niggardly 1 of 2

adjective

ˈni-gərd-lē How to pronounce niggardly (audio)
Definition of niggardlynext
1
as in miserly
giving or sharing as little as possible They were shocked when the company's niggardly owner at long last gave out raises.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in scarce
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable niggardly portions of meat for dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

niggardly

2 of 2

adverb

as in stingily

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective niggardly contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of niggardly are close, miserly, parsimonious, penurious, and stingy. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

When can close be used instead of niggardly?

Although the words close and niggardly have much in common, close suggests keeping a tight grip on one's money and possessions.

folks who are very close when charity calls

When is it sensible to use miserly instead of niggardly?

The meanings of miserly and niggardly largely overlap; however, miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

Where would parsimonious be a reasonable alternative to niggardly?

The synonyms parsimonious and niggardly are sometimes interchangeable, but parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

When could penurious be used to replace niggardly?

While in some cases nearly identical to niggardly, penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

When would stingy be a good substitute for niggardly?

The words stingy and niggardly can be used in similar contexts, but stingy implies a marked lack of generosity.

a stingy child, not given to sharing

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of niggardly
Adjective
Many Chileans are angry about the country’s unequal distribution of wealth and power, about niggardly pensions (for which people are supposed to save themselves) and about long waiting times for doctors’ visits and poor schools. —The Economist, 25 Dec. 2019 To tap one of the country’s two largest and most niggardly mines is hard enough. —The Economist, 3 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for niggardly
  1. miserly
  2. scarce
  3. careful
  4. sparse
  5. stingy
  6. parsimonious
  7. selfish
  8. close
Adjective
  • But the approval process has been slow, the discounts vary from carrier to carrier, the requirements coming from insurers don’t always match the state’s own standards and the savings on offer are, according to some, miserly.
    — CalMatters, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Newcastle's player sale profits were miserly for years until June 2024 Profit on player sales from 2014 to 2024 (£millions) Column chart of Newcastle United profit on player sales, where club record £69.8m in 2023-24 far outweigh what came before.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of miserly
Adjective
  • In a job market where interviews are scarce and searches can stretch for months, Marino-Briggs was struck by how often candidates arrived unprepared.
    — Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • In a year where momentum is scarce, NASCAR’s 600-mile test provides a chance to put some distance between the good and the great.
    — Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2025
Definition of scarce
Adjective
  • Watch out for slippery roads: Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins.
    — Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 7 June 2025
  • Be careful to avoid spraying plants with oils during hot, sunny weather.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 6 June 2025
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • The risk was getting waived and wallowing in the G League with sparse crowds, commercial travel between remote locales and a dog-eat-dog team culture for as little as $40,500.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2025
  • Soto, meanwhile, received a smattering of boos from a sparse crowd, particularly after a seventh-inning groundout.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
Definition of sparse
Adjective
  • The president has a long history of being stingy with his money, choosing instead to wield his influence by bestowing endorsements and staging rallies that energize the Republican base.
    — Jill Colvin, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
  • Amazon isn’t being stingy with its Memorial Day sale, either.
    — Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2025
Definition of stingy
Adjective
  • Driving the reluctant interviewee to the Manchester airport for the flight to Washington, Rudman discovered that his famously parsimonious friend had only $3 in his wallet.
    — Barbara A. Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
  • But the iPhone 17 Air’s parsimonious speaker holes might suggest a phone with less capable audio.
    — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Definition of parsimonious
Adjective
  • According to sources, some felt the decision was selfish, but others thanked her for her longstanding contributions in person and online, and felt the way in which the situation had unfolded was very unfair to her.
    — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • Despite mixed emotions within his friend group, Reddit users were overwhelmingly on the poster's side, with many arguing that Jenna was being selfish.
    — Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 24 May 2025
Definition of selfish
Adjective
  • The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2025
  • And Tanner Scott, a $72 million reigning All-Star closer, has blown several save opportunities.
    — Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
Definition of close

Browse Nearby Words

niggardliness
niggardly
niggards
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Cite this Entry

“Niggardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/niggardly. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of niggardly for Spanish Speakers

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