miserliness 1 of 2

miserly

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective miserly contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of miserly are close, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, and stingy. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

When can close be used instead of miserly?

Although the words close and miserly have much in common, close suggests keeping a tight grip on one's money and possessions.

folks who are very close when charity calls

When is it sensible to use niggardly instead of miserly?

While the synonyms niggardly and miserly are close in meaning, niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

Where would parsimonious be a reasonable alternative to miserly?

The synonyms parsimonious and miserly are sometimes interchangeable, but parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

When would penurious be a good substitute for miserly?

The words penurious and miserly can be used in similar contexts, but penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

When is stingy a more appropriate choice than miserly?

While in some cases nearly identical to miserly, stingy implies a marked lack of generosity.

a stingy child, not given to sharing

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of miserliness
Adjective
Up to then, Wrexham had by far the most miserly defence in League One after conceding just 11 goals in 19 league games — five better than Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town. Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025 Chrissy made a predictably miserly offer of $230,000, and obviously David did not take it. Laura Bradley, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025 Liverpool’s torpid display at Wembley against Newcastle will have hurt Merseyside pride, but the cost to club coffers is minimal; League Cup compensation is miserly, even for the winners. Chris Weatherspoon, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025 Up to then, Wrexham had by far the most miserly defence in League One after conceding just 11 goals in 19 league games — five better than Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town. Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for miserliness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miserliness
Noun
  • The theory pushing for reporting burdens as the primary explanation will have to explain why UK reporting and reporting in other advanced economies has also become onerously burdensome.
    Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • Through this program, the city is already transforming aging Manhattan office buildings into brighter, more modern workspaces and attracting high-growth, international companies in the life sciences, green economy, and tech sectors to the city.
    Adolfo Carrión Jr, New York Daily News, 8 June 2025
Adjective
  • In the late 1800s, two child psychologists coined the term only child syndrome to describe the negative traits that their research showed only children often possess, including being spoiled, selfish, maladjusted, and anti-social.
    Liz Hammond, Vogue, 11 June 2025
  • What if the very structure of our success makes having children feel like a selfish, impossible luxury?
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • Watch out for slippery roads: Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins.
    Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 7 June 2025
  • But as the Trump administration has rolled out immigration policies targeting Venezuelans, Haitians and Cubans, GOP officials in Miami have had to draw a careful balance between supporting the White House and the many immigrants in their district affected by Trump’s immigration agenda.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • The president has a long history of being stingy with his money, choosing instead to wield his influence by bestowing endorsements and staging rallies that energize the Republican base.
    Jill Colvin, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
  • Amazon isn’t being stingy with its Memorial Day sale, either.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • Are the companies somehow less greedy in other states?
    Ted Gaines, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
  • What the greedy developers are trying to do burns me to no end.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Driving the reluctant interviewee to the Manchester airport for the flight to Washington, Rudman discovered that his famously parsimonious friend had only $3 in his wallet.
    Barbara A. Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
  • But the iPhone 17 Air’s parsimonious speaker holes might suggest a phone with less capable audio.
    David Phelan, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Cash includes cash and cash equivalents like savings deposits and money market funds.
    Robert Frank, CNBC, 5 June 2025
  • Even though fuel prices have since come down, EVs still offer substantial long-term savings—especially for drivers who log a lot of miles.
    Melanie Marshall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • Every year, a complacent, tightfisted city council turned down the recommendations.
    Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2023
  • Kotick played the tightfisted owner of the Oakland A’s.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 31 May 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Miserliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miserliness. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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