as in to save
to avoid unnecessary waste or expense
had to scrimp and save for years in order to be able to afford a house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 scrimp
Racing became a way of life, traveling the Midwest and scrimping together money for fuel and parts.
—
Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
The Premier League, too, does not scrimp on its legal representation.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
The power went out intermittently, and families scrimped to get enough food.
—Maggie Doherty, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Far from the envy of the world, Britain has been scrimping by spending 37 billion pounds ($53 billion) on the health services each year, well below Germany, France and Australia, a landmark review found last year.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrimp
Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
The Premier League, too, does not scrimp on its legal representation.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
The power went out intermittently, and families scrimped to get enough food.
—Maggie Doherty, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Far from the envy of the world, Britain has been scrimping by spending 37 billion pounds ($53 billion) on the health services each year, well below Germany, France and Australia, a landmark review found last year.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrimp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrimp
Verb
-
Hugo Lloris saved two shots for LAFC (6-3-3), which drops to 4-2-1 at home.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
Everyone, save for maybe his pops, was wrong.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
In short, economizing on non-defense outlays simply has to bring mandatory spending under review.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
-
In short, economizing on non-defense outlays simply has to bring mandatory spending under review.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The fundamental principle is that water is conserved.—
Robert Knight,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
-
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park conserves nearly 13,000 acres of rare hardwood bottomland along the Mississippi River, including eerie bald cypress swamp.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
These are not women who just help get their grandkids ready for school in the morning or watch them on a Saturday night; these are women who have chosen to become parents again, sparing their grandchildren from life in the foster system.—
Casey Cep,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
With Casey Schmitt at third and Devers at first with no outs, Schmitt broke for home on a grounder to third by Matt Chapman and was thrown out at the plate with feet to spare.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
When occupancy is lower, the evening happy hour takes place in the lobby lounge, but does not skimp on the buffet spread of hot and cold items, enough for dinner for many people.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
Smart features Your alarm clock doesn’t have to skimp on modern features.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scrimp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrimp. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
