Definition of miserlynext

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 Como had been neck-and-neck with Roma’s miserly backline before shipping four at Inter last Saturday, a chastening defeat that ended an unbeaten run stretching back to the end of August. Jack Bantock, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025 Mobile versions for laptops are more miserly but still draw up to 175 W, which can quickly drain a laptop battery. IEEE Spectrum, 17 Nov. 2025 While there have been many fine adaptations of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Alastair Sim's performance as the miserly, penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge elevates this version to must-see status. Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025 But if raising the minimum wage to $25 an hour would actually help all workers, why be so miserly about it? Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for miserly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miserly
Adjective
  • Across 15 tracks, the rapper and producer get to work making their first proper body of work together as memorable as expected, delving into relationship mishaps, selfish tendencies, and the absurdist comedy that is real life.
    Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026
  • Politics, Lander said, didn’t have to be a selfish endeavor driven by ego.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • Just be careful not to add water, since even tiny amounts can cause melted chocolate to turn into a grainy, clumpy mess.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 27 June 2026
  • Ultimately, the widespread adoption of AI for mental health constitutes a global experiment with both potential benefits and serious downsides that require careful management.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • Royce Lewis and Victor Caratini hit back-to-back homers, Zebby Matthews pitched seven stingy innings and the Minnesota Twins held off a late rally by the Houston Astros for a 5-4 victory Monday night.
    CBS News, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • Argentina having one of the game’s greatest strikers ever, depth and a stingy defense is enough to make the squad a good bet to make another deep run.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Sudanese conflict has conscripted the neighboring countries who are selfishly courting either faction for resources or political standing, as well as greedy, exploitative foreign powers who repeatedly leverage religious and cultural tensions in the region, into the fight for profit.
    Janine di Giovanni, Vanity Fair, 25 June 2026
  • Next to him were Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez, all left-leaning candidates running on a platform that includes abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and taking on bad landlords and greedy corporations.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • This is the most parsimonious way to account for the unified nature of consciousness, according to subcorticalists.
    Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 28 May 2026
  • What fraction visible at basically every U.S. gas station originated as a parsimonious response to a 1932 one-penny gas tax?
    Drew Goins, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
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
  • Suzanne’s ungenerous view of herself is one of many misperceptions that will be overturned—some gently, some not.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 May 2026
  • Here’s the resulting exchange: RC Women writers frequently adopt a tone or an attitude toward their female characters which is somewhat negative and ungenerous.
    Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • With life spent largely on transit, navigating tight layovers, and using their days off to jet-set across the globe, flight attendants have mastered the art of packing.
    Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
  • Polls overall anticipate a tight race, including a June 19 survey by the news site Zeteo showing DeGette trailing Kiros 41% to 36%.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Miserly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miserly. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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