miser

American  

[mahy-zer] / ˈmaɪ zər /

noun

1. a person who lives in wretched circumstances in order to save and hoard money.

2. a stingy, avaricious person.

   Synonyms:

   pinchpenny , tightwad , skinflint

3. Obsolete.  a wretched or unhappy person.

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miser ¹ British  

/ ˈmaɪzə /

noun

1. a person who hoards money or possessions, often living miserably

2. selfish person

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miser ² British  

/ ˈmaɪzə /

noun

1. civil engineering a large hand-operated auger used for loose soils

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Etymology

Origin of miser

1535–45; < Latin: wretched

Example Sentences

“I’m a miser right now when it comes to what I’m spending at supermarkets,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Pansy is such a miser that, for a moment, you wonder if she’ll be visited by three spirits.

From Los Angeles Times

Dressed in ragged clothes, the Gloucester miser also chose to shun public transport to save his precious pennies.

From BBC

A new four-episode podcast aims to show how Ebenezer Scrooge became the miserable miser of the Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol,” focusing on themes of redemption, mercy, grace and compassion.

From Washington Times

Join Tiny Tim, the Christmas Ghosts and everyone’s favorite miser in the stage adaption of Charles Dickens’ classic Yuletide tale, proudly returning to ACT Theatre for its 47th year.

From Seattle Times