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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 No major grid operator is as stingy as Bonneville in its approach to financing new transmission lines and substations needed to grow the power supply, according to industry groups that represent power producers. Tony Schick, ProPublica, 12 May 2025 This is one of the cooler matchups of the NCAA Tournament’s second round, with the stingy Buckeyes hosting the fleet Lady Vols. Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025 Elite firepower, stingy defense, and all-world goaltending to tie a nice bow on it. The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 3 May 2025 Detroit shot 15-of-32 from deep as a team — a blistering 46.9 percent clip against a Knicks defense that, while stingy on volume, continues to allow opponents to shoot an elite percentage from beyond the arc. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stingy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stingy
Adjective
  • This thing is razor sharp though, be careful when using it in the backcountry.
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 25 May 2025
  • Momentum is a real thing within the postseason, and if the Thunder aren't careful, Minnesota could sneak back into this matchup.
    Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • But turnout at Wednesday’s sessions was sparse; at faculty and student forums, more than half of the seats were empty.
    Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
  • The Spa The Recovery Lab feels more like a doctor’s office than a traditional spa, with sparse white walls and minimal decor.
    Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • But the approval process has been slow, the discounts vary from carrier to carrier, the requirements coming from insurers don’t always match the state’s own standards and the savings on offer are, according to some, miserly.
    CalMatters, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Newcastle's player sale profits were miserly for years until June 2024 Profit on player sales from 2014 to 2024 (£millions) Column chart of Newcastle United profit on player sales, where club record £69.8m in 2023-24 far outweigh what came before.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In a job market where interviews are scarce and searches can stretch for months, Marino-Briggs was struck by how often candidates arrived unprepared.
    Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • In a year where momentum is scarce, NASCAR’s 600-mile test provides a chance to put some distance between the good and the great.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • According to sources, some felt the decision was selfish, but others thanked her for her longstanding contributions in person and online, and felt the way in which the situation had unfolded was very unfair to her.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • Despite mixed emotions within his friend group, Reddit users were overwhelmingly on the poster's side, with many arguing that Jenna was being selfish.
    Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • The original doesn’t go that deeply into it, but this poor girl was essentially forced to be a teen mom at this time in her life when all of her friends would be graduating high school and dating and thinking about their futures.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 May 2025
  • The product was released in 2023 to a poor reception, and discontinued before the company began winding down operations in February.
    Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • What the greedy developers are trying to do burns me to no end.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 May 2025
  • The beloved ruler was supposed to care about the wellbeing of his people, but the noblemen beneath him were greedy and indifferent.
    David Hambling, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
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

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Cite this Entry

“Stingy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stingy. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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