Synonyms of thrifty

thrifty

adjective

ˈthrif-tē 

as in economical

careful in the management of money or resources

if you are thrifty, you can find ways to decorate your room stylishly yet inexpensively

Synonyms & Similar Words

• economical
• economizing
• frugal
• saving
• prudent
• provident
• conserving
• sparing
• preserving
• cheap
• scrimping
• foresighted
• penny-wise
• parsimonious
• forehanded
• miserly
• tightfisted
• stingy
• spare
• penurious
• close
• foresightful
• pinching
• mean
• penny-pinching
• tight
• closefisted
• stinting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wasteful
• spendthrift
• profligate
• unthrifty
• prodigal
• improvident
• generous
• liberal
• thriftless
• shortsighted
• charitable
• unselfish
• bountiful
• munificent
• squandering
• extravagant
• unsparing
• indulgent
• lavish
• openhanded
• freehanded

Synonym Chooser

How is the word thrifty distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of thrifty are economical, frugal, and sparing. While all these words mean "careful in the use of one's money or resources," thrifty stresses good management and industry.

thrifty use of nonrenewable resources

When is economical a more appropriate choice than thrifty?

Although the words economical and thrifty have much in common, economical stresses prudent management, lack of wastefulness, and use of things to their best advantage.

an economical health-care plan

When can frugal be used instead of thrifty?

The meanings of frugal and thrifty largely overlap; however, frugal implies absence of luxury and simplicity of lifestyle.

ran a frugal household

When would sparing be a good substitute for thrifty?

The words sparing and thrifty can be used in similar contexts, but sparing stresses abstention and restraint.

sparing in the offering of advice

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of thrifty

Still, the stereotype of the Spirit customer was not of a traveller cowed by a need to be thrifty. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 9 May 2026

Keep in mind that those 57 titles include a slew of indies from distributors that open their movies in the high hundreds of thousands to low millions off thrifty marketing budgets and easy marketplace access due to low digital print fees. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 May 2026

Before agreeing with Bregman in mid-January, the team’s future commitments — $39 million in 2027, $30 million in 2028 and $26 million in 2029 — were in the same range as the notoriously thrifty Cleveland Guardians. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026

Those latter prices look downright thrifty in comparison. — New Atlas, 21 Mar. 2026