stingy

adjective

stin·gy | \ ˈstin-jē

stingier; stingiest

Definition of stingy

1 : not generous or liberal : sparing or scant in using, giving, or spending stingy with the salt stingy employee benefits

2 : meanly scanty or small stingy portions of meat

Other Words from stingy Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about stingy

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Choose the Right Synonym for stingy

stingy, close, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, miserly mean being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others. stingy implies a marked lack of generosity. a stingy child, not given to sharing close suggests keeping a tight grip on one's money and possessions. folks who are very close when charity calls niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible. the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess. a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty. the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding. a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

Examples of stingy in a Sentence

The company was too stingy to raise salaries. until his redemption, Ebenezer Scrooge is the classic example of a very stingy, heartless miser

Recent Examples on the Web

New York’s stingy defense earned the Jennings Trophy by allowing the fewest goals in the league this season. — Josh Dubow, The Seattle Times, "Lightning look to bounce back from Game 1 collapse," 12 Apr. 2019 Historically stingy as those Super Bowl Seahawks’ defenses were, the Legion of Boom earned the bulk of the fame. — Matt Calkins, The Seattle Times, "Is Bobby Wagner the most underappreciated superstar in Seattle sports history?," 20 Feb. 2019 The New Orleans Saints own the best record in the NFL, thanks in part to its stingy defense. — Andrew Beaton, WSJ, "The NFL Soap Opera Is Ready for Its Twist Ending," 19 Dec. 2018 This team has a dynamic wide receiver (which regulates defenses), a destructive defensive line and a stingy secondary full of cover corners. — Andy Benoit, SI.com, "What the Marcus Peters Trade Means for the Chiefs and Rams on the Field," 28 Feb. 2018 But yes, Georgia, where white voters have been stingy about supporting black candidates and voters have dashed the hopes of a string of promising Democrats for governor. — Kate Zernike, New York Times, "Is This the Year Women Break the Rules and Win?," 29 June 2018 Thome led the league with 47 bombs in 2003, the last season the Phillies played at Veterans Stadium, a park stingy with its homers. — Marcus Hayes, Philly.com, "Phillies' Jake Arrieta deal feels like Jim Thome signing | Marcus Hayes," 12 Mar. 2018 Both teams have been stingy with the Mustangs giving up just 28.2 points per game while the Cadets allow 37.2. — Katherine Dunn, baltimoresun.com, "Previewing area teams in the MPSSAA girls basketball state semifinals," 7 Mar. 2018 Spread out and relax. Don't punctuate a big wall with a small painting — that feels so stingy. — Lisa Cregan, House Beautiful, "Susan Ferrier on Creating a Cozy Lake House With Dark Colors," 18 Aug. 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stingy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.