miserly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'miserly' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that is excessively frugal and reluctant to spend or share money or resources. For example, you could say: "The old man was miserly with his money, never wanting to spend it on anything other than the absolute essentials."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But last week the European commission cut its estimate for GDP growth this year to a miserly 0.5% The evidence of real and painful economic hardship is subtle in Athens.

The Guardian - Business

While Labour's policies for senior citizens have been miserly, it is Green policy to end pensioner poverty by providing free social care to the elderly and raising the single person's state pension to £165 per week and linking it to average earnings.

The Guardian - Opinion

With Mertesacker's partnership alongside Laurent Koscielny to the fore, Arsenal have been miserly at the back this season.

The Guardian - Sport

It seems miserly to have a go.

The Guardian - Music

Unfortunately, the most miserly Intel processors (the Atom range used in Windows-based netbooks) still consume between two and ten times more power than a typical ARM processor.

The Economist

But the figure that represents the reality of investment in road safety, the one implied by local authorities' spending on, for instance, measures to slow traffic down, or to provide pedestrians with safe places to cross roads, is a miserly £100,000 per life.Save lives, not politicians' facesFrom the politicians' point of view, this may be rational.

The Economist

If you compare people's lives in the West today with those of people living, say, a century ago, or two centuries ago, it would be right, if perhaps a little miserly, to concede that business has made some "significant contributions".

The Economist

The yield was miserly yet there were more than four times as many bids as there were bonds for sale.This tale of two bond auctions is a parable for the contrasting fortunes of near-stagnant rich economies and fast-growing emerging markets.

The Economist

If the boss's golden parachute is too miserly, he may block a deal that would benefit shareholders.

The Economist

But investors fret over whether the strong medicine will prove too much for a chronically weak economy, which may in turn prevent a viable fiscal turnaround.Even before the recession GDP was barely crawling along, with growth averaging a miserly 0.7% a year over the past decade (see chart).

The Economist

This miserly European contribution was made mostly to ensure that European companies were not cut out entirely from the bidding for contracts; regional security was not the first priority.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "miserly" when you want to emphasize not just frugality, but also a negative connotation of being excessively unwilling to spend or share, especially when it's considered inappropriate.

Common error

Don't use "miserly" when you simply mean someone is being economical or thrifty. "Frugal" describes a wise use of resources, while "miserly" implies an excessive and often unpleasant reluctance to spend.

Linguistic Context

The word "miserly" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe someone or something exhibiting extreme stinginess and a reluctance to spend money or resources. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct and commonly observed in contemporary English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "miserly" is an adjective used to describe extreme stinginess and reluctance to spend money or resources. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, primarily in news and media contexts. While synonyms like "stingy" and "parsimonious" exist, "miserly" carries a stronger negative connotation. When writing, it's important to distinguish "miserly" from "frugal", as the former implies excessive and inappropriate stinginess. Its frequent use in authoritative sources like The Economist and The Guardian underscores its relevance in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stingy

Direct synonym emphasizing unwillingness to spend.

parsimonious

Suggests extreme frugality and unwillingness to spend money.

frugal to a fault

Highlights that frugality has crossed a line.

tight-fisted

Focuses on the act of holding onto money tightly.

penurious

Highlights the state of being poor, can be related to unwillingness to spend.

cheap

Informal term implying low cost and sometimes low quality; emphasizes the attempt to get things at a minimal expense.

ungenerous

Focuses on the lack of generosity and willingness to share.

close-fisted

Similar to tight-fisted, emphasizing reluctance to open the hand and give.

thrifty to an extreme

Highlights the extremity of being thrifty, suggesting it is beyond normal.

penny-pinching

Focuses on being excessively careful with even small amounts of money.

FAQs

How can I use "miserly" in a sentence?

You can use "miserly" to describe someone who is excessively stingy with their money or resources. For example, "The company offered a "miserly bonus" to its employees despite record profits."

What are some synonyms for "miserly"?

Some synonyms for "miserly" include "stingy", "parsimonious", "tight-fisted", and "ungenerous". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to describe an object or situation as "miserly"?

Yes, "miserly" can be used to describe situations or objects that exhibit a lack of generosity or abundance. For example, "The government's "miserly funding" for the arts has led to the closure of several theaters."

What's the difference between "miserly" and "thrifty"?

"Thrifty" implies using resources wisely and avoiding waste, whereas "miserly" suggests an extreme reluctance to spend, often to the point of being unfair or unpleasant. Someone thrifty might look for good deals; someone "miserly" might hoard resources and deprive themselves and others.