stingy
adjective
Synonyms
- cheap
- chintzy
- close
- closefisted
- mean
- mingy
- miserly
- niggard
- niggardly
- parsimonious
- penny-pinching
- penurious
- pinching
- pinchpenny
- spare
- sparing
- stinting
- tight
- tightfisted
- uncharitable
- ungenerous
Example Sentences
Chris Fedor, cleveland, 6 Sep. 2022 Jim Leonhard is back for his sixth season as defensive coordinator and UW could again field a stingy unit, if inexperienced players at inside linebacker and safety develop. Jeff Potrykus, Journal Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2022 The defending Division 1 state champion sets its sights on repeating, relying on Gravereaux and Luby to pace a stingy defensive unit. Cam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 The Bulldogs graduated eight of the top nine tacklers from a stingy unit that allowed just 9.4 points per game and posted five shutouts last year. Jason Frakes, The Courier-Journal, 10 Aug. 2022 Because, as coach Erik Spoelstra explained, playing too cautiously can be a dangerous game against a defense as stingy as the Celtics’. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 25 May 2022 On the plus side, the Lions should again be stingy on defense, which will be needed on this road trip. Erick Smith, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2022 Senior captain Kacie Benn will anchor the midfield alongside Mathis, with fellow senior captains Paige Maffei (outside back) and Paige Pittorino (goalkeeper) tasked with leading a stingy defense. Cam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2022 Rising searched for a second equalizer of the match but was limited to just three shots on the night by a stingy Orange County defense and midfield. Partner Content, The Arizona Republic, 13 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
perhaps from English dialect *stinge, noun, sting; akin to Old English stingan to sting
1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
stingy
adjective
stingy
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- miserly
- tightfisted
- greedy
- selfish
- careful
- parsimonious
- ungenerous
- niggardly
- mingy
- tight
- penurious
- cheap
- pinching
- chintzy
- niggard
- stinting
- close
- uncharitable
- mean
- sparing
- desirous
- penny-pinching
- economical
- conserving
- pinchpenny
- economizing
- closefisted
- thrifty
- spare
- frugal
- avaricious
- small
- chary
- saving
- skimping
- hoggish
- covetous
- scrimping
- acquisitive
- mercenary
- shabby
- coveting
- rapacious
- envious
- begrudging
- grudging
- itchy
- resentful
- grasping
- avid
- sordid
- inhospitable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- generous
- liberal
- munificent
- charitable
- bountiful
- bounteous
- openhanded
- unselfish
- altruistic
- extravagant
- selfless
- unsparing
- unstinting
- overgenerous
- lavish
- free
- benevolent
- handsome
- hospitable
- profuse
- magnanimous
- beneficent
- philanthropic
- kindly
- freehanded
- compassionate
- philanthropical
- humanitarian
- wasteful
- profligate
- spendthrift
- openhearted
- unthrifty
- wasting
- prodigal
- greathearted
- good-hearted
- thriftless
- squandering
- dissipating
- splurging
- frittering
Synonyms & Similar Words
- sparse
- scarce
- poor
- niggardly
- meager
- skimpy
- skimp
- scanty
- sparing
- lacking
- lowest
- meagre
- inadequate
- small
- scant
- insufficient
- light
- slender
- exiguous
- spare
- deficient
- short
- mere
- thin
- slim
- minimal
- hand-to-mouth
- thin on the ground
- least
- slightest
- wanting
- littlest
- bare-bones
- sterile
- bare
- unproductive
- unfruitful
- slight
- barren
- infertile
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- generous
- liberal
- abundant
- enough
- plentiful
- adequate
- ample
- sufficient
- copious
- bountiful
- rich
- satisfactory
- prolific
- tolerable
- fat
- plenteous
- fertile
- fruitful
- lavish
- extra
- excess
- fecund
- luxuriant
- bursting
- surplus
- flourishing
- proliferative
- thriving
- swarming
- blooming
- teeming
Synonym Chooser
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.
The words close and stingy can be used in similar contexts, but close suggests keeping a tight grip on one's money and possessions.
The words miserly and stingy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.
In some situations, the words niggardly and stingy are roughly equivalent. However, niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.
While the synonyms parsimonious and stingy are close in meaning, parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.
While in some cases nearly identical to stingy, penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.