stingy

adjective

stin·​gy ˈstin-jē How to pronounce stingy (audio)
stingier; stingiest
Synonyms of stingy
1
: not generous or liberal : sparing or scant in using, giving, or spending
a stingy old miser
stingy with the salt
stingy employee benefits
2
: meanly scanty or small
served up stingy portions
stingily
ˈstin-jə-lē How to pronounce stingy (audio)
adverb
stinginess
ˈstin-jē-nəs How to pronounce stingy (audio)
noun

Synonyms of stingy

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stingy, close, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, miserly mean being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others.

stingy implies a marked lack of generosity.

a stingy child, not given to sharing

close suggests keeping a tight grip on one's money and possessions.

folks who are very close when charity calls

niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

Examples of stingy in a Sentence

The company was too stingy to raise salaries. until his redemption, Ebenezer Scrooge is the classic example of a very stingy, heartless miser
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Ratings are a question mark, since Season 1 didn’t chart on Nielsen and Apple is stingy with viewership data, but the nine episodes seemed to come and go without much fanfare. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026 The Warriors also played stingy defense, allowing negative rushing yards and only 68 yards passing on five completions. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 Fortunately for Gotham, its stingy defense has allowed only 13 goals in 21 matches, which means that the team can afford to be patient with the rookie. — Karan Lodha, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 This goes with countless ingredients that people just get too stingy with—including butter, cheese, garlic, and more. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stingy

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from English dialect *stinge, noun, sting; akin to Old English stingan to sting

First Known Use

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stingy was in 1659

Rhymes for stingy

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Browse Nearby Words

sting winkle
stingy
stink
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stingy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stingy. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

stingy

adjective
stin·​gy ˈstin-jē How to pronounce stingy (audio)
stingier; stingiest
1
: not generous : giving, using, or spending as little as possible
2
: scanty, meager
a stingy portion
stingily
-jə-lē How to pronounce stingy (audio)
adverb
stinginess
-jē-nəs How to pronounce stingy (audio)
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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