Definition of stingynext
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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 Although little consolation, the Quakes’ two goals were impressive considering the stingy Sounders have permitted just six goals in MLS play this season. Jon Becker, Mercury News, 14 May 2026 At its base is 63% Hippophae rhamnoides (more commonly known as sea buckthorn) water, rich in naturally occurring antioxidants, paired with 5% niacinamide and 2% tranexamic acid to target dullness and dark spots without feeling stingy like a peel. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 9 May 2026 Luxury sweets may cost a pretty penny, but giving your host a free pass to be a bit stingy with them? Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 9 May 2026 All seven games were decided by a goal, and four went to overtime, with the stingiest of netminders at both ends. Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for stingy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stingy
Adjective
  • The film is set in Mumbai and built around a miserly protagonist whose circumstances spiral into escalating absurdity.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
  • UConn’s offense hasn’t been nearly as prolific, averaging 73.2 points per game, although its D has been downright miserly.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • On trips to Spain this month and France in September, Leo will find thousands of young people like her in these traditionally Catholic but now staunchly secular countries, where historic churches are abundant and Mass attendance is sparse.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 June 2026
  • Most subsea drones can only trade sparse, primitive status blips.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
Adjective
  • Squandering his Senate seniority and experience at this time, combined with his decision to appoint a newbie to replace him, should that opportunity arise, seems misguided at best and selfish at worst.
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
  • My grown kids still act like kids — selfish and insensitive.
    Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • Through narrow, treacherous tunnels, some waterlogged and cold enough for wetsuits, others so tight oxygen was scarce, the men navigated 260 meters (approximately 850 feet), from the chamber they’d been trapped in to the cave’s mouth, a distance equivalent to the height of a 78-story building.
    Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
  • The outbreak has sickened at least 134 people and killed 18 across Congo and Uganda, with survivors describing harsh symptoms, scarce therapies and fearful neighbors who kept their distance.
    Justin Kabumba, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Adjective
  • The record labels are very greedy.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2026
  • People have to suffer in order for people to be really greedy.
    Maria Bamford, Vulture, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • Common travel regrets stem from preventable issues like poor planning, budget problems, and choosing the wrong companions.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 June 2026
  • O’Farrell’s inclination for narratives propelled by brutal coincidence and fatally poor timing tenders a Hardy-esque vision of the world, one that emphasizes the rigid, often cruel limits of an individual’s jurisdiction over the course of their life.
    Rachel Vorona Cote, Vulture, 2 June 2026
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
  • This is the most parsimonious way to account for the unified nature of consciousness, according to subcorticalists.
    Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 28 May 2026
  • What fraction visible at basically every U.S. gas station originated as a parsimonious response to a 1932 one-penny gas tax?
    Drew Goins, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stingy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stingy. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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