Dictionary
miserly
adjective mi·ser·ly \ˈmī-zər-lē\
: hating to spend money
: very small or too small amount
Full Definition of MISERLY
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a miser; especially : marked by grasping meanness and penuriousness
— mi·ser·li·ness noun
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First Known Use of MISERLY
1593
Related to MISERLY
- Synonyms
- cheap, chintzy, close, closefisted, mean, mingy, stingy, niggard, niggardly, parsimonious, penny-pinching, penurious, pinching, pinchpenny, spare, sparing, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous
- Antonyms
- bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, liberal, munificent, openhanded, unsparing, unstinting
Synonym Discussion of MISERLY
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>.
MISERLY Defined for Kids
miserly
adjective mi·ser·ly \ˈmī-zər-lē\
Definition of MISERLY for Kids
: stingy <a miserly neighbor> <a miserly contribution>
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