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 miserly 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 miserly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miserly
Adjective
  • The Ultraman of the comics would need a whole lot of convincing to help A.R.G.U.S. or anyone else to work for something other than his own selfish designs; not to mention doing it while hiding his identity.
    Michileen Martin, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
  • What Pete Rose did was selfish, illicit, shameful, crooked.
    John Nogowski, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • From examining markets and assessing team capacity to reviewing current offerings, the decision to expand to a second storefront is one that requires careful consideration before any concrete plans are put in motion.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • The review process is careful for a reason – and perhaps the only real method of speeding it up is the one Zeldin has proposed: reassigning staff so there are more people to share the work.
    Jeffrey Gore, The Conversation, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Elite firepower, stingy defense, and all-world goaltending to tie a nice bow on it.
    The Athletic NHL, New York Times, 3 May 2025
  • Detroit shot 15-of-32 from deep as a team — a blistering 46.9 percent clip against a Knicks defense that, while stingy on volume, continues to allow opponents to shoot an elite percentage from beyond the arc.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Conservatives, in their minds, are just always evil, mean, greedy, bad demons.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2025
  • Here’s some truth that many women are not accustomed to hearing: wanting to be wealthy is not greedy.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • But the iPhone 17 Air’s parsimonious speaker holes might suggest a phone with less capable audio.
    David Phelan, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Some have felt conflicted, but after decades without success and 14 years of soulless drudgery under Mike Ashley’s parsimonious ownership, many were willing to accept anything for the promise or even just the hope of better times.
    Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 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
Adjective
  • However, research into the health benefits of the tart – also known as the sour, dwarf and, in the US, the Montmorency – cherry has produced some interesting results that warrant a closer look.
    Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas, 11 May 2025
  • This time, the Knicks couldn’t get any closer, as the Celtics won 115-93 to cut their series deficit to two games to one.
    Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • But, even though there was nothing the slightest bit ungracious or ungenerous about her performance, it was felt more like the audience being asked to come to her.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Perhaps most perplexing about Smash, though, is its weirdly cynical, ungenerous take on the Bombshell herself.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Miserly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miserly. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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