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niggardly

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective niggardly contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of niggardly are close, miserly, parsimonious, penurious, and stingy. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

When can close be used instead of niggardly?

Although the words close and niggardly 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 miserly instead of niggardly?

The meanings of miserly and niggardly largely overlap; however, miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

Where would parsimonious be a reasonable alternative to niggardly?

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

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

When could penurious be used to replace niggardly?

While in some cases nearly identical to niggardly, penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

When would stingy be a good substitute for niggardly?

The words stingy and niggardly can be used in similar contexts, but 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 niggardly
Adjective
Many Chileans are angry about the country’s unequal distribution of wealth and power, about niggardly pensions (for which people are supposed to save themselves) and about long waiting times for doctors’ visits and poor schools. The Economist, 25 Dec. 2019 To tap one of the country’s two largest and most niggardly mines is hard enough. The Economist, 3 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for niggardly
Adjective
  • Here's the unvarnished truth: Medicaid's miserly reimbursement rates have driven countless doctors to stop accepting patients in the program.
    Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Chrissy made a predictably miserly offer of $230,000, and obviously David did not take it.
    Laura Bradley, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • On the other hand, a practice of resource assessment and sharing, even when resources are scarce, would operate from an abundance mindset.
    Eric Crosby, Artforum, 1 May 2025
  • In this tale, human detective Elijah Baley is drafted to solve the murder of a human on Solaria, an Outer Planet where humans are scarce and never mix with their peers.
    The Know, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This careful search led Phan's team to a single object, a tiny dot in the infrared data.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 May 2025
  • That makes careful construction of games to maximize engagement vital, said Nate Jones, vice president of corporate strategy and development for Sony Interactive Entertainment, the PlayStation unit of Sony.
    David Bloom, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • McKinstry was hitting below .200, playing time was sparse and the Tigers were bringing up young players from the minors.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
  • In the nutrient-poor soils of subalpine elevations, where rainfall is often sparse, this species thrives by conserving energy.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • However, the realities of stingier customers who are less willing to buy multiple streaming subscriptions or opt for premium tiers or buy on-demand titles are poised to put more pressure on streaming firms’ advertising plans.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025
  • But for some of these newer regions, the guide has been stingy with the stars, with only a handful for each at their debut.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But the iPhone 17 Air’s parsimonious speaker holes might suggest a phone with less capable audio.
    David Phelan, Forbes.com, 27 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
  • While soccer is a team game, Guardiola instructs players to first focus on excelling personally—to be selfish.
    Rachana Adyanthaya, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Pope in New York slams ‘selfish’ thirst for power and wealth Pope Francis endorses the Iran nuclear deal at U.N., but his focus remains the poor and vulnerable.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Melania Trump wears black veil to Pope Francis' funeral as President Trump dons blue suit As the president's second term in office passes the 100-day mark, here is a closer look at the first lady's lookbook.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • His close alignment with Trump has damaged his tech company brands, and despite being one of the most proactive members of the president's team, his job approval rating has been ranked as even lower than Trump's.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Niggardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/niggardly. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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