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niggardly

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective niggardly contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of niggardly are close, miserly, parsimonious, penurious, and stingy. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

When can close be used instead of niggardly?

Although the words close and niggardly 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 miserly instead of niggardly?

The meanings of miserly and niggardly largely overlap; however, miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

Where would parsimonious be a reasonable alternative to niggardly?

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

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

When could penurious be used to replace niggardly?

While in some cases nearly identical to niggardly, penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

When would stingy be a good substitute for niggardly?

The words stingy and niggardly can be used in similar contexts, but stingy implies a marked lack of generosity.

a stingy child, not given to sharing

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 niggardly
Adjective
Many Chileans are angry about the country’s unequal distribution of wealth and power, about niggardly pensions (for which people are supposed to save themselves) and about long waiting times for doctors’ visits and poor schools. The Economist, 25 Dec. 2019 To tap one of the country’s two largest and most niggardly mines is hard enough. The Economist, 3 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for niggardly
Adjective
  • While casual fans and explosive-offense junkies may tap out early (not for nothing did the Vegas books set the over/under at a miserly 44.5 points), the stakes are far too high to pass up on the inaugural semifinal of the 12-team College Football Playoff era.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Jan. 2025
  • The wage increase of $8.25 a month seems a miserly addition.
    Chloe Berger, Fortune Asia, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Harmonizing data within an organization minimizes redundancies, improves data governance, serves as a single source of truth, and makes better use of scarce resources.
    Jan Gilg, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
  • The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands, forcing many into overcrowded camps with scarce resources.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Bass has employed a more careful and conciliatory tone.
    Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Leopold cautioned immigrants of any religious, national or ethnic background to be careful traveling.
    Pioneer Press, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The film’s sparse, handmade 16-mm aesthetic, which visually recalls influences ranging from early German Expressionism to the work of Guy Maddin, primarily sells the film’s outlandish fantastical conceit, despite its derivative nature.
    Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2025
  • The meditative song highlights Future’s confessional over sparse production.
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Music Musicians deal with stingy streamers and AI threats, too.
    August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Wagner is the ninth reliever to make the Hall of Fame, breaking through at a position that voters have long been stingy with.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • In a perfect and parsimonious world, a single two-stage spacecraft would land on Mars, scoop up soil samples in situ, and transfer them to an ascent stage which would blast off into orbit.
    Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Under Mike Ashley, the Premier League’s financial fair play (FFP) regulations — which permit losses of up to £105m over a rolling three-year period — were never an issue given his parsimonious nature.
    Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 30 June 2024
Adjective
  • Ultimately, Souleymane Traore demonstrates how pursuing one’s goals with purpose and determination is never selfish.
    William Jones, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025
  • In a closed-door lunch the next day, senators said the president was being selfish.
    Annie Karni, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Sophie’s own child, Aud Mason-Hyde, is one of the main actors, which adds another layer of things as a close personal story.
    Dan Allen, NBC News, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Dustin Pedroia earned enough Hall of Fame votes to stay on the ballot for a second year, but how close was the Boston Red Sox legend to earning enshrinement?
    Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near niggardly

Cite this Entry

“Niggardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/niggardly. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

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