niggard Meaning & Definition
What Does Niggard Mean?
As an adjective, niggard means Sparing; stinting; parsimonious. It is also used to mean Miserly or stingy. As a noun, it means A miser or stingy person; a skinflint. As a verb, it means To hoard; to act stingily.
Niggard at a Glance
| Part of speech | adjective, noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪɡɚd/ |
| Synonyms | churl, grabber and scrooge |
| Plural | niggards |
| Comparative / superlative | more niggard, most niggard |
| Verb forms | niggards, niggarding, niggarded |
Niggard Definition (Adjective)
- Sparing; stinting; parsimonious.
- Miserly or stingy.
Niggard as a Noun
- A miser or stingy person; a skinflint.
- A false bottom in a grate, used for saving fuel.
Niggard as a Verb
- To hoard; to act stingily.
Synonyms of Niggard
Niggard synonyms and antonyms →Word Forms & Grammar
niggard (comparative more niggard, superlative most niggard)
niggard (plural niggards)
niggard (third-person singular simple present niggards, present participle niggarding, simple past and past participle niggarded)
Words That Rhyme With Niggard
Origin of Niggard
From Middle English nigard, nygard (“miser”), from nig (“niggardly person”), possibly of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Icelandic hnøggr (“miserly, stingy”), Old Norse *hniggw, with descendants Swedish njugg (“stingy”), dialectal Swedish niggla (“be stingy”), dialectal Norwegian nigla.[1][2] Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *hnauwjaz, source of Old English hneaw (“stingy”), replaced by Middle English nig. Possibly cognate to niggle (“miser”).[3] Compare German Knicker (“niggard”), knickerig (“niggardly”). Unrelated to the word nigger, but see the usage notes.
Questions People Ask About Niggard
Is niggard an adjective or a noun?
Niggard is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun and a verb.
What is another word for niggard?
You can replace niggard with words such as churl, grabber and scrooge. See the full list of niggard synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of niggard?
The plural of niggard is niggards.
What is the past tense of niggard?
The past tense of niggard is niggarded. The present participle is niggarding.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of niggard?
The comparative form is more niggard and the superlative form is most niggard.