niggardly

American  

[nig-erd-lee] / ˈnɪg ərd li /

adjective

1. reluctant to give or spend; stingy; miserly.

   Synonyms:

   close, illiberal, mercenary, avaricious, tight, mean, miserly, penurious

   Antonyms:

   generous

2. meanly or ungenerously small or scanty.

   a niggardly tip to a waiter.

   Synonyms:

   poor

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adverb

1. in a stingy, miserly, or tight-fisted manner.

niggardly British  

/ ˈnɪɡədlɪ /

adjective

1. stingy or ungenerous

2. meagre

   a niggardly salary

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adverb

1. stingily; grudgingly

Sensitive Note

See niggard.

Other Word Forms

• niggardliness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of niggardly

First recorded in 1520–30; niggard + -ly

Explanation

While this looks like a certain racial slur, it's really just a way of saying meager, stingy or ungenerous. If you get a niggardly share of cake, it means someone gave you a very small piece. This word is so close to a nasty racial slur that people have gotten in trouble for using it correctly. The words are not related in any way, they just sound alike. If you use the word niggardly, and someone is taken aback or offended, they either misheard you or don't know what they are talking about. In this situation, aim for generosity. Don't be niggardly with patience and understanding of their ignorance.

Example Sentences

Listen, comrades all, I pray, To these new decretals: Misers they must meet decay, Niggardly gold-beetles.

From Wine, Women, and Song Mediaeval Latin Students' songs; Now first translated into English verse by Symonds, John Addington

Niggardly and inadequate governmental appropriations for common schools have been supplemented by missionary funds, and in many cases missionary funds alone have supported and are still supporting native schools.

From The Journal of Negro History, Volume 6, 1921 by Various