parsimonious

adjective

par·si·mo·ni·ous | \ ˌpär-sə-ˈmō-nē-əs

Definition of parsimonious

1 : exhibiting or marked by parsimony especially : frugal to the point of stinginess

2 : sparing, restrained

Other Words from parsimonious Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about parsimonious

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Choose the Right Synonym for parsimonious

stingy, close, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, miserly mean being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others. stingy implies a marked lack of generosity. a stingy child, not given to sharing close suggests keeping a tight grip on one's money and possessions. folks who are very close when charity calls niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible. the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess. a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty. the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding. a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

Did You Know?

English isn't stingy when it comes to synonyms of parsimonious. Stingy, close, penurious, and miserly are a few terms that, like parsimonious, suggest an unwillingness to share with others. Stingy implies a marked lack of generosity, whereas close suggests keeping a tight grip on one's money and possessions. Penurious implies frugality that gives an appearance of actual poverty, and miserly suggests avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding. Parsimonious usually suggests an extreme frugality that borders on stinginess.

Examples of parsimonious in a Sentence

A society that is parsimonious in its personal charity (in terms of both time and money) will require more government welfare. — William J. Bennett, The Death of Outrage, 1998 Their merchant princes were supposed to be parsimonious and austere: fustian in apparel and coarse in diet. — Simon Schama, The Embarrassment of Riches, 1988 With saints, Dante is apathetic. They are written with a dry pen, and parsimonious vision. — Robert Lowell, Collected Prose, 1987 a parsimonious woman who insists that charity begins—and ends—at home

Recent Examples on the Web

The new bridge will have to be simple and parsimonious, but not trivial. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Renzo Piano reveals design to replace collapsed Genoa bridge," 21 Dec. 2018 The number-crunching chairman was also parsimonious about store investments. — Suzanne Kapner, WSJ, "Edward Lampert, the Hedge-Fund Star Who Bet on Sears, Is Unrepentant," 17 Oct. 2018 Specifically, a few lean toward the precious and parsimonious, like slices of alabaster fluke adorned with tiny maitake mushrooms and shreds of aromatic celery leaf, or hamachi adorned with mint and scarlet slices of plum. — Mike Sula, Chicago Reader, "Andersonville’s Passerotto is a tale of two peninsulas," 21 June 2018 Arthur is by turns retiring and pointed, with a soft, cublike appearance and a tight, parsimonious grin. — Gideon Lewis-kraus, WIRED, "The Blockchain: A Love Story—And a Horror Story," 18 June 2018 Hotter fields, like say biotech, where the stakes are patents and venture capital, reward a more parsimonious approach. — Adam Rogers, WIRED, "Scientists Are Subverting Formal Publication. Well, Some of Them.," 16 May 2018 While Arsenal was taken over by Kroenke in 2011, the American sports tycoon operated in a parsimonious financial environment that irritated many supporters. — Rob Harris, chicagotribune.com, "Arsene Wenger leaving Arsenal after 21 years, ending the tenure of English soccer's longest-serving manager," 20 Apr. 2018 Available as a single or double, the Warbler's cheeseburger is a compromise between smashed and tavern styles, a resolutely thin, almost parsimonious patty with not-quite-crispy edges, a coarse grind, and a rare center. — Mike Sula, Chicago Reader, "Stop the presses: There’s an interesting new spot in Lincoln Square," 29 Mar. 2018 In this more parsimonious age, Mr. Picardi has emerged as the face of what Condé Nast calls its Next Gen network, which includes online titles like The Hive and Healthyish. — Sydney Ember, New York Times, "Condé Nast’s 26-Year-Old Man of the Moment," 3 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'parsimonious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for parsimonious

parsimonious

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of parsimonious

formal : very unwilling to spend money

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parsimonious

Definition of parsimonious

Other Words from parsimonious

Synonyms & Antonyms for parsimonious

Choose the Right Synonym for parsimonious

Did You Know?

Examples of parsimonious in a Sentence

First Known Use of parsimonious

History and Etymology for parsimonious

English Language Learners Definition of parsimonious

parsimonious

Definition of parsimonious

Other Words from parsimonious

Synonyms & Antonyms for parsimonious

Choose the Right Synonym for parsimonious

Did You Know?

Examples of parsimonious in a Sentence

First Known Use of parsimonious

History and Etymology for parsimonious

English Language Learners Definition of parsimonious

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