tightwad
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of tightwad
Explanation
A tightwad is someone who avoids spending money, like a relative who wraps a piece of junk from the basement in used wrapping paper and gives it to you, even though he or she could afford to buy you a nice birthday present. The “tight” part of this word refers to “close-fisted.” It’ll help you remember the meaning of tightwad if you picture a person with his fist tightly closed around a wad of money, not giving it up for anyone or anything. A tightwad takes being merely frugal or careful with money to a whole new level. It's not that tightwads are poor; they simply hate to part with their money, even if it's just a single dollar.
Vocabulary lists containing tightwad
Merci Suárez Changes Gears
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The Ear, the Eye and the Arm
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That year, tightwad Brown vetoed the entire budget.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2023
My older brother, who is in charge of the trust’s finances, is a notorious tightwad and will probably not go along with the idea.
From Slate • Oct. 3, 2021
One of them, you might say, was Hollywood’s most notorious tightwad, staving off the terror of poverty by stiffing servants and handing houseguests itemized bills.
From Washington Post • Oct. 28, 2020
McCain set about establishing a conservative voting record and a reputation as a tightwad with taxpayer dollars.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 26, 2018
He thought a minute then said, “I haven’t been a tightwad all my life, have I?”
From "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
