# miserly

**Pronunciation:** /ˈmaɪ.zər.li/ · MY-zer-lee

**CEFR level:** B1

**Part of speech:** adjective

## Meaning

Unwilling to spend money or give things away; stingy.

## Examples

- The miserly old man never donated to charity.
- She accused him of being miserly with his praise.
- His miserly habits meant he lived in a tiny, run-down apartment.

## Synonyms

- stingy — General term for not wanting to spend money.
- cheap — Informal, often implies unpleasant reluctance to spend.
- ungenerous — Lacking generosity, not just with money but also with time or praise.
- tight-fisted — Very unwilling to spend money; holding money tightly.

## Antonyms

- generous — Willing to give money, time, or help freely.
- lavish — Giving or spending a lot of money, time, or effort.

## Common patterns

- miserly with [noun] — Reluctant to give or use something, especially money or praise. — She was miserly with her compliments, rarely offering praise.

## Collocations

- miserly habits — His miserly habits prevented him from enjoying life's simple pleasures.
- miserly with money — He was so miserly with money that he walked everywhere instead of taking a taxi.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/miserly

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