purse strings

plural noun

: financial resources
also : control over these resources

Examples of purse strings in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Consumers have tightened their purse strings and are holding onto their smartphones for longer periods of time, so a thin design may not be enough to attract new buyers. Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025 When traditional banks deny loan applications or tighten their purse strings, private credit can provide the reliability and flexibility that owners need to move commercial projects forward. Fred Hubler, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Grabbing the power of the purse through impoundment Trump has also grabbed Congress’s purse strings in addition to scaling back the executive through a cost-cutting initiative carried out by the Department of Government Efficiency panel, formerly led by Elon Musk. Tobias Burns, The Hill, 29 Aug. 2025 This is a first as state’s attorney, with a former political opponent — Preckwinkle — largely in control of the purse strings. Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for purse strings

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of purse strings was circa 1530

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Cite this Entry

“Purse strings.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purse%20strings. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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