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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective stingy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stingy are close, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, and penurious. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," stingy implies a marked lack of generosity.

a stingy child, not given to sharing

When could close be used to replace stingy?

The words close and stingy can be used in similar contexts, but 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 stingy?

The words miserly and stingy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

When is niggardly a more appropriate choice than stingy?

In some situations, the words niggardly and stingy are roughly equivalent. However, niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

When would parsimonious be a good substitute for stingy?

While the synonyms parsimonious and stingy are close in meaning, parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

Where would penurious be a reasonable alternative to stingy?

While in some cases nearly identical to stingy, penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

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 stingy Their defense has been stingy while slowing down two dynamic quarterbacks in the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and the Raiders’ Geno Smith. Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 21 Sep. 2025 In wins over New Orleans and Carolina, Arizona has been stingy against the run, giving up 156 yards in two games with no run yielding more than 18 yards. Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025 The always-stingy Arapahoe defense (16 points allowed/game) should offer plenty of resistance. Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 17 Sep. 2025 That’s good news for the many wage workers who have seen their purchasing power shrink as prices get higher, and companies get stingier with pay. John Werner, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stingy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stingy
Adjective
  • How much is unclear, but with the Portuguese’s contract not due to expire until June 2027, the amounts won’t be miserly.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • That’ll teach Assad to give Meatball more than a miserly $40 contribution next time!
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Short-term rentals in central Palma are tightly restricted by law, and Airbnbs are sparse outside the city.
    Emilio Parra Doiztua, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Signs Its Time To Divide Perennials When flowers are smaller than normal, the plant develops a bald spot in the center of the crown, and bottom leaves are sparse, the plant probably needs to be divided.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • How selfish of Fred Warner, goodness gracious.
    Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
  • This is plainly and simply a selfish decision on his part.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Few dentists remain open in Gaza, and the materials for braces are scarce.
    Ghada Abdulfattah, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Public housing gets a rebrand As a nationwide housing shortage keeps affordable options scarce, an old idea is getting a new look.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Because even in a world of monsters, ghouls, and greedy jerks, the good guys still prevail.
    Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Both love rich, moist soil and neither one is greedy with space in the garden.
    Heather Bien, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Porter has been a lead creator before, but that was on cellar-dwelling Houston Rockets squads that became a breeding ground for poor habits.
    Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Young people want better governance and are fed up with suffering from poor services and economies while their leaders get rich around them and inequality grows.
    Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Every year, a complacent, tightfisted city council turned down the recommendations.
    Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2023
  • Kotick played the tightfisted owner of the Oakland A’s.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 31 May 2023
Adjective
  • Chelsea are famously parsimonious in the transfer market, after all.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Wimpy was a mild-mannered, soft-spoken, lazy, parsimonious, and utterly gluttonous hamburger-wolfing straight man to Popeye.
    Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stingy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stingy. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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