as in parsimonious
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Recent Examples of penny-wise
Cutting these programs is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
—
Aisha Nyandoro, Forbes.com, 2 July 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
On the other hand, avoid being penny-wise, pound-foolish.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 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
Aisha Nyandoro, Forbes.com, 2 July 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
On the other hand, avoid being penny-wise, pound-foolish.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 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
-
Chelsea are famously parsimonious in the transfer market, after all.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Wimpy was a mild-mannered, soft-spoken, lazy, parsimonious, and utterly gluttonous hamburger-wolfing straight man to Popeye.—
Richard Lederer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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McKim, Mead & White quickly became the place for aspiring young architects, who avidly sought jobs there despite miserly salaries.—
Henry Wiencek
July 22,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
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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
Adjective
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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
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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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The bookstores had everything about how to get rich and how to save money and be frugal, but nothing in between.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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In a decade where outfits that exuded luxury and frugal elegance were the norm, shoes like these were the most valuable asset of celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts, and Sarah Jessica Parker.—
Michel Mejía,
Glamour,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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According to Amazon shoppers, this thrifty top can hold up, wear after wear.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Sep. 2025
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Keurig Dr Pepper has been looking to raise its appeal with thrifty shoppers who prefer to drink their coffee at home, while also venturing into cold coffee offerings in a bid to attract the Starbucks and Dunkin’ clientele.—
Ruxandra Iordache,Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Though stingy, the Bengal Tigers have scored only 40 points in wins over Clemson (17-10) and Louisiana Tech (23-7).—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Arizona opened the season with a dominant 40–6 win over Hawai'i, powered by a strong ground attack and a stingy defense.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This ensures safe, efficient, and economical treatment of a wide range of battery designs.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Sep. 2025
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French press French presses are an easy and economical method for brewing bold, rich coffee.—
Mark Marino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penny-wise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penny-wise. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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