Synonyms of stingy

stingy

adjective

ˈstin-jē 

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

• miserly
• selfish
• greedy
• tightfisted
• parsimonious
• tight
• ungenerous
• cheap
• close
• pinching
• penurious
• mean
• chintzy
• careful
• uncharitable
• desirous
• sparing
• mingy
• economical
• penny-pinching
• conserving
• spare
• stinting
• small
• thrifty
• frugal
• pinchpenny
• closefisted
• saving
• chary
• avaricious
• economizing
• covetous
• mercenary
• acquisitive
• shabby
• envious
• rapacious
• grudging
• itchy
• avid
• resentful
• begrudging
• sordid
• hoggish
• skimping
• grasping
• scrimping
• inhospitable
• coveting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• generous
• liberal
• charitable
• munificent
• bountiful
• bounteous
• openhanded
• unselfish
• altruistic
• unsparing
• unstinting
• selfless
• extravagant
• free
• lavish
• handsome
• benevolent
• overgenerous
• hospitable
• profuse
• philanthropic
• beneficent
• magnanimous
• kindly
• humanitarian
• freehanded
• compassionate
• wasteful
• openhearted
• profligate
• unthrifty
• spendthrift
• wasting
• prodigal
• good-hearted
• thriftless
• greathearted
• dissipating
• squandering
• splurging
• frittering

2

as in sparse

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable

a stingy serving of mashed potatoes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sparse
• scarce
• poor
• meager
• skimpy
• scanty
• lowest
• lacking
• scant
• sparing
• inadequate
• insufficient
• small
• slender
• skimp
• light
• exiguous
• spare
• hand-to-mouth
• mere
• short
• slim
• deficient
• thin on the ground
• minimal
• thin
• least
• slightest
• wanting
• bare-bones
• sterile
• bare
• littlest
• unproductive
• slight
• unfruitful
• barren
• infertile

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• generous
• liberal
• abundant
• adequate
• sufficient
• enough
• ample
• plentiful
• copious
• satisfactory
• bountiful
• rich
• tolerable
• prolific
• fat
• fertile
• plenteous
• fruitful
• lavish
• extra
• excess
• luxuriant
• fecund
• bursting
• surplus
• flourishing
• proliferative
• thriving
• swarming
• blooming
• teeming

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

Recent Examples of stingy

Yet given how rickety and stingy the country’s system of early-childhood support already is, the specifics of Vance’s proposal could produce astonishingly cruel results. — Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2026

Ratings are a question mark, since Season 1 didn’t chart on Nielsen and Apple is stingy with viewership data, but the nine episodes seemed to come and go without much fanfare. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026

The Warriors also played stingy defense, allowing negative rushing yards and only 68 yards passing on five completions. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026

Burton was not nearly as flashy, but still found ways to score against a stingy Minnesota defense, pulling the Valkyries within single digits while playing every minute of the second half. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026