I. ˈstinjē, -ji adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: probably from (assumed) English dialect stinge, n., sting + English -y; akin to Old English stingan to sting — more at sting
1. dialect chiefly England : biting , sharp
2.
a. : reluctant to deal out, grant, or part with something : not generous : sparing or scant in giving or spending
too stingy even to get a haircut before his wedding
b. : meanly scanty or small : meager
complained about his stingy allowance
a stingy little attic room
Synonyms:
parsimonious , penurious , cheeseparing , penny-pinching , miserly , curmudgeonly , niggardly , tight , tightfisted , closefisted , close : stingy , perhaps the most generally used term in this group, refers to notable want of generosity or liberality in giving, allotting, distributing, a want arising from a certain meanness of spirit
couldn't help being stingy, since parsimony ran in their blood — Victoria Sackville-West
had to request the thirteen states for tax levies, and since the states were jealous, stingy, and badly governed, they gave but grudging and inadequate help — Allan Nevins & H.S.Commager
parsimonious , penurious , cheeseparing , and penny-pinching refer to degrees and kinds of frugality. parsimonious suggests extreme frugality with stingy wariness about expenditure
a lonely bachelor life in caring for his property and in adding to it by parsimonious living — A.W.Long
had now become strictly parsimonious … and … devoted every energy of his mind to save shillings and pence — Anthony Trollope
penurious adds a suggestion of meanness to parsimonious
penurious restrictions upon the payment of legislators designed to discourage them — A.N.Holcombe
cheeseparing suggests a parsimoniousness marked by petty mean little economies
an example of cheeseparing economy at the dire risk of the national security — Walter Millis
penny-pinching suggests greedy, wary parsimoniousness in avoiding expense
a penny-pinching impresario who overlooked no opportunity to cut down the overhead — Bennett Cerf
miserly , curmudgeonly , and niggardly are derogatory or contemptuous terms for extreme illiberality and aversion to spending or dispensing. miserly suggests a morbid pleasure in hoarding, a sordid grasping meanness
expenditure was parsimonious and even miserly — J.R.Green
curmudgeonly suggests mean stinginess and crusty irascibility
the curmudgeonly old fool cutting off his wife with a bare pittance
niggardly implies a stinginess in giving, granting, expending whereby one begrudges any contribution to the welfare or happiness of others
we shall not be niggardly about this — Hugh Dalton
niggardly monastic prescriptions with regard to gleaning — G.G.Coulton
tight , tightfisted , closefisted , and close are somewhat informal expressions indicating reluctance and chariness about expending or contributing. tight suggests a general chary stinginess of nature or temperament
what in the name of God's the use of being so tight … you've got an expense account, haven't you — Dashiell Hammett
tightfisted and closefisted signify an accustomed reluctance to part with money and a careful vigilance against prodigality
you English are a tightfisted race — T.B.Costain
close , not so derogatory as the others, indicates either a certain stinginess or a marked caution about any expenditure
he wasn't as tight as you … but he was a little bit close so the bargain hung fire — Dashiell Hammett
II. ˈstiŋē, -ŋi adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: sting (II) + -y
: able to sting : having a sting or stinging hairs