What does stingier mean?
“Stingier” is the comparative form of “stingy,” meaning more unwilling to give money, resources, or help. It describes a person who is miserly, mean with money, or reluctant to share, and it often implies a comparison between two people or between two attitudes. For example, “She was stingier with the budget than her partner” indicates that she controlled spending more tightly. The word can sound informal or mildly critical, depending on context and tone, and is common in everyday conversation as well as descriptive writing. It is especially useful when expressing a comparison: “the stingier of the two,” “stingier than before,” or “stingier with his money.”
adjectiveComparative of stingy: unwilling to give money, resources, or help freely.
- Unwilling to give money, resources, or help freely; more stingy than someone else.
"The stingier twin refused to share the last slice of cake."
"The stingier brother always volunteered to pay for less of the meal."
"Compared with her generous parents, she seemed stingier with her time."
“Stingier” takes one person’s stinginess and puts it head-to-head with another’s.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stingier come from?
“Stingier” is formed by adding the comparative suffix “-er” to “stingy.” The base word “stingy” comes from “sting,” which in its adjectival use means stingy or miserly, while the related verb means to cause pain or a sharp sensation. The family reflects an older Germanic root associated with a sting or pricking, and related forms include the adverb “stingily” and the noun “stinginess.”
Related word forms
How stingier is actually used
This is the comparative form of “stingy.” It is commonly used in comparisons, either with “than” or with “of the two.”
Easily confused with stingier
“Stingy” is the base adjective, while “stingier” is its comparative form.