as in parsimonious
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Recent Examples of penny-wise
That led to the penny-wise, pound-foolish path of appeasement.
—
Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Undermining Bayh-Dole to scrape together a billion or two in revenue would be penny-wise and pound-foolish.
—Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
In fiscal terms, the budget cuts are penny-wise and galactically foolish.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
But even if successful, such an effort would likely be penny-wise and pound-foolish, leading U.S. allies to turn away from Washington in the long term.
—Stephen G. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2025
Cheap graphics cards are penny-wise but dollar-foolish for gaming PCs.
—Brad Bourque, Wired News, 9 Aug. 2024
Having these tenants lose their apartments and become homeless is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2024
Ironically, its source is here on Earth: Congress, which has the penny-wise but pound-foolish policy of releasing just a trickle of funding to the space agency every year, hobbles many of NASA's mission goals that require thinking past a two-year House or six-year Senate term.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2023
Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Undermining Bayh-Dole to scrape together a billion or two in revenue would be penny-wise and pound-foolish.
—Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
In fiscal terms, the budget cuts are penny-wise and galactically foolish.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
But even if successful, such an effort would likely be penny-wise and pound-foolish, leading U.S. allies to turn away from Washington in the long term.
—Stephen G. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2025
Cheap graphics cards are penny-wise but dollar-foolish for gaming PCs.
—Brad Bourque, Wired News, 9 Aug. 2024
Having these tenants lose their apartments and become homeless is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2024
Ironically, its source is here on Earth: Congress, which has the penny-wise but pound-foolish policy of releasing just a trickle of funding to the space agency every year, hobbles many of NASA's mission goals that require thinking past a two-year House or six-year Senate term.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penny-wise
Adjective
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The eye, though, is much more parsimonious, focusing its attention only on a small part of the visual scene at any one time—namely, the part of the scene that changes, like the fluttering of a leaf or a golf ball splashing into water.—
Christoph Posch,
IEEE Spectrum,
26 Nov. 2025
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California voters acted with urgency, but implementation efforts have been met with petulance and parsimonious budgetary support that is barely one fourth of what is needed.—
Steve Smith,
Oc Register,
18 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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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
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In this version, miserly Madame Eleanor is visited by the ghost former business partner Jacob Marley as well as a few other apparitions.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
26 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Every year, a complacent, tightfisted city council turned down the recommendations.—
Margaret Talbot,
The New Yorker,
2 Oct. 2023
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Kotick played the tightfisted owner of the Oakland A’s.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
31 May 2023
Adjective
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But both are gone because neither could make magic of Sherman’s low-spending model that still includes the most penurious payroll in MLB in 2025.—
Greg Cote
July 16,
Miami Herald,
16 July 2025
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Even so, the general picture of a mother’s absence and a daughter’s understandable resentment at having had to pick up the maternal slack in penurious conditions comes through loud and clear.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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However, many owners and ownership groups, for their own reasons, choose to maintain a frugal approach to player payroll.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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More use means more environmental strain even if individual models become increasingly resource frugal.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
19 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Not only is saving Parmesan rinds a thrifty move, but cooking with them is an easy way to inject flavor into so many of your favorite dishes.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
8 Jan. 2026
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David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Darden Restaurants on Thursday reported strong sales growth, fueled by demand at Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse as thrifty diners look for good deals.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
18 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Pittsburgh, which has one of the stingiest red zone defenses, will try to capitalize on this weakness.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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The Heat’s offense struggled to generate quality looks against the Timberwolves’ stingy defense, especially in half-court situations.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Pop-up tent campers are an easy, but still economical, camping solution for those latter folks.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Jan. 2026
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Each hire should either be more economical or create significant efficiency for the business.—
Eric Youngstrom,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penny-wise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penny-wise. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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