Synonyms of miserly

miserly

adjective

ˈmī-zər-lē 

as in selfish

giving or sharing as little as possible

my brother, who is notoriously miserly, surprised us when he offered to pick up the tab

Synonyms & Similar Words

• selfish
• careful
• stingy
• greedy
• parsimonious
• tightfisted
• close
• ungenerous
• niggardly
• tight
• cheap
• penurious
• mean
• pinching
• uncharitable
• chintzy
• desirous
• penny-pinching
• sparing
• niggard
• economical
• mingy
• spare
• conserving
• stinting
• small
• thrifty
• frugal
• saving
• pinchpenny
• economizing
• avaricious
• closefisted
• chary
• covetous
• mercenary
• hoggish
• acquisitive
• grudging
• shabby
• rapacious
• sordid
• begrudging
• envious
• avid
• resentful
• scrimping
• grasping
• skimping
• itchy
• coveting
• inhospitable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• generous
• charitable
• munificent
• liberal
• bountiful
• bounteous
• unstinting
• unselfish
• unsparing
• openhanded
• altruistic
• selfless
• extravagant
• handsome
• lavish
• overgenerous
• free
• benevolent
• hospitable
• philanthropic
• profuse
• beneficent
• magnanimous
• humanitarian
• kindly
• freehanded
• compassionate
• philanthropical
• wasteful
• profligate
• spendthrift
• unthrifty
• openhearted
• wasting
• prodigal
• good-hearted
• thriftless
• dissipating
• greathearted
• squandering
• frittering
• splurging

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective miserly contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of miserly are close, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, and stingy. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

When can close be used instead of miserly?

Although the words close and miserly have much in common, close suggests keeping a tight grip on one's money and possessions.

folks who are very close when charity calls

When is it sensible to use niggardly instead of miserly?

While the synonyms niggardly and miserly are close in meaning, niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

Where would parsimonious be a reasonable alternative to miserly?

The synonyms parsimonious and miserly are sometimes interchangeable, but parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

When would penurious be a good substitute for miserly?

The words penurious and miserly can be used in similar contexts, but penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

When is stingy a more appropriate choice than miserly?

While in some cases nearly identical to miserly, stingy implies a marked lack of generosity.

a stingy child, not given to sharing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of miserly

Cygnet Theatre will present its annual production of Dickens’ redemptive holiday tale, once again starring Cygnet artistic director Sean Murray as the miserly Victorian money-lender Ebenezer Scrooge. —The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Dec. 2024

Liverpool’s torpid display at Wembley against Newcastle will have hurt Merseyside pride, but the cost to club coffers is minimal; League Cup compensation is miserly, even for the winners. —Chris Weatherspoon, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025

Florida is the only state in the geographic Deep South with a higher minimum wage than the federal government’s miserly $7.25 an hour. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025

With the arrival of pitchers and catchers, one of the coldest and miserly baseball offseasons in memory is nearing conclusion, and it can’t be understated that, other than the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets (on one player), hardly any team spent any money. —Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2025