penurious

[ puh-noor-ee-uhs, -nyoor- ]

adjective

1. extremely stingy; parsimonious; miserly.

   Synonyms: close, tight

   Antonyms: generous

2. extremely poor; destitute; indigent.
3. poorly or inadequately supplied; lacking in means or resources.

penurious

/ pɪˈnjʊərɪəs /

adjective

1. niggardly with money
2. lacking money or means
3. yielding little; scanty

Derived Forms

• peˈnuriousness, noun
• peˈnuriously, adverb

Other Words From

• pe·nuri·ous·ly adverb
• pe·nuri·ous·ness noun
• unpe·nuri·ous adjective
• unpe·nuri·ous·ly adverb
• unpe·nuri·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of penurious¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Medieval Latin pēnūriōsus, from Latin paenūria, pēnūria penury + -ous ( def )

Example Sentences

Not observing that the President Rose, who was very penurious, had put his money in the hat, he presented it to him a second time.

From Project Gutenberg

There are beings so dejected—so penurious—that this swearing constitutes their whole store of worldly opulence.

From Project Gutenberg

No; but even in the most penurious times it was kings who were the patrons.

From Project Gutenberg

If one were ever penurious, might it not be of these handsome loaves of hers?

From Project Gutenberg

One would suppose that such a mother would have every want supplied, even by a penurious son.

From Project Gutenberg