PENURIOUS Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'penurious' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of penurious are close , miserly , niggardly , parsimonious , and stingy . While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty. // the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

Q: Where would 'close' be a reasonable alternative to 'penurious'?

While the synonyms close and penurious are close in meaning, 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 'penurious'?

While in some cases nearly identical to penurious , miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding. // a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

Q: When is it sensible to use 'niggardly' instead of 'penurious'?

Although the words niggardly and penurious have much in common, niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible. // the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

Q: In what contexts can 'parsimonious' take the place of 'penurious'?

The words parsimonious and penurious can be used in similar contexts, but parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess. // a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

Q: When can 'stingy' be used instead of 'penurious'?

The meanings of stingy and penurious largely overlap; however, stingy implies a marked lack of generosity. // a stingy child, not given to sharing

penurious

adjective

pə-ˈnu̇r-ē-əs

Definition of penurious next

as in selfish

giving or sharing as little as possible the company's penurious management could not be convinced of the need to earmark more money for research and development

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in impoverished

lacking money or material possessions the most penurious members of the community are forced to depend on the services of the food bank

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective penurious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of penurious are close, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, and stingy. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

Where would close be a reasonable alternative to penurious?

While the synonyms close and penurious are close in meaning, 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 penurious?

While in some cases nearly identical to penurious, miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

When is it sensible to use niggardly instead of penurious?

Although the words niggardly and penurious have much in common, niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

In what contexts can parsimonious take the place of penurious?

The words parsimonious and penurious can be used in similar contexts, but parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

When can stingy be used instead of penurious?

The meanings of stingy and penurious largely overlap; 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 penurious Both album and turntable were all the rage, and the Technics was the first quality direct-drive turntable that a penurious college student could afford. —

Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024 There are resentful relatives, penurious relatives, conniving relatives, no relatives, and loved ones denied input because they are not related. —

Dan Barry, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The book looks beyond Appalachia, concluding the regions in question had been exploited by single industries and white elites, paying poor wages with equally penurious working conditions. —

Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2023 When his sports career petered out, Thorpe kept hustling to make an increasingly penurious living. —

Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2022 See all Example Sentences for penurious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for penurious

Adjective

Martin, who at this point knows just how selfish and destructive Tomas is, caves to his worst impulses and tops him silly.

— Samantha Allen, Them, 10 Feb. 2025
While Zoe and Grant chat on the rooftop patio, everyone else mills around in the gym, complaining about their rival’s selfish mood.

— Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 4 Feb. 2025