penny-pinching 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of penny-pinchingnext
as in selfish
giving or sharing as little as possible the new CEO's penny-pinching ways have helped to keep the company out of bankruptcy

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penny-pinching

2 of 2

noun

ˈpe-nē-ˌpin-chiŋ How to pronounce penny-pinching (audio)
1
as in saving
careful management of material resources they'll have to practice some penny-pinching if they want to save for a house

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2
as in economy
the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money reusing your tea bags is perhaps taking penny-pinching too far

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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 penny-pinching
Noun
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penny-pinching
  1. selfish
  2. saving
  3. economy
  4. careful
  5. frugality
  6. miserly
  7. thrift
  8. greedy
Adjective
  • He isn’t allowed to become the play’s villain despite his selfish plan to sell the estate out from under his family.
    — Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Listen to this article For every selfish motorist who blocks a fire hydrant.
    — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of selfish
Noun
  • One-seventh of the savings could cover all global infrastructure investment needs this century, across sectors including energy, telecommunications, transport and water.
    — David Vetter, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Keep the savings coming with more tech deals on Amazon today!
    — Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of saving
Noun
  • With budget cuts looming, the VTC is imploring local businesses, community partners and donors to invest in workforce development and help shape the future of Baltimore’s economy.
    — Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Take a look at more below: Walmart, a big-box retailer popular among a wide range of consumers, has been especially attractive amid concerns about inflation, high grocery prices and the direction of the U.S. economy.
    — Pia Singh, CNBC, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of economy
Adjective
  • These concerns underscore the need for careful consideration of privacy rights when deploying such technology.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
  • To make the most of spring planting, start with site preparation and careful plant selection.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of careful
Noun
  • The Broncos transformed their defensive front last spring, and did so with impressive frugality.
    — Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Gronowski’s price tag, though it has not been publicly disclosed, is undoubtedly higher than Iowa has ever paid for a quarterback, and for many of you that fact brings some Midwestern frugality into play.
    — Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
Definition of frugality
Adjective
  • Florida is the only state in the geographic Deep South with a higher minimum wage than the federal government’s miserly $7.25 an hour.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025
  • 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
Definition of miserly
Noun
  • Check thrift stores, your local buy-nothing groups, and your own junk drawers.
    — Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Most of Johnson’s acquisitions came via the secondhand market: a shirt from a thrift store and a scarf from The RealReal.
    — Ana Colón, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of thrift
Adjective
  • The family drama comedy follows a Gen Z content creator who returns to her ancestral home for viral content, only to encounter her deceased brother’s ghost and deal with greedy relatives.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Along that greedy path, he has been sued by the US Securities and Exchange Commission three separate times.
    — DP Opinion, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of greedy

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Cite this Entry

“Penny-pinching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penny-pinching. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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