1
as in careful
giving or sharing as little as possible
the company's penurious management could not be convinced of the need to earmark more money for research and development
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
the most penurious members of the community are forced to depend on the services of the food bank
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penurious
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
Whatever was going on between the two rich men, the murder investigation presents a profound, perhaps insurmountable challenge to the penurious tropical police force.
—Nina Burleigh, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 May 2024
Both album and turntable were all the rage, and the Technics was the first quality direct-drive turntable that a penurious college student could afford.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024
There are resentful relatives, penurious relatives, conniving relatives, no relatives, and loved ones denied input because they are not related.
—Dan Barry, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for penurious
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2024
Whatever was going on between the two rich men, the murder investigation presents a profound, perhaps insurmountable challenge to the penurious tropical police force.
—Nina Burleigh, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 May 2024
Both album and turntable were all the rage, and the Technics was the first quality direct-drive turntable that a penurious college student could afford.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024
There are resentful relatives, penurious relatives, conniving relatives, no relatives, and loved ones denied input because they are not related.
—Dan Barry, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for penurious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penurious
Adjective
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Detecting such tiny numbers of atoms takes time, and the setup requires careful calibration and advanced equipment.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Marriott’s report was the first time a British aid charity had documented how taxpayers’ money was funding a business accused of detaining impoverished African patients.—
Hettie O'Brien,
The Dial,
21 Apr. 2026
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Sickert is showcased here for both his impressionistic instincts and his portrayal of previously taboo art subjects such as prostitutes and the impoverished.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Should Booker have been more selfish?—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Over the years, fans have on social media have called out Nate’s selfish behavior in his relationship with Andy, seemingly upset with her for pursuing a career in fashion.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Injuries to key players on the Amazin’s contributed to some poor numbers as well.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Although poor students are disproportionately likely to receive special education in New York City, well-off disabled kids are the ones most acutely driving up the budget.—
Marc Novicoff,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Cross, 62, portrayed Ian Hawke — a selfish and greedy music executive and the main antagonist — in the first three live-action Alvin and the Chipmunks films (2007, 2009, 2011).—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
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The first time, Julian’s children (James Corden, Jessica Gunning) seemed like miserable, greedy wretches.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Highway Trust Fund — the primary federal account dedicated to funding highways, bridges and transit — is going broke.—
Andrew Stasiowski,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
By the beginning of the second episode, Margo has dropped out of school and is the totally broke single mother to a colicky baby, Bodhi, who cries so committedly that two of Margo’s roommates move out.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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There’s an ungenerous and shallow way to look at this film as little more than a highlight reel of Hammer’s work, a paltry substitute for actually spending meaningful time with the work itself.—
Sam Bodrojan,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
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Stars and billionaires are calling out the super-rich for being ungenerous As the world mints hundreds of thousands of millionaires yearly and billionaire wealth soars to record highs, some leaders can’t stand to stay quiet.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Since then, it has been performed across much of the world, being ideally suited to these impecunious times and very masterfully written.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Cowley graduated in 1920, and for a year and a half lived an adventurous, impecunious Grub Street life in New York, before a fellowship took him, now married, back to France for a master’s in French.—
Michael Gorra,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penurious. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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