thrifty
thrifty Lexical Profile
thrifty Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully.
"The thrifty couple saved enough money over five years to make a substantial down payment on their first home."
Growing vigorously and thriving in health (used especially of livestock or plants).
"With rich pasture and clean water, the calves remained thrifty and gained weight steadily throughout the spring."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Thrifty' and 'frugal' carry positive connotations of wise resource management and avoiding waste, whereas 'stingy', 'miserly', and 'cheap' are pejorative terms implying a selfish unwillingness to spend or share.
• Rhymes for thrifty
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 16th century from 'thrift' plus '-y'; 'thrift' comes from Old Norse 'þrift' ('prosperity'), derived from 'þrífast' ('to thrive'). Originally meaning 'thriving' or 'prosperous', the sense shifted to the careful financial habits that produce prosperity.