antonyms

waste

Related Words

conserve, husband, maintain, manage, preserve; scrape; cut back, cut down, retrench; hoard, lay up

Near Antonyms

blow, dissipate, fritter (away), lavish, misspend, run through, spend, squander, throw away; splurge

Rhymes with SCRIMP

blimp, chimp, crimp, gimp, guimpe, imp, limp, pimp, primp, shrimp, simp, skimp, wimp