Synonyms of miserly

miserly

adjective

ˈmī-zər-lē 

as in selfish

giving or sharing as little as possible

my brother, who is notoriously miserly, surprised us when he offered to pick up the tab

Synonyms & Similar Words

• selfish
• careful
• stingy
• greedy
• parsimonious
• tightfisted
• ungenerous
• tight
• close
• cheap
• penurious
• pinching
• mean
• uncharitable
• chintzy
• penny-pinching
• desirous
• sparing
• mingy
• economical
• spare
• conserving
• stinting
• small
• thrifty
• frugal
• saving
• pinchpenny
• avaricious
• closefisted
• economizing
• chary
• covetous
• mercenary
• acquisitive
• grudging
• shabby
• rapacious
• sordid
• begrudging
• envious
• avid
• hoggish
• resentful
• scrimping
• skimping
• grasping
• itchy
• coveting
• inhospitable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• generous
• charitable
• munificent
• liberal
• bountiful
• bounteous
• unstinting
• unselfish
• unsparing
• openhanded
• altruistic
• selfless
• extravagant
• handsome
• lavish
• overgenerous
• free
• benevolent
• hospitable
• philanthropic
• profuse
• beneficent
• magnanimous
• humanitarian
• freehanded
• kindly
• compassionate
• wasteful
• profligate
• spendthrift
• unthrifty
• openhearted
• wasting
• prodigal
• good-hearted
• thriftless
• dissipating
• greathearted
• squandering
• frittering
• splurging

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

Recent Examples of miserly

That’ll teach Assad to give Meatball more than a miserly $40 contribution next time! —Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 24 Aug. 2025

McKim, Mead & White quickly became the place for aspiring young architects, who avidly sought jobs there despite miserly salaries. —Henry Wiencek july 22, Literary Hub, 22 July 2025

The miserly email account offerings are particularly limiting for larger ventures, and unusual for the category which typically offers unlimited email. —PC Magazine, 16 June 2025

The Athletics, despite their miserly ways, have a strong foundation of young players — Silver Slugger Brent Rooker, Lawrence Butler, Jacob Wilson, JJ Bleday, Shea Langeliers, Zack Gelof, and this year’s #4 pick in the draft, Nick Kurtz. —Dan Freedman, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024