as in to save
to avoid unnecessary waste or expense
had to scrimp and save for years in order to be able to afford a house
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Recent Examples of scrimp
To her, people who scrimped and saved and eked out a mean existence were as idiotic as people who got themselves into debt.
—
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
Denzel Washington confronts photographer in tense moment at Cannes Film Festival
Watson did not scrimp in the glamour department for her 2013 Cannes debut either.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 23 May 2025
To The Boss: Don’t scrimp on leadership development—especially coaching.
—Tom Roberts, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
So Florida scrimps on everything from public schools to services with people with disabilities, ranking 49th in per capita government spending.
—Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrimp
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
Denzel Washington confronts photographer in tense moment at Cannes Film Festival
Watson did not scrimp in the glamour department for her 2013 Cannes debut either.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 23 May 2025
To The Boss: Don’t scrimp on leadership development—especially coaching.
—Tom Roberts, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
So Florida scrimps on everything from public schools to services with people with disabilities, ranking 49th in per capita government spending.
—Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrimp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrimp
Verb
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Biglari’s core demands were to stop opening new stores entirely, eliminate the development team to save money, and focus exclusively on improving existing store operations rather than expansion.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
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One paper in August estimates that Covid vaccines saved more than 2 million lives, mostly among older adults, worldwide between 2020 and October 2024.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The system reduces emissions, noise, and vibration while economizing on fuel and maintenance costs.—
Kathleen Turner,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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Nonperishables that come in aluminum or steel cans — think beans, chickpeas, and soups — are typically thought of as a way for shoppers to economize.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
5 June 2025
Verb
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By extending sensor reach while conserving power, technologies like Wi-Fi HaLow can help broaden access to real-time environmental data, especially in areas where traditional networks fall short.—
Michael De Nil,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Nationwide, over 90 percent of the country is experiencing some level of drought, reservoirs in major cities have dropped to critically low levels, and officials have urged citizens to conserve water.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The researchers tested their two-part drug on mice and zebrafish engineered to produce β-glucuronidase, and found that the drug was activated almost exclusively in tumors, sparing healthy tissue and organs.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Sep. 2025
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Lawmakers will be on their annual autumn recess, sparing the government an awkward decision.—
Jill Lawless,
Twin Cities,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Each bite is coated with a buttery Cajun ranch sauce that doesn't skimp on flavor.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Sep. 2025
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But country clubs aren’t for everyone, and public tracks skimp on the amenities that make off-course socializing stick.—
Mike Dojc,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scrimp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrimp. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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