penny-wise

adjective

Definition of penny-wisenext
as in parsimonious

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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 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 Cheap graphics cards are penny-wise but dollar-foolish for gaming PCs. — Brad Bourque, Wired News, 9 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penny-wise
  1. parsimonious
  2. miserly
  3. tightfisted
  4. penurious
  5. frugal
  6. thrifty
  7. stingy
  8. economical
Adjective
  • This one seemed slow and turgid, and the Australian attack was parsimonious, with only the sixth bowler used, Ash Gardner, going at more than 10 runs an over in her three overs.
    — Paul Newman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • This is the most parsimonious way to account for the unified nature of consciousness, according to subcorticalists.
    — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 28 May 2026
Definition of parsimonious
Adjective
  • Koenig’s former Yankees teammates were contemptuous of that miserly decision.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
  • Player sales have generated big cash but miserly profits this season.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Definition of miserly
Adjective
  • Dobie’s cantankerous, tightfisted father and sweet, harebrained mother were played by the characters actors Frank Faylen and Florida Friebus.
    — Margalit Fox, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2022
  • The ambience reflects Hankey’s tightfisted approach to his seven companies, which include a Toyota dealership, a dealer management software developer and Midway Car Rental, which does a big business renting exotic cars.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2021
Definition of tightfisted
Adjective
  • There’s a cast of wanderers, visionaries, and itinerants, the self-educated and self-published, a long lineage of cranks and outcasts, mostly penurious, always opinionated, stretching away into the mists of pseudohistory.
    — Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
  • 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
Definition of penurious
Adjective
  • Another Hily survey found that 44% of Millennials and 37% of Gen Z believe being frugal is sexy.
    — Meehika Barua, Time, 6 July 2026
  • The company is now telling them to be far more frugal with AI tokens, sources told the FT.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 2 July 2026
Definition of frugal
Adjective
  • DIYers and thrifty car owners like to replace their own to avoid the high labor cost.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
  • The most thrifty setting allows conservation of charge for use on the mountain playground.
    — Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Definition of thrifty
Adjective
  • Confessions kicked off one of the weirdest eras in a career that has never been stingy with weirdness.
    — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026
  • Royce Lewis and Victor Caratini hit back-to-back homers, Zebby Matthews pitched seven stingy innings and the Minnesota Twins held off a late rally by the Houston Astros for a 5-4 victory Monday night.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of stingy
Adjective
  • Also, a little convenient, but economical TV-making, to put all the main players at the scene of Vega’s mall sting operation.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 July 2026
  • Solar window film is an economical and non-intrusive way to prevent excessive indoor heat and control cooling costs.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2026
Definition of economical

Browse Nearby Words

penny-pinching
penny-wise
pennyworth
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Cite this Entry

“Penny-wise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penny-wise. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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