Niggardly
hardNegative toneNIG-erd-lee
adjective
Definition
Not generous; stingy (note: no racial connection despite sound)
Memory hook
From Old Norse 'hnøggr' (miserly) — think of someone who NAGS about every penny spent.
Examples
“The niggardly portions left diners unsatisfied.”
“His niggardly tips embarrassed his companions.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The ______ portions left diners unsatisfied.”
Show answer
niggardly
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Niggardly is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "miserly" or "parsimonious" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "generous".
Related GRE Words
closefisted
Unwilling to spend money; miserly
miserly
Of or characteristic of a miser; stingy and hoarding wealth
stinting
Restrictive or ungenerous in giving or spending
tightfisted
Not willing to spend or give much money; stingy
parsimonious
Unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy
penurious
Extremely poor; poverty-stricken; also stingy
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