STINGY Synonyms: 157 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of stingy are close , miserly , niggardly , parsimonious , and penurious . While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," stingy implies a marked lack of generosity. // a stingy child, not given to sharing

Q: When could 'close' be used to replace 'stingy'?

The words close and stingy can be used in similar contexts, but 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 'stingy'?

The words miserly and stingy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding. // a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

Q: When is 'niggardly' a more appropriate choice than 'stingy'?

In some situations, the words niggardly and stingy are roughly equivalent. However, niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible. // the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

Q: When would 'parsimonious' be a good substitute for 'stingy'?

While the synonyms parsimonious and stingy are close in meaning, parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess. // a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

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

While in some cases nearly identical to stingy , penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty. // the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

stingy

adjective

ˈstin-jē

Definition of stingy next

as in careful

giving or sharing as little as possible until his redemption, Ebenezer Scrooge is the classic example of a very stingy, heartless miser

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sparse

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable a stingy serving of mashed potatoes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective stingy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stingy are close, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, and penurious. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," stingy implies a marked lack of generosity.

a stingy child, not given to sharing

When could close be used to replace stingy?

The words close and stingy can be used in similar contexts, but 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 stingy?

The words miserly and stingy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

When is niggardly a more appropriate choice than stingy?

In some situations, the words niggardly and stingy are roughly equivalent. However, niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

When would parsimonious be a good substitute for stingy?

While the synonyms parsimonious and stingy are close in meaning, parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

Where would penurious be a reasonable alternative to stingy?

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

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

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 stingy Valve has also been stingy with VR AAA titles, delivering only Half-Life: Alyx and leaving the industry waiting for the next bestseller title. —

Anshel Sag, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024 That won’t come easy against a stingy Thompson Valley defense that nearly shut out Discovery Canton in last week’s 3A quarterfinal win and has allowed just 72 points all season. —

Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2024 Boston could very easily put together a package of one big leaguer and two or three talented minor leaguers, without touching its top five, and acquire Crochet, as long as the White Sox aren't being too stingy about it. —

Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 The Ravens introduced the league’s stingiest scoring defense to a different level of medieval football, riding Derrick Henry and Justice Hill to more than 200 rushing yards and buckling down on defense for a crucial win. —

Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stingy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stingy

Adjective

Identifying ground zero for the advent of Dengue Fever can be tricky, but careful research has identified Aquarius Records in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District as the primary origin of the infectiously melodic band.

Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 27 Dec. 2024
Going slowly and applying heat with a hair dryer can help reduce the risk of damage, but the difficulty of this process is a solid reason to be careful with your installation.

Simon Hill, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2024