as in small-time
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Recent Examples of nickel-and-dime
Full-service hotels like Marriott and InterContinental still offer a more inclusive experience, and international airlines like Qatar Airways don't nickel-and-dime you for luggage.
—
Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
The nickel-and-dime crack sales; the tickets for open containers — none of that mattered anymore.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
With a comfy 16-point cushion entering the fourth quarter, though, Adelman turned to Jordan again to nickel-and-dime Jokic a few minutes of rest.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2025
That’s caused the run game to fade and forced Patrick Mahomes to lean more into a nickel-and-dime approach.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Much of it has been nickel-and-dime stuff but with some big-name crooks.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2024
Trying to nickel-and-dime such an important player could have done more harm than good.
—Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024
Southwest Airlines, which set itself apart from its nickel-and-dime competitors, will soon scrap its open-seat policy and charge folks for more legroom.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 26 July 2024
Love or hate Apple, the company’s nickel-and-dime approach to cables, dongles, and chargers primed people to believe reports like this.
—Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2023
Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
The nickel-and-dime crack sales; the tickets for open containers — none of that mattered anymore.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
With a comfy 16-point cushion entering the fourth quarter, though, Adelman turned to Jordan again to nickel-and-dime Jokic a few minutes of rest.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2025
That’s caused the run game to fade and forced Patrick Mahomes to lean more into a nickel-and-dime approach.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Much of it has been nickel-and-dime stuff but with some big-name crooks.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2024
Trying to nickel-and-dime such an important player could have done more harm than good.
—Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024
Southwest Airlines, which set itself apart from its nickel-and-dime competitors, will soon scrap its open-seat policy and charge folks for more legroom.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 26 July 2024
Love or hate Apple, the company’s nickel-and-dime approach to cables, dongles, and chargers primed people to believe reports like this.
—Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nickel-and-dime
Adjective
-
In that trial, a jury sentenced him to a lifetime behind bars for the murder of a small-time drug dealer at a motel during his three-week crime wave that culminated in Aaron’s murder.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau previously said the robbery appeared to be the work of small-time criminals rather than professionals.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Here are some of the pettiest, most unimportant frustrations so far.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Forget all this childish behavior and just stop being so petty.—
Marcia Kramer,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Otherwise, the cease-fire would feel worthless to many Ukrainians, merely giving Russia a chance to prepare for another invasion.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Life itself being worthless, all things with it, that feed it, are worthless.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nickel-and-dime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nickel-and-dime. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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