nickeled-and-dimed
ˌni-kəld-ən-ˈdīmd 
or nickel-and-dimed
ˌni-kəl-ən-ˈdīmd
; nickeling-and-diming
ˌni-k(ə-)liŋ-ən-ˈdī-miŋ
or nickel-and-diming
ˌni-kəl-ən-ˈdī-miŋ
or nickel-and-dimed
ˌni-kəl-ən-ˈdīmd
; nickeling-and-diming
ˌni-k(ə-)liŋ-ən-ˈdī-miŋ
or nickel-and-diming
ˌni-kəl-ən-ˈdī-miŋ
1
: to impair, weaken, or defeat piecemeal (as through a series of small incursions or excessive attention to minor details)
2
: to treat (a person or situation) by paying excessive attention to small amounts of money often with a detrimental effect
Examples of nickel-and-dime in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
With a comfy 16-point cushion entering the fourth quarter, though, Adelman turned to Jordan again to nickel-and-dime Jokic a few minutes of rest.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2025
Much of it has been nickel-and-dime stuff but with some big-name crooks.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2024
That’s caused the run game to fade and forced Patrick Mahomes to lean more into a nickel-and-dime approach.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Trying to nickel-and-dime such an important player could have done more harm than good.
—Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024
Southwest Airlines, which set itself apart from its nickel-and-dime competitors, will soon scrap its open-seat policy and charge folks for more legroom.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 26 July 2024
Love or hate Apple, the company’s nickel-and-dime approach to cables, dongles, and chargers primed people to believe reports like this.
—Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2023
Finally, though, the Bengals didn’t nickel-and-dime a deal to death.
—Jason Williams, The Enquirer, 8 Sep. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
The nickel-and-dime crack sales; the tickets for open containers — none of that mattered anymore.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
With a comfy 16-point cushion entering the fourth quarter, though, Adelman turned to Jordan again to nickel-and-dime Jokic a few minutes of rest.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2025
Much of it has been nickel-and-dime stuff but with some big-name crooks.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2024
That’s caused the run game to fade and forced Patrick Mahomes to lean more into a nickel-and-dime approach.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Trying to nickel-and-dime such an important player could have done more harm than good.
—Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024
Southwest Airlines, which set itself apart from its nickel-and-dime competitors, will soon scrap its open-seat policy and charge folks for more legroom.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 26 July 2024
Love or hate Apple, the company’s nickel-and-dime approach to cables, dongles, and chargers primed people to believe reports like this.
—Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2023
Finally, though, the Bengals didn’t nickel-and-dime a deal to death.
—Jason Williams, The Enquirer, 8 Sep. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Nickel-and-dime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nickel-and-dime. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share