skimp

1 of 2

adjective

ˈskimp 

: skimpy

skimp

2 of 2

verb

skimped; skimping; skimps

transitive verb

: to give insufficient or barely sufficient attention or effort to or funds for

intransitive verb

: to save by or as if by skimping

Synonyms of skimp

Adjective

• scarce
• sparse

Verb

• save
• spare
• conserve
• economize
• scrimp

Examples of skimp in a Sentence

Adjective

money would be skimp until she got her first paycheck from her new job

Verb

Parents shouldn't skimp when it comes to their child's safety.

we must skimp and save if we are going to afford a vacation this summer

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The caviar is often canned or frozen during the summer and fall to enjoy during the long winters—a taste of sunshine when our daylight hours are shortened to a skimp five. — Irina Groushevaia, Bon Appétit, 15 July 2021

Hailing from Southeast London, this rising star is no stranger to the spotlight and her impressive acting credits both in television and film are not skimp by any means. — Mia Uzzell, Essence, 22 Feb. 2021

Verb

Many are designed with ultra-casual users in mind and skimp on silicon to deliver acceptable performance and simple setup. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 6 Nov. 2026

That kind of lead-up to an anniversary reissue is incredibly helpful — especially when the new edition doesn’t skimp on the goodies, with fans getting three new songs and three new live renditions. — Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

perhaps alteration of scrimp

First Known Use

Adjective

1775, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1879, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for skimp

• blimp
• chimp
• crimp
• imp
• limp
• pimp
• shrimp
• wimp

Kids Definition

skimp

verb

ˈskimp

1

: to give not enough or barely enough attention or effort to or funds for

2

: to save by or as if by skimping : scrimp