Definition of penuriousnext
1
2

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective penurious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of penurious are close, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, and stingy. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

Where would close be a reasonable alternative to penurious?

While the synonyms close and penurious are close in meaning, close suggests keeping a tight grip on one's money and possessions.

folks who are very close when charity calls

When might miserly be a better fit than penurious?

While in some cases nearly identical to penurious, miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

When is it sensible to use niggardly instead of penurious?

Although the words niggardly and penurious have much in common, niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

In what contexts can parsimonious take the place of penurious?

The words parsimonious and penurious can be used in similar contexts, but parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

When can stingy be used instead of penurious?

The meanings of stingy and penurious largely overlap; 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penurious
Adjective
  • The tunnel was built after careful planning and executed with tremendous effort.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • The play’s focus is resolutely on the impoverished rural family of women who fall under this ambitious bluesman’s influence in the rural Georgia of the 1930s, writes Chris Jones.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
  • This model is much less appealing to the impoverished governments, which sometimes struggle to pay their own troops.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • But really, that's pretty selfish.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 15 May 2026
  • Artists can be complicated, selfish people, and substance abuse exacerbates these traits for many of them.
    Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • After wildfires hit Georgia in April 2026 fueled by a rain deficit, high winds and low humidity, — among other causes, per NASA — neighboring states got slammed with poor air quality alerts.
    Ryan Brennan May 19, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
  • However his attitude on health care and taxes places Newsom at odds with advocates for poor Californians who would be affected and their allies in the Legislature, many of whom want a tax increase.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
Adjective
  • The main culprit for labor’s shrinking share of the economic pie is government policy, not greedy corporations.
    Scott Lincicome, Washington Post, 11 May 2026
  • Summers in Florida would not be so hot if lawmakers were not so greedy; developers not so persistent; if land and wildlife weren’t paved for roads, parking lots and housing developments.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • The two share an inquisitive and child-like energy, turning heavy conversations about growing up broke, the solitude of incarceration, and desperate cries for attention, into something remarkably light.
    Malina Saval, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • On Monday, Pat Riley essentially said what’s broke should be fixed.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • There’s a generous and an ungenerous reading of Carole Radziwill returning to RHONY.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 4 May 2026
  • 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
Adjective
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Penurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penurious. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster