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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
The book looks beyond Appalachia, concluding the regions in question had been exploited by single industries and white elites, paying poor wages with equally penurious working conditions.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for penurious
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
The book looks beyond Appalachia, concluding the regions in question had been exploited by single industries and white elites, paying poor wages with equally penurious working conditions.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for penurious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penurious
Adjective
-
But Eliasen is careful not to let scope creep derail initial implementations.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The walk is presided over by its creator, a mysterious authoritarian figure known as the Major (Mark Hamill) who extolls the sadistic contest as a boon for the spirits of the impoverished American people.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Probably the one that’s best known is the one about how Philomelus, a young, impoverished farmer and herdsman, struggled to push his plow through his fields.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
These co-workers are not heroes for coming in to work with their germs, but selfish and inconsiderate.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Having to carry the weight of someone else’s selfish needs makes everything harder.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Cutting carbs entirely can raise the risk of cholesterol, kidney stones, poor bone health, gut problems, and even cancer, added Stefanki.—
Caitlin Pagán,
Verywell Health,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Before Wednesday’s game, people within the organization were optimistic about Helsley putting his tipping problem and overall poor pitching behind him, pointing to a clean inning Monday.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Suddenly, Mickey is offering him a chance to play the main stage, which sets Sam’s greedier instincts into overdrive.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
13 Sep. 2025
-
But his greedy schemes and her desire to keep her dog immortal led to the downfall of her once-thriving business and turned her into a woman on the run.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Reunion shows often have a vital, go-for-broke spirit, and this movie does too, in the sweetest possible way.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
-
So to invest in a broke company is beyond me.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
At least with Derrick, the shallowness seems intentional, if ungenerous.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
13 June 2025
-
But, even though there was nothing the slightest bit ungracious or ungenerous about her performance, it was felt more like the audience being asked to come to her.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Lillian Feldman was born to impecunious Jewish emigres in Cincinnati on July 13, 1927, the twelfth of thirteen children who were encouraged by their mother to draw on the walls.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
17 Oct. 2024
-
Among them is the sardonic confidant, St. Quentin; the down-at-the-heels military man, Major Brutt; and the impecunious, high-living chancer, Eddie.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
18 Nov. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Penurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penurious. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share