Synonyms of frugal

frugal

adjective

ˈfrü-gəl 

as in economical

careful in the management of money or resources

by being frugal, the family is able to stretch its monthly budget

Synonyms & Similar Words

• economical
• economizing
• thrifty
• saving
• prudent
• provident
• conserving
• sparing
• preserving
• cheap
• scrimping
• foresighted
• penny-wise
• parsimonious
• miserly
• forehanded
• tightfisted
• penurious
• stingy
• spare
• close
• pinching
• foresightful
• penny-pinching
• mean
• tight
• stinting
• closefisted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wasteful
• spendthrift
• profligate
• prodigal
• unthrifty
• improvident
• generous
• liberal
• shortsighted
• charitable
• thriftless
• unselfish
• bountiful
• munificent
• squandering
• extravagant
• unsparing
• indulgent
• lavish
• openhanded
• freehanded

Synonym Chooser

How is the word frugal distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of frugal are economical, sparing, and thrifty. While all these words mean "careful in the use of one's money or resources," frugal implies absence of luxury and simplicity of lifestyle.

ran a frugal household

When might economical be a better fit than frugal?

The synonyms economical and frugal are sometimes interchangeable, but economical stresses prudent management, lack of wastefulness, and use of things to their best advantage.

an economical health-care plan

In what contexts can sparing take the place of frugal?

While in some cases nearly identical to frugal, sparing stresses abstention and restraint.

sparing in the offering of advice

When is thrifty a more appropriate choice than frugal?

The words thrifty and frugal can be used in similar contexts, but thrifty stresses good management and industry.

thrifty use of nonrenewable resources

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of frugal

Ross has put away his checkbook The one thing Ross can’t be mistaken for is a frugal NFL owner. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025

Maybe Madigan can busy himself during his retirement teaching all of the hardworking, frugal, living-below-their-means folks his personal tricks to growing our income to be multimillionaires. —Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025

Actress Keke Palmer was a millionaire at just the age of 12, but she’s always stuck by a frugal lifestyle that her parents instilled in her. —Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 24 June 2025

Lazio are famously frugal under president Claudio Lotito, and much was made of how his Inter teams were put together on the cheap, with players like Andre Onana, Marcus Thuram, Stefan de Vrij, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Hakan Calhanoglu all arriving at different stages on free transfers. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 19 June 2025

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