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Definition of chintzy

chintzy

/ˈtʃɪntsi/
chint · zy
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chintzy Lexical Profile

chintzy Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Cheap, tacky, or of poor quality, often in a gaudy or brightly decorated way.

Example

"The motel room was furnished with a lumpy mattress and chintzy plastic lamps."

2

North American Unwilling to spend money or give generously; stingy or miserly.

Example

"Management was so chintzy with the annual bonuses that several employees decided to resign."

3

Decorated with, made of, or resembling printed multicolored cotton chintz fabric.

Example

"She settled into a plump armchair upholstered in a floral, chintzy pattern."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

chinstrap
chinstrap penguin
chintz
chintzy
chionodoxa
chip
chipboard

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-19th century (originally popularized by novelist George Eliot in 1851) from 'chintz', a glazed calico fabric imported from India (from Hindi 'chīnt', meaning 'spotted' or 'variegated', from Sanskrit 'citra'). Because inexpensive imitations of the floral fabric became associated with cheap, garish home decor, the adjective evolved to mean tacky or stingy.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Chintzy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/chintzy
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