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penurious

adjective
pe·​nu·​ri·​ous | \ pə-ˈnu̇r-ē-əs How to pronounce penurious (audio) , -ˈnyu̇r-\

Definition of penurious

1 : marked by or suffering from penury penurious peasants and fisherfolk
2 : given to or marked by extreme stinting frugality
Other Words from penurious Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about penurious

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Other Words from penurious

penuriously adverb
penuriousness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for penurious

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

Examples of penurious in a Sentence

The penurious school system had to lay off several teachers. the company's penurious management could not be convinced of the need to earmark more money for research and development

Recent Examples on the Web

 Even critics concede that to cast blame solely on penurious corporations is to ignore a bigger picture. — New York Times, "The Day the Music Burned," 11 June 2019 Yet this old, penurious India had an asset that was essential for harmony in a nation of several hundred million people with multiple religions and languages. — Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, "At 70, India Shows a New Vigor," 14 Aug. 2017 Three percent is probably more than most of our readers received in raises, but by federal standards it’s penurious. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Tax Reform and Deficits," 10 Oct. 2017 Magical thinking, ideological gobbledegook, and penurious inhumanity. — Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, "Trump's Response to Puerto Rico Is Not an Aberration," 29 Sep. 2017 Ms. Wolf’s script contains passages describing the penurious daily existence of Vincent, who never sold a painting in his lifetime. — Ben Brantley, New York Times, "Review: Listening (Yes, Listening) to the Beauty of van Gogh," 17 Aug. 2017 Through all the muck and carnage, all the pendulum swings between penurious and privileged milieus, there is a sympathetic human protagonist whose struggle becomes our struggle. — Katey Rich, HWD, "James Cameron Remembers Bill Paxton: “The World Is a Lesser Place For His Passing”," 26 Feb. 2017 Chevron didn’t seek money damages, allowing it to avoid the case being heard by a jury (which might have favored a lone lawyer, however compromised, and his penurious clients against a major corporation). — Paul Barrett, Bloomberg.com, "Supreme Court May Weigh Big Weapon for U.S. Companies Sued Abroad," 16 May 2017

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

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First Known Use of penurious

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for penurious

penurious

adjective
How to pronounce penurious (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of penurious

formal : very poor

See the full definition for penurious in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on penurious

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with penurious

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for penurious

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