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

Explanation

A miser is someone who hoards his or her own wealth and doesn’t share or spend any of it. If you remember the old saying “You can’t take it with you!” — then you won't end up acting stingy like a miser. The most famous fictional miser is probably Scrooge in Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. The image of his shivering with cold while he counts his coins illustrates the misery often associated with misers. To be a miser, your impulse to hoard means you won’t even indulge yourself by spending money for fear of depleting your stash.

Example Sentences

Snow Miser, hot vs. cold, curly vs. straight.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2023

“The Year Without a Santa Claus” gave viewers the Heat Miser and the Snow Miser, with their memorable musical motif.

From Washington Post • Oct. 26, 2022

Miser oversaw the launch of some similar programs at schools across the district.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 29, 2022

“We were doing The Miser and there were a lot of quick changes and David never quite managed to get his bow tie in the right place. It became too much to bear.”

From The Guardian • Feb. 25, 2019

Jessie heard Evan mutter, "Miser," just as she slammed the door in his face.

From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies