adj

miserly

MEYE-zuh-lee

Miserly (adj) means unwilling to spend money even when it would be reasonable to. Example: “His miserly landlord refused to fix the broken heater.”

adj

Unwilling to spend money even when it would be reasonable to.

"His miserly landlord refused to fix the broken heater."

How to use miserly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishStingy with money.

Common pairings

a miserly amount miserly with money

Word forms

more miserly comparative, most miserly superlative

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His _____ landlord refused to fix the broken heater.

Etymology

From miser + -ly, in use since the 1540s.

· First attested 1540

Class of 1540 miserly joined the language around 1540.

cavalry Geraldine qualification rupee

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Synonyms

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stingy cheap tightfisted penny-pinching parsimonious frugal

Related words

buy sell expensive cheap tight generous affordable economical

Rhymes for miserly

overly orderly elderly utterly eagerly Beverly Waverly fatherly motherly properly westerly formerly

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Frequently asked questions

What does “miserly” mean?

The word “miserly” means unwilling to spend money even when it would be reasonable to. In plain terms, stingy with money.

How do you pronounce “miserly”?

“Miserly” is pronounced MEYE-zuh-lee (/ˈmaɪ.zəɹli/ in IPA).

How do you use “miserly” in a sentence?

Here is “miserly” used in a sentence: “His miserly landlord refused to fix the broken heater.”

What part of speech is “miserly”?

“Miserly” is an adjective.

Where does the word “miserly” come from?

The word “miserly” dates back to around 1540. From miser + -ly, in use since the 1540s.

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