UNGENEROUS Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

ungenerous

adjective

ˌən-ˈjen-rəs

Definition of ungenerous

as in selfish

giving or sharing as little as possible it is ungenerous for someone of his ample means not to provide more for the care of his aging parents

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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 ungenerous There’s a generous and an ungenerous reading of Carole Radziwill returning to RHONY. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 4 May 2026 There’s an ungenerous and shallow way to look at this film as little more than a highlight reel of Hammer’s work, a paltry substitute for actually spending meaningful time with the work itself. — Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026 No one wants to disappoint their child or be seen as ungenerous. — Mandy Len Catron, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026 But those monologues are artistically dishonest and ungenerous. — Mick Lasalle, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ungenerous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungenerous

Adjective

But there’s a point at which an act of service risks inverting into a selfish act.

— Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Unlike Reborn Rich, Reborn Rookie is a comedy, finding a fair amount of fun in the story of a CEO who accidentally swaps bodies with a young soccer player, and uses the opportunity to get revenge on his selfish children.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 6 July 2026

Definition of selfish

Adjective

Several of my prior assumptions were upended right from the start of the piece—including the idea that the reclining wars are all just the greedy airlines’ fault.

— Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 15 July 2026
Willem Dafoe costars as a former vampire nicknamed Elvis who leads a resistance against the greedy, capitalist vampire upper class — a good indication of the film’s campy tone.

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026

Definition of greedy

Adjective

Watch crafty servant Scapin spin outrageous webs of disguise and deception to help a band of young lovers outwit their impossibly miserly fathers.

— News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
Koenig’s former Yankees teammates were contemptuous of that miserly decision.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026

Definition of miserly

Adjective

This one seemed slow and turgid, and the Australian attack was parsimonious, with only the sixth bowler used, Ash Gardner, going at more than 10 runs an over in her three overs.

— Paul Newman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
This is the most parsimonious way to account for the unified nature of consciousness, according to subcorticalists.

— Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 28 May 2026

Definition of parsimonious

Adjective

There’s a cast of wanderers, visionaries, and itinerants, the self-educated and self-published, a long lineage of cranks and outcasts, mostly penurious, always opinionated, stretching away into the mists of pseudohistory.

— Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
But both are gone because neither could make magic of Sherman’s low-spending model that still includes the most penurious payroll in MLB in 2025.

— Greg Cote July 16, Miami Herald, 16 July 2025

Definition of penurious

Adjective

But Messi’s magic ran out against a historically stingy Spain team that allowed just one goal in eight World Cup games.

— Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
Fearful of invading marauders, humankind has turned distrustful and stingy, ignoring Zeus’ command to show generosity toward the poor and foreign-born, a cornerstone of faith that would later be repurposed in the New Testament.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of stingy

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ungenerosity

ungenerous

ungenerously

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“Ungenerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungenerous. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of ungenerous

adjective

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