miser

/ˈmaɪzə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmaɪzər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmī-zər/ (ame, mw)

miser — noun

  • misersingular
  • misersplural

1. a person who keeps a lot of money but refuses to spend any of it, even on basic

1.名詞C1
釋義

a person who keeps a lot of money but refuses to spend any of it, even on basic things they need.

例句

Old Mr Hui was a miser who never turned on the heater, even on icy nights.

be a miser + relative clause showing refusal to spend

The villagers called Gabriela a miser because she patched her shoes for twenty years.

call + object + miser — labelling someone as a miser

同義詞
  • skinflint

    informal; emphasises the meanness rather than the hoarding

  • penny-pincher

    informal; lighter tone, often used half-jokingly

  • tightwad

    very informal, American; mocking rather than literary

  • Scrooge

    literary allusion to Dickens; suggests cold-hearted refusal to share, often at holidays

反義詞
  • spendthrift

    someone who spends carelessly — the opposite extreme

  • philanthropist

    someone who gives generously, especially to charity

文法句型

a miser

the miser of [place]

用法筆記

Strongly negative connotation — implies meanness, not just thrift. Distinguish from neutral terms like 'saver' or 'frugal person', which describe careful spending without the moral judgement.

常見錯誤

❌My grandfather is a miser because he saves for retirement.
✅My grandfather is frugal because he saves for retirement.
💡'miser' implies refusing to spend even when needed; ordinary saving is 'frugal' or 'thrifty'.
❌She was a miser of her time.
✅She was stingy with her time.
💡'miser' refers specifically to money and possessions, not time or effort.