scrimp
verb
ˈskrimp 
scrimped; scrimping; scrimps
transitive verb
1
: to be stingy in providing for
2
: to make too small, short, or scanty
intransitive verb
: to be frugal or stingy
scrimpy
ˈskrim-pē
adjective 
Synonyms
- economize
- pinch
- save
- skimp
- spare
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
They scrimped and saved for their big vacation. had to scrimp and save for years in order to be able to afford a house
Recent Examples on the Web Shoppers are looking to scrimp by buying more store-brand goods and spurning higher-end deli meats for hot dogs and canned tuna. 
Brendan Case, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2022 And that means many Americans, especially the poorest, are having to scrimp in the face of high prices for groceries, gasoline and even school supplies. Arkansas Online, 6 Aug. 2022 That still is not enough to keep up with inflation, which means many Americans, especially the poorest, are having to scrimp in the face of high prices for groceries, gasoline and basic needs. Ken Sweet, ajc, 5 Aug. 2022 That is not enough to keep up with inflation which means many Americans, especially the poorest, are having to scrimp in the face of high prices for groceries, gasoline and even school supplies. Paul Wiseman, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022 In this economy, many workers are lucky to be offered a 401(k) in lieu of a pension while others scrimp and save enough to retire at 40. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 2 July 2022 Hearty dishes like the Biscuits & Gravy and Avocado Black Bean Burger provide vegetarian hiking fuel that doesn’t scrimp on flavor. Anna Haines, Forbes, 14 Apr. 2022 To fit those players in their salary cap, the Rams had to scrimp at other positions. Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Feb. 2022 With Sancho close to being in the door, though, United can’t scrimp on their defence. Graham Ruthven, Forbes, 25 June 2021 See More
Brendan Case, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2022 And that means many Americans, especially the poorest, are having to scrimp in the face of high prices for groceries, gasoline and even school supplies. Arkansas Online, 6 Aug. 2022 That still is not enough to keep up with inflation, which means many Americans, especially the poorest, are having to scrimp in the face of high prices for groceries, gasoline and basic needs. Ken Sweet, ajc, 5 Aug. 2022 That is not enough to keep up with inflation which means many Americans, especially the poorest, are having to scrimp in the face of high prices for groceries, gasoline and even school supplies. Paul Wiseman, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022 In this economy, many workers are lucky to be offered a 401(k) in lieu of a pension while others scrimp and save enough to retire at 40. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 2 July 2022 Hearty dishes like the Biscuits & Gravy and Avocado Black Bean Burger provide vegetarian hiking fuel that doesn’t scrimp on flavor. Anna Haines, Forbes, 14 Apr. 2022 To fit those players in their salary cap, the Rams had to scrimp at other positions. Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Feb. 2022 With Sancho close to being in the door, though, United can’t scrimp on their defence. Graham Ruthven, Forbes, 25 June 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish skrympa to shrink, Middle Low German schrempen to contract — more at shrimp
First Known Use
circa 1691, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
scrimp
verb
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- save
- economize
- spare
- conserve
- skimp
- manage
- pinch
- preserve
- scrape
- pinch pennies
- husband
- maintain
- hoard
- cut down
- retrench
- cut back
- lay up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- waste
- spend
- squander
- lavish
- blow
- splurge
- dissipate
- throw away
- misspend
- fritter (away)
- run through