penny-pinching

noun

pen·​ny-pinch·​ing ˈpe-nē-ˌpin-chiŋ How to pronounce penny-pinching (audio)
Synonyms of penny-pinchingnext
: frugality, parsimony
penny-pincher
ˈpe-nē-ˌpin-chər How to pronounce penny-pinching (audio)
noun
penny-pinching adjective

Synonyms

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Examples of penny-pinching in a Sentence

they'll have to practice some penny-pinching if they want to save for a house reusing your tea bags is perhaps taking penny-pinching too far
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Meanwhile, the documentary intimates, penny-pinching and dollar stretching, along with the corner-cutting and risk taking, continues in the world of indie genre cinema. — Joe Leydon, Variety, 12 Mar. 2025 At a time when the balance of power has shifted unmistakably toward the National League, and the gap between all-in contenders and penny-pinching pushovers seems wider than ever, the AL East stands as a bastion of top-to-bottom competitiveness. — Chad Jennings, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of penny-pinching was in 1935

Rhymes for penny-pinching

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Browse Nearby Words

penny-pinch
penny-pinching
penny-plain
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Cite this Entry

“Penny-pinching.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penny-pinching. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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