penurious

[ puh-noor-ee-uhs, -nyoor- ]

adjective

1. extremely stingy; parsimonious; miserly.

   Synonyms: close, tight

   Antonyms: generous

2. extremely poor; destitute; indigent.
3. poorly or inadequately supplied; lacking in means or resources.

penurious

/ pɪˈnjʊərɪəs /

adjective

1. niggardly with money
2. lacking money or means
3. yielding little; scanty

Derived Forms

• peˈnuriousness, noun
• peˈnuriously, adverb

Other Words From

• pe·nuri·ous·ly adverb
• pe·nuri·ous·ness noun
• unpe·nuri·ous adjective
• unpe·nuri·ous·ly adverb
• unpe·nuri·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of penurious¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Medieval Latin pēnūriōsus, from Latin paenūria, pēnūria penury + -ous ( def )

Example Sentences

Even so, the general picture of a mother’s absence and a daughter’s understandable resentment at having had to pick up the maternal slack in penurious conditions comes through loud and clear.

From Los Angeles Times

She wants to believe in his goodness, but the real issue is that she just can’t imagine her sad, penurious life without him.

From Los Angeles Times

In a ruling July 28, McMahon called them “hapless, easily manipulated and penurious petty criminals” who had no connection to any terrorist group and had “never remotely contemplated” violent extremism before they met Hussain.

From Seattle Times

In almost every case, at least one man, woman or child looks out from the penurious scene and stares squarely at the viewer, imploringly.

From Los Angeles Times

There his followers learn about his penurious childhood and his own children's lives.

From BBC