1
as in miserly
giving or sharing as little as possible
They were shocked when the company's niggardly owner at long last gave out raises.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in scarce
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable
niggardly portions of meat for dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in stingily
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of niggardly
The Economist, 25 Dec. 2019
To tap one of the country’s two largest and most niggardly mines is hard enough.
—The Economist, 3 Feb. 2018
Adjective
Many Chileans are angry about the country’s unequal distribution of wealth and power, about niggardly pensions (for which people are supposed to save themselves) and about long waiting times for doctors’ visits and poor schools.
—The Economist, 25 Dec. 2019
To tap one of the country’s two largest and most niggardly mines is hard enough.
—The Economist, 3 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for niggardly
Adjective
-
With the arrival of pitchers and catchers, one of the coldest and miserly baseball offseasons in memory is nearing conclusion, and it can’t be understated that, other than the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets (on one player), hardly any team spent any money.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2025
-
One of the things that bedeviled American politics this century is our close elections, which has made our parties and their leaders miserly with their political capital.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Over the last decade, counties where large majorities of residents drink fluoridated water have consistently posted low rates of emergency room visits for dental conditions, especially in comparison to counties where fluoridated water is relatively scarce.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Orlando Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2025
-
The area normally can expect 38.4 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Chicago was warmer than average during the 2023-24 season due to a La Niña climate system, which meant snow was scarce.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s potential for clarity in resolving any lingering tension, but also be careful not to speak too rashly.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
3 Mar. 2025
-
In comments at the Morgan Stanley media conference, the Fox CEO was again extremely careful to stress that the goal is not to cannibalize linear television and Fox will not advertise it on linear television but is meant purely to capture those who cut the cord or have never subscribed to cable.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Research on caterpillar venoms is still sparse enough that no new drugs have resulted yet, but venoms of other organisms have yielded some important therapies.—
Bob Holmes,
JSTOR Daily,
27 Feb. 2025
-
His words, though often sparse and cryptic, usually mattered more than those of his counterparts, fueling a political mystique of infallibility.—
Megan Crepeau,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Endowments are likely to become even more important as the federal government gets stingier with its support for higher education.—
Emma Whitford,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The game matches the conference’s highest-scoring offense (New Mexico at 82.9 points per game) against its stingiest defense (SDSU at 63.1).—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
To attribute the corrosion of institutional trust to such bugbears as relativism or postmodernism is to ignore explanations that are both more concrete and more parsimonious.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
The New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2025
-
In a perfect and parsimonious world, a single two-stage spacecraft would land on Mars, scoop up soil samples in situ, and transfer them to an ascent stage which would blast off into orbit.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
TIME,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Just his demeanor, the way he was still connected with us, not really playing selfish in any way.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacramento Bee,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Raq is a master manipulator who claims to value loyalty above all else, especially from her henchmen brothers Marvin (London Brown) and Lou (Malcolm Mays) and her only son, yet constantly destabilizes the three of them with selfish mind games and power plays that genuinely harm them.—
Robyn Bahr,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Many close followers of Barca have remarked on how players seem to understand what the coach wants of them perfectly, which had not always been the case in previous seasons.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
The Athletic,
13 Mar. 2025
-
The most impactful shows were smaller in format, allowing for a closer appreciation of the pieces and the skill behind them.—
Rhonda Richford,
WWD,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Niggardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/niggardly. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share