GRE Words for Stingy and Miserly

These 9 GRE words all share the meaning of stingy and miserly. Studying them as one cluster is far more efficient than learning each in isolation, because the GRE tests words by how they relate to each other. Each entry below links to a full definition page with example sentences and memory hooks.

Why this cluster matters

On Sentence Equivalence you must choose two words that give the sentence the same meaning. That means the answer is almost always a synonym pair pulled from a cluster like this one. Watch the connotation tone on each word: a positive and a negative word rarely form a correct pair, even when their definitions look close.

The 9 words

closefistedadjectiveNegative tone

Unwilling to spend money; miserly

frugaladjectivePositive tone

Sparing or economical with regard to money or food

miserlyadjectiveNegative tone

Of or characteristic of a miser; stingy and hoarding wealth

niggardlyadjectiveNegative tone

Not generous; stingy (note: no racial connection despite sound)

parsimoniousadjectiveNegative tone

Unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy

penuriousadjectiveNegative tone

Extremely poor; poverty-stricken; also stingy

stintingadjectiveNegative tone

Restrictive or ungenerous in giving or spending

thriftyadjectivePositive tone

Using money and resources carefully; frugal

tightfistedadjectiveNegative tone

Not willing to spend or give much money; stingy

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