Synonyms for parsimonious
- adjective
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Stingy — exhibiting parsimony; sparing in the expenditure of money; frugal, possibly to excess
stingy, miserly, tight, ungenerous, frugal, sparing, tight-fisted, mean, thrifty, prudent, canny, scanty, avaricious, penny-wise, economical, penurious, narrow, saving, provident formal, grasping, illiberal, spare
Definitions
- adj. 1
Exhibiting parsimony; sparing in the expenditure of money; frugal, possibly to excess.
Related words
- Word family
- parsimoniously parsimoniousness
Choose the right word
Avaricious and covetous refer especially to acquisition, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, and penurious to expenditure. Parsimonious and penurious may apply to one's outlay either for himself or for others; in the latter use, they are somewhat less harsh and reproachful terms than niggardly.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- frugal He is not frugal so you can't trust him with money.
- stingy Shylock is greedy, and what is worse, very stingy.
- miserly The principal was always miserly with words.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| parsimonious | rising | |
| frugal | rising | |
| stingy | rising | |
| miserly | rising | |
| ungenerous | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- mean1
- 5 letters
- tight1, spare1, canny2
- 6 letters
- saving2, narrow2, frugal2, stingy2, scanty2
- 7 letters
- prudent2, sparing2, thrifty2, miserly3
- 8 letters
- grasping2
- 9 letters
- provident3, illiberal, penurious4
- 10 letters
- economical5, avaricious, ungenerous
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (canny2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- parcimonieux
- Italiano
- parsimonioso
- Deutsch
- knauserig