miserly Meaning & Definition
What Does Miserly Mean?
Miserly is an adjective that means of, relating to, or characteristic of a miser. It is also used to mean marked by grasping meanness and penuriousness.
Quick Facts About Miserly
| Part of speech | adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈmī-zər-lē/ |
| Syllables | 3 |
| Synonyms | mean, little and tight |
| Antonyms | bounteous, bountiful and charitable |
| Comparative / superlative | more miserly, most miserly |
| First known use | 1593 |
Miserly Definition (Adjective)
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a miser
- marked by grasping meanness and penuriousness
The team's miserly owner refused to buy new equipment.
Synonyms of Miserly
Antonyms of Miserly
Miserly in a Sentence
miserly habits
miserly offer
He had a miserly attitude toward spending money.
They lived under miserly conditions despite their wealth.
The team's miserly owner refused to buy new equipment.
my brother, who is notoriously miserly, surprised us when he offered to pick up the tab
Word Forms & Grammar
mi·ser·li·ness noun
miserliness
miserlinesses
miserly
miserly (comparative more miserly, superlative most miserly)
Words That Rhyme With Miserly
Origin of Miserly
From miser + -ly, attested from the 1540s.
First Known Use
1593
How Do You Say Miserly?
The standard pronunciation of miserly is /ˈmī-zər-lē/, spoken in 3 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (mī).
Questions People Ask About Miserly
What part of speech is miserly?
Miserly is an adjective.
What is another word for miserly?
Words with a similar meaning to miserly include mean, little and tight. See the full list of miserly synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of miserly?
The opposite of miserly can be expressed with words like bounteous, bountiful, charitable and freehanded.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of miserly?
The comparative form is more miserly and the superlative form is most miserly.