miserly

American  

[mahy-zer-lee] / ˈmaɪ zər li /

adjective

1. of, like, or befitting a miser; penurious; stingy.

   Synonyms:

   parsimonious, cheap

   Antonyms:

   generous

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miserly British  

/ ˈmaɪzəlɪ /

adjective

1. of or resembling a miser; avaricious

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Related Words

See stingy ¹.

Other Word Forms

• miserliness noun
• unmiserly adjective

Etymology

Origin of miserly

First recorded in 1585–95; miser + -ly

Explanation

Miserly people are stingy with their money and not likely to be generous, like Ebenezer Scrooge himself. The adjective miserly evolved from the Latin word miser, which means “unhappy, wretched.” Nowadays, it's generally used to describe someone who hoards their money and presumably is miserable because of it. But be careful not to mix up the word miserly with misery — even though it can often be the unfortunate mental outcome of interacting with a miserly individual.

Example Sentences

On his 50th birthday he writes to his London publisher, insulting his appearance and mocking his miserly advance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

Known as “The Witch of Wall Street” for her miserly ways, Green quietly bailed out New York City in the early 1900s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

First published in 1843, A Christmas Carol tells the story of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who hates Christmas, but is transformed after a series of ghostly visits.

From BBC • Nov. 8, 2025

Forty-two years later, in October 2024, that figure totaled 3.001 million, a miserly increase of less than four percent.

From Salon • Jan. 1, 2025

And that’s how I felt about our dreadful boardinghouse, the wretched meals we were served, and the aggravating theatrics of miserly Mrs. Wigginbottom.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Related Words

• tightfisted