miserly
miserly Lexical Profile
miserly Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Of or characteristic of a miser; excessively reluctant to spend money or share wealth.
"The miserly landlord refused to pay for basic repairs to the apartment's heating system."
Inadequately small in amount or quantity; meager or scant.
"The employees protested the miserly annual bonus after the company reported record profits."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although ending in '-ly', 'miserly' is almost exclusively an adjective rather than an adverb. Unlike 'frugal' or 'thrifty', which carry positive connotations of careful financial management, 'miserly' is strongly pejorative and implies an excessive, joyless hoarding of wealth.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the late 16th century from 'miser' plus the suffix '-ly'. The noun 'miser' derives from the Latin adjective 'miser' meaning 'wretched' or 'unhappy', reflecting the perception that someone obsessed with hoarding money lives a miserable existence.