Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective parsimonious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of parsimonious are close, miserly, niggardly, penurious, and stingy. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

When could close be used to replace parsimonious?

While in some cases nearly identical to parsimonious, 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 parsimonious?

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

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

Where would niggardly be a reasonable alternative to parsimonious?

While the synonyms niggardly and parsimonious are close in meaning, niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

When would penurious be a good substitute for parsimonious?

The words penurious and parsimonious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

In what contexts can stingy take the place of parsimonious?

In some situations, the words stingy and parsimonious are roughly equivalent. However, 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 parsimonious 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 His father was intensely parsimonious as well, and once tried to build a front fence by hammering bookshelves together. Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025 If the physical action is doled out in parsimonious bites, the verbal action is an extravagant feast of double helpings. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025 To attribute the corrosion of institutional trust to such bugbears as relativism or postmodernism is to ignore explanations that are both more concrete and more parsimonious. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for parsimonious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parsimonious
Adjective
  • The miserly email account offerings are particularly limiting for larger ventures, and unusual for the category which typically offers unlimited email.
    PC Magazine, 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
Adjective
  • Her larger-than-life ego and past as a shaman make Player 044 come off as arrogant and selfish, getting under just about everyone's skin.
    EW.com, EW.com, 4 July 2025
  • While the Great Lakes tunnel has been pitched as a safer option than leaving Line 5 alone without secondary containment, Gravelle said that's a narrow and selfish view.
    Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025
Adjective
  • They weren’t built by the government, but rather by those evil greedy private corporations and individuals who are guilty of the heinous crime of providing millions of Americans with places to live.
    The Editors, National Review, 30 June 2025
  • The backdrop of the Marcos dictatorship shaped her artistic approach, defined by an interest in quotidian experience—including everyday injustices such as gender inequality and the ecological exploitation of the Philippines by greedy conglomerates.
    Hung Duong, Artforum, 18 June 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
  • Panda flipped this model, embedding itself directly in the grower network and building tight, regional supply chains.
    Kasi Martin, Sourcing Journal, 9 July 2025
  • Rodman pulled her hair back into a tight bun and accessorized with delicate pieces of jewelry, including earrings, bracelets and rings.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • However, the Switch 2 upgrade path has proven to be quite stingy.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 6 July 2025
  • His plan has been driven by the Office of Management and Budget, which has become extremely stingy with new regulations, according to Crews, the Fred L. Smith fellow in regulatory studies at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and our go-to for accurate counts on new regulations.
    Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • At least with Derrick, the shallowness seems intentional, if ungenerous.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • Those who are approved must cope with notoriously unreliable in-home nursing, a byproduct of the state’s penurious reimbursement rates.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Those who are approved must cope with notoriously unreliable in-home nursing, a byproduct of the state’s penurious reimbursement rates.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Parsimonious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parsimonious. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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