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