parsimonious

American  

[pahr-suh-moh-nee-uhs] / ˌpɑr səˈmoʊ ni əs /

adjective

1. characterized by or showing parsimony; frugal or stingy.

   Synonyms:

   covetous, avaricious, penurious, mean, illiberal, miserly, close, tight

   Antonyms:

   generous

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Related Words

See stingy ¹.

Other Word Forms

• parsimoniously adverb
• parsimoniousness noun
• unparsimonious adjective
• unparsimoniously adverb

Etymology

Origin of parsimonious

First recorded in 1590–1600; parsimon(y) + -ious

Explanation

A parsimonious person is unwilling to spend a lot of money. You know those people who count up every penny when it's time to split a restaurant bill? You can call them parsimonious. Or cheap. Stingy is the most common and general synonym of parsimonious, but there are many other near synonyms, including thrifty, frugal, penurious, niggardly, penny-pinching, miserly, tight-fisted, tight. The adjective parsimonious was formed in English from the noun parsimony, "the quality of being careful in spending." It is a combination of the Latin verb parcere, "to spare," plus an Old French suffix –ous, "having the quality of."

Example Sentences

“It’s not like we’re some tightwads and some parsimonious old Scrooges.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Sir Michael rolled his eyes when asked about his annual listing as Wales' richest person, and said his "very parsimonious" mother, Doris, would bring him back down to earth.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

Advisers can try to reason with a parsimonious client.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 24, 2025

The modern era of parsimonious pardoning began in the late 1970s, when the attorney general delegated the task of recommending pardons to a bureaucracy within the Justice Department.

From Slate • Dec. 2, 2024

This may prove me as parsimonious as my father, but who spends that much money on corny inflatable light-up Santa Clauses and spinning, singing reindeer?

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King