stingy

¹

[stin-jee]

adjective

stingier, stingiest 

1. reluctant to give or spend; not generous; penurious.

   He's a stingy old miser.

   Synonyms: tight
   Antonyms: unselfish, liberal, generous

2. scanty or meager.

   a stingy little income.

   Synonyms: poor, paltry, sparse

stingy

²

[sting-ee]

adjective

1. having a sting.

stingy

¹

/ ˈstɪndʒɪ /

adjective

1. unwilling to spend or give

2. insufficient or scanty

stingy

²

/ ˈstɪŋɪ /

adjective

1. informal,  stinging or capable of stinging

noun

1. dialect,  a stinging nettle

   I put my hand on a stingy

Other Word Forms

• stingily adverb
• stinginess noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stingy¹

First recorded in 1650–60; perhaps derivative of sting; -y ¹

Origin of stingy²

First recorded in 1605–15; sting + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of stingy¹

C17 (perhaps in the sense: ill-tempered): perhaps from stinge, dialect variant of _sting

Synonym Study

Stingy, parsimonious, miserly, mean, close all mean reluctant to part with money or goods. Stingy, the most general of these terms, means unwilling to share, give, or spend possessions or money: children who are stingy with their toys; a stingy, grasping skinflint. Parsimonious describes an extreme stinginess arising from unusual or excessive frugality: a sternly parsimonious, penny-pinching existence. Miserly stresses a pathological pleasure in acquiring and hoarding money that is so powerful that even necessities are only grudgingly purchased: a wretched, miserly way of life. Mean suggests a small-minded, ignoble, petty stinginess leading to miserable, cheerless living: depressingly mean with his money; mean surroundings; a mean repast. Close implies extreme caution in spending money, even an aversion to spending: a close dealer, buying only at rock bottom prices; generous with advice, but very close with his money.

Example Sentences

The insurer has been accused of being “stingy” in handling such claims.

From Los Angeles Times

That spending spree — along with new big-name studio hires — has ignited hope and enthusiasm among Hollywood’s creatives, who have weathered the industry’s recent downturns, consolidation and Paramount’s own stingy ways.

From Los Angeles Times

Before the season had ever started, the team was saying bonuses and other costs associated with the championship had made the price of victory too high under the stingy MLS salary cap.

From Los Angeles Times

However, early on, policyholders told The Times that the company was being “stingy,” particularly in how it handled smoke-damage claims.

From Los Angeles Times

The Clippers played stingy defense and had six players score in double figures, rolling to a 117-83 win over the Denver Nuggets at the Intuit Dome on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• frugal 
• greedy 
• miserly 
• selfish 
• thrifty