scrimpy
Stingy with portions
Scrimpy means meager, scanty, or barely adequate—too small for the purpose.
A scrimpy portion leaves you hungry; a scrimpy budget forces uncomfortable choices.
The word suggests stinginess or insufficiency: The scrimpy raise barely covered inflation.
Related to scrimp, meaning to economize severely.
Excessively reluctant to spend
- tightfistedUnwilling to spend freely
- penny-pinchingExtreme reluctance to spend
- parsimoniousExcessively unwilling to spend
- ungenerousUnwilling to give freely
mean · niggardly · close · chintzy · sparing · grudging · cheap · closefisted
Insufficient in amount
- paltryContemptibly meager
- inadequateNot sufficient for purpose
- insufficientBelow required quantity
- sparseThinly scattered or distributed
minimal · slight · lean · thin · lacking · deficient · bare · puny
Prudent with resources
- economicalUsing resources sparingly
- frugalSparing with resources
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- carefulExercising caution and attention
sparing · saving · budget-conscious · cost-conscious · resourceful · conservative · sensible · provident
miserly
Excessively reluctant to spend
- tightfistedUnwilling to spend freely
- penny-pinchingExtreme reluctance to spend
- parsimoniousExcessively unwilling to spend
ungenerous · mean · niggardly · close · chintzy · sparing · grudging · cheap · closefisted · tight
scanty
Insufficient in amount
- paltryContemptibly meager
- inadequateNot sufficient for purpose
- insufficientBelow required quantity
sparse · minimal · slight · lean · thin · lacking · deficient · bare · puny · measly
thrifty
Prudent with resources
- economicalUsing resources sparingly
- frugalSparing with resources
- prudentExercising sound judgment
careful · sparing · saving · budget-conscious · cost-conscious · resourceful · conservative · sensible · provident · canny
scrimpygenerous
Willing to give freely
lavish · liberal · bountiful · munificent · unstinting
- scrimp and saveSpend minimally, accumulate money