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

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 parsimonious The famously parsimonious king, a sustainability advocate, regularly sends his roomy double- and single-breasted styles back for repairs. Samantha Conti, WWD, 5 Dec. 2024 Some have felt conflicted, but after decades without success and 14 years of soulless drudgery under Mike Ashley’s parsimonious ownership, many were willing to accept anything for the promise or even just the hope of better times. Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025 His father was intensely parsimonious as well, and once tried to build a front fence by hammering bookshelves together. Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025 To attribute the corrosion of institutional trust to such bugbears as relativism or postmodernism is to ignore explanations that are both more concrete and more parsimonious. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for parsimonious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parsimonious
Adjective
  • These concerns underscore the need for careful consideration of privacy rights when deploying such technology.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
  • The meticulous breeding and careful selection that produced such extraordinary specimens highlight the craftsmanship and expertise defining today’s koi industry.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Chrissy made a predictably miserly offer of $230,000, and obviously David did not take it.
    Laura Bradley, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Up to then, Wrexham had by far the most miserly defence in League One after conceding just 11 goals in 19 league games — five better than Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town.
    Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • But the opening scene underlines just how much Joel’s rash, deadly, selfish, ferociously loving decision hangs over these beloved characters.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The question many Republicans in the Capitol are asking themselves: which path will yield the least pain for selfish spoils?
    Philip Elliott, Time, 3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Bulls make money, bears make money, pigs get slaughtered Cramer said the market action punished investors who’ve stayed negative, as well as short sellers and hedge funds that got greedy in the past few days.
    Russell Leung, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
  • There are also a number of Native American legends in which buzzards are portrayed as greedy and deceptive compared with other large birds.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 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
Adjective
  • Her hair was pulled back into a tight chignon with a few strands of wavy hair to frame her face.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • At the moment, Ajax is in a tight title race in the Eredivisie between Twente, currently at the top of the table, and PSV, who are ahead of Ajax but level with Twente on points.
    Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The nation's stingiest defense held the Vols to 15 first-half points, the fewest in an Elite Eight game since 1979.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Showdown beyond the arc One of the most intriguing matchups in Atlanta will be Ole Miss’ 3-point shooters, led by Sean Pedulla, taking on a Michigan State defense that is one of the nation’s stingiest outside the arc.
    Paul Newberry, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • But neither can anyone seriously accuse the United States of being ungenerous with its citizens’ lives and treasure or of having no ideals.
    Joshua Landis, Foreign Affairs, 19 Jan. 2016
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Parsimonious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parsimonious. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

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