STINGY Synonyms: 157 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

stingy

adjective

ˈstin-jē

Definition of stingy next

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

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

Examples 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 team has been as stingy as the Chargers, who have given up an NFL-low 12.5 points per game going into Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. —

Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 10 Oct. 2024 Gaines was stingy with raises but generous with a huge perk: taking the staff and regular freelance contributors on elaborate vacations all over the globe. —

Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Sep. 2024 The drugstore industry has problems, including stingier reimbursement from insurers on drug sales, competition from online retailers, Walmart and Target, and a rise in merchandise theft. —

John Dorfman, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 Featuring the top two stingiest scoring defenses in the NFL, Sunday’s game (10 a.m. PDT, Ch. 2) is likely to be a slugfest. —

Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stingy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stingy

Adjective

Making these breads takes over 72 hours of slow and careful workmanship.

Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
These things make Istanbul a great place to get high-quality hair transplants at low prices, but patients need to be careful to avoid secret risks.

Ethan Stone, Journal Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024