stingy

adjective

ˈstin-jē How to pronounce stingy (audio)
Definition of stingynext
1
as in careful
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sparse
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable a stingy serving of mashed potatoes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 tenure, while regularly met with criticism about stingy payrolls, has been marked by continuity, with front-office pillars Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff spending more than two decades and counting with the club. —Zack Meisel, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025 Not a recession or the end of the bull market, but a stingier phase susceptible to bouts of unease and downside tests. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 22 Feb. 2025 Can Ole Miss make enough 3s to keep Iowa State’s stingy defense at bay? —Tobias Bass, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025 Tell her to stop being stingy and pay for her own subscriptions. —Karen Fratti, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stingy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stingy
  1. careful
  2. sparse
  3. miserly
  4. scarce
  5. selfish
  6. poor
  7. greedy
  8. tightfisted
Adjective
  • Overall, Coney Barrett took a very careful route, avoiding the more strident criticism of the Trump administration while siding with the liberals in criticizing the Supreme Court majority for agreeing to take the case.
    — Sean O'Driscoll, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Although careful planning is essential, action generates momentum.
    — Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • The evidence against Mayers was sparse, mainly consisting of a few indistinct and inconveniently angled surveillance videos.
    — Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 4 Apr. 2025
  • This abundance is in stark contrast to today, when sightings of migrating fish are sparse.
    — Logan Kistler, JSTOR Daily, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of sparse
Adjective
  • Chrissy made a predictably miserly offer of $230,000, and obviously David did not take it.
    — Laura Bradley, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Up to then, Wrexham had by far the most miserly defence in League One after conceding just 11 goals in 19 league games — five better than Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Definition of miserly
Adjective
  • Details of who makes up the DOGE staff have been scarce despite the intense media attention on the team's efforts.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
  • As a rule, if rain is scarce, a crepe myrtle needs two to three gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter per week.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of scarce
Adjective
  • But the opening scene underlines just how much Joel’s rash, deadly, selfish, ferociously loving decision hangs over these beloved characters.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The question many Republicans in the Capitol are asking themselves: which path will yield the least pain for selfish spoils?
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of selfish
Adjective
  • There’s a real debate to be had about what responsibility better-off neighborhoods like Hyde Park have to help solve humanitarian problems that often are laid at the feet of poorer areas.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The strong United cohort, almost entirely comprised of dominant sides under Ferguson, has not shied away from criticising the club, players and managers when results have been poor.
    — Elias Burke, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • Bulls make money, bears make money, pigs get slaughtered Cramer said the market action punished investors who’ve stayed negative, as well as short sellers and hedge funds that got greedy in the past few days.
    — Russell Leung, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
  • There are also a number of Native American legends in which buzzards are portrayed as greedy and deceptive compared with other large birds.
    — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of greedy
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
Definition of tightfisted

Browse Nearby Words

stings
stingy
stink
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Cite this Entry

“Stingy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stingy. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of stingy for Spanish Speakers

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