parsimonious

[ pahr-suh-moh-nee-uhs ]

adjective

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

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

   Antonyms: generous

Other Words From

• parsi·moni·ous·ly adverb
• parsi·moni·ous·ness noun
• unpar·si·moni·ous adjective
• unpar·si·moni·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of parsimonious¹

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

Synonym Study

See stingy ¹.

Example Sentences

The Chicago Tribune is owned by Alden Global Capital, an investment firm seen as the most parsimonious chain owner.

From Seattle Times

"The most parsimonious explanation for our results," researcher Elizabeth Klerman of Brigham and Women's Hospital & Harvard Medical School said at the time, "is that older people need less sleep."

From Salon

But it has already signaled that most of its policymakers see room for a "parsimonious" rate cut at the rate-setting meeting next week.

From Reuters

Two spillovers into people, from a market stall holding infected raccoon dogs, was more parsimonious than two separately infected laboratory workers, carrying their infections independently to the same market.

From New York Times

The minutes from the decision indicated that most policymakers see the possibility of a "parsimonious" rate cut at the next meeting in August, contingent upon consolidating a more benign inflation scenario.

From Reuters