Penurious
hardNegative tonepeh-NOOR-ee-us
adjective
Definition
Extremely poor; poverty-stricken; also stingy
Memory hook
PEN-URI-OUS: so poor you can't afford a PEN — extremely destitute or stingy.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The penurious family struggled to afford basic necessities.”
“His penurious ways prevented him from enjoying life.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The ______ family struggled to afford basic necessities.”
Show answer
penurious
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Penurious is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "impoverished" or "destitute" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "affluent".
Related GRE Words
impecunious
having little or no money; penniless
niggardly
Not generous; stingy (note: no racial connection despite sound)
closefisted
Unwilling to spend money; miserly
miserly
Of or characteristic of a miser; stingy and hoarding wealth
tightfisted
Not willing to spend or give much money; stingy
bereft
Deprived of or lacking something; suffering the loss of a loved one
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