as in economy
the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money
refusing to tip poorly paid restaurant servers is a particularly petty form of stinginess
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in miserly
giving or sharing as little as possible
until his redemption, Ebenezer Scrooge is the classic example of a very stingy, heartless miser
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sparse
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable
a stingy serving of mashed potatoes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stinginess
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Waunakee dominated play early, but Meyer’s stinginess in net and a goal by Leo Jenson gave the Warriors a 1-0 first period lead.
—Jim Hoehn, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
Poly’s stingy defense and a pair of key buckets from Smothers helped the Engineers go on a prolonged 7-0 run that extended their lead to 13 late before a 3-pointer from Elliott with about three minutes to go proved to be the dagger in Poly’s 16-point victory.
—Nicky Wolcott, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stinginess
Noun
That’s not stinginess for the sake of stinginess.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Waunakee dominated play early, but Meyer’s stinginess in net and a goal by Leo Jenson gave the Warriors a 1-0 first period lead.
—Jim Hoehn, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Compared with other cities, the model was less likely to associate Austin with being boring, stingy or unfriendly.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
Poly’s stingy defense and a pair of key buckets from Smothers helped the Engineers go on a prolonged 7-0 run that extended their lead to 13 late before a 3-pointer from Elliott with about three minutes to go proved to be the dagger in Poly’s 16-point victory.
—Nicky Wolcott, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stinginess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stinginess
Noun
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The hottest new gig-economy job in Los Angeles is performing at home to help artificial intelligence understand how humans move.—
NILESH CHRISTOPHER LOS ANGELES TIMES,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
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Yet DeSantis and legislative leaders haven’t even glanced in the direction of meaningful changes that would require Florida’s wealthiest corporations to pay their fair share, and reduce the burden on the struggling class of workers who make this state’s economy hum.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Como had been neck-and-neck with Roma’s miserly backline before shipping four at Inter last Saturday, a chastening defeat that ended an unbeaten run stretching back to the end of August.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
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In this version, miserly Madame Eleanor is visited by the ghost former business partner Jacob Marley as well as a few other apparitions.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
26 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Peaking at number two on the r&b singles chart that year, the song’s lyrics hew closely to familiar genre narratives but are transformed by the sparse yet eclectic instrumental sound being refined by Timbaland and Missy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
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About 85 percent of the original road is still drivable, although signage is sparse and Google Maps doesn’t recognize Route 66 as a single continuous path.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2026
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The movie underscores the absurdity of attempting to hew to outdated philosophies in a selfish, modern culture.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Yet users find forest maps deficient, trail signs dilapidated, campgrounds closed and information scarce.—
Evan Mills,
Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2026
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The true amount was probably less, but Ming Tai was a successful businessman, and marriageable Chinese women were incredibly scarce in New York.—
Charlotte Brooks,
Big Think,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Not least among these is their relative cheapness compared to manned systems, combined with their expendability.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 Feb. 2026
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Understanding that difference can prevent endless money conflicts because frugality builds a meaningful life, while cheapness slowly erodes joy.—
Brian Page,
CNBC,
26 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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And right now, these corrupt billionaires, these greedy corporations, are determining all avenues of our life, all types of policies.—
Jim DeFede,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Fears of robbery, greedy family and friends, scammers, mismanagement and unwanted attention are among the concerns that keep some big winners hesitant to go public.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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City officials say the long-term leases make buying Liberty Station a poor investment for any potential buyer other than Seligman.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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Further, according to the paper, when supply tightens, richer nations outbid poorer ones for scarce shipments, exacerbating challenges for vulnerable economies.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stinginess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stinginess. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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