pinched
Squeezed between fingers
Pinched describes something squeezed, compressed, or constricted.
A pinched nerve is painfully compressed.
A pinched face looks thin and drawn, suggesting stress or hardship: Her pinched expression told me the news wasn't good.
In informal use, pinched means stolen: Someone pinched my bike.
British slang extends this to being arrested: He got pinched for shoplifting.
To be pinched for money is to have too little of it.
Took in small amounts
snatched · pocketed · nabbed · taken · shoplifted · purloined · misappropriated · boosted
Pressed firmly together
- compressedReduced by pressure
- constrictedMade narrower by pressure
- crampedUncomfortably lacking space
- grippedHeld with pressure
clenched · narrowed · contracted · nipped · cinched · clamped · trapped · caught
Rendered in lines
- haggardExhausted in appearance
- gauntLean from deprivation
- wanPale and unwell-looking
- strainedUnder uncomfortable tension
pallid · pale · ashen · sallow · peaked · careworn · tired · weary
Seized or arrested
- collaredCaught and restrained
- bustedApprehended or broken
- caughtSeized or grabbed
- apprehendedCaptured or comprehended
detained · nicked · seized · taken in · booked · picked up · cuffed · pulled in
Unwilling to spend freely
- miserlyExcessively reluctant to spend
- tight-fistedUnwilling to spend freely
- thriftyPrudent with resources
- economizingReducing expenditures deliberately
scrimping · scraping · stretched · strapped · hard-up · struggling · skint · broke
pilfered
Took in small amounts
filched · snatched · pocketed · nabbed · taken · shoplifted · purloined · misappropriated · boosted · thieved
squeezed
Pressed firmly together
- compressedReduced by pressure
- constrictedMade narrower by pressure
- crampedUncomfortably lacking space
gripped · clenched · narrowed · contracted · nipped · cinched · clamped · trapped · caught · stuck
drawn
Rendered in lines
strained · pallid · pale · ashen · sallow · peaked · careworn · tired · weary · exhausted
nabbed
Seized or arrested
apprehended · detained · nicked · seized · taken in · booked · picked up · cuffed · pulled in
stingy
Unwilling to spend freely
- miserlyExcessively reluctant to spend
- tight-fistedUnwilling to spend freely
- thriftyPrudent with resources
economizing · scrimping · scraping · stretched · strapped · hard-up · struggling · skint · broke · cash-strapped
- skinnythin, slim, slender, lean, skinny
- tightnesstight, taut, snug, constricting, compressed
- povertypoverty line, poor, poverty rate, impoverished, generational poverty
- scarcityscarcity, scarce, shortage, scant, scanty
- shapescircle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval
- size wordsbig, small, short, large, huge
- in a pinchWhen circumstances force compromise
- pinch of saltMinimal amount of seasoning
- penny pincherExcessively frugal person
- pinch penniesSpend as little as possible
- feeling the pinchExperiencing financial strain
- pinching penniesObsessive spending restraint
pinch, pinching, pinches, pinchers, pinchy, pincher, pinchpenny, pinchable, unpinched