Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective parsimonious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of parsimonious are close, miserly, niggardly, penurious, and stingy. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

When could close be used to replace parsimonious?

While in some cases nearly identical to parsimonious, 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 parsimonious?

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

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

Where would niggardly be a reasonable alternative to parsimonious?

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

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

When would penurious be a good substitute for parsimonious?

The words penurious and parsimonious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

In what contexts can stingy take the place of parsimonious?

In some situations, the words stingy and parsimonious are roughly equivalent. However, 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 parsimonious That's probably why the recent program to observe the Crab emerged victorious in the stiff competition for JWST's precious observing time; the parsimonious prospect of solving two different mysteries with one set of observations is just the kind of thing scientists love. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023 Serving Suggestions Giant cookies are, by nature, not meant for parsimonious consumption. Aleksandra Crapanzano, WSJ, 6 Dec. 2023 Hers was a parsimonious approach, leaving a good inch or inch-and-a-half of outer crust untouched by any ingredient. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 16 Oct. 2023 In stripping down realism to a more parsimonious model, one in which the only truly important variable is power, Kirshner argues, the structural realists have gone too far, producing a theory of little value. Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022 See all Example Sentences for parsimonious 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parsimonious
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
Adjective
  • Smart Care can free up valuable storage space, an important function considering most Macs come with miserly amounts of storage.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
  • Sneak-peek images of the one-time-only giveaway souvenirs had quickly been met with ridicule online for their ultra-minimalist design — seen by some as one last miserly indignity directed at a loyal fanbase.
    Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • Not because Biden was selfish and ran for reelection.
    Ted Trimpa, The Denver Post, 12 Nov. 2024
  • Perhaps a record of principled work for others should outweigh a record of selfish ambition.
    Keenan Robbins, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • His skin, a greedy shade of brown, seems to eat up all the light.
    Essence, Essence, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Like Kato and Sunja’s margarita date last week, this is another small moment that moves as much, if not more, than any of the larger emotional gestures in the show — some pleasures are immune to misery’s greedy hands.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024
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
Adjective
  • The company’s markets wagered correctly and controversially in Donald Trump’s favor in bets on who would win the presidential election, even though opinion polls showed a tight race.
    Sophia Pargas, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Incumbent Leonel Talavera and her opponent, Vanesa Estrella, are locked in a tight race for Area 5.
    Alexcia Negrete, Orange County Register, 9 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, the defense has taken a stingy turn under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 9 Nov. 2024
  • The Wild, one of the NHL’s stingiest teams, had only lost two games in regulation time this season.
    Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • This is the problem with the show: These women are just concocting reasons why the people on the other side suck, and it’s become the most uncharitable, the most ungenerous thing on Bravo.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 July 2024
  • While the initial batch of second-quarter earnings reports has been met by generally ungenerous market responses, the numbers themselves are solid.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 July 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Parsimonious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parsimonious. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

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