Penurious
hardpeh-NOOR-ee-us
adjective
Definition
Extremely poor; poverty-stricken; also stingy
Examples
“The penurious family struggled to afford basic necessities.”
“His penurious ways prevented him from enjoying life.”
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
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
frugal
Sparing or economical with regard to money or food
bereft
Deprived of or lacking something; suffering the loss of a loved one
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