miserly

/ˈmaɪzəli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmaɪzərli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmī-zər-lē/ (ame, mw)

miserly — adjective

  • miserlypositive
  • more miserlycomparative
  • most miserlysuperlative

1. unwilling to share money or things, even when you have plenty — used to criticis

1.形容詞C1
釋義

unwilling to share money or things, even when you have plenty — used to criticise someone for being mean about spending or giving.

例句

Jisoo's grandfather was so miserly that he reused tea bags four times.

predicative use after 'be': be + miserly

Ada refused to leave a tip, which the waiter found very miserly.

同義詞
  • stingy

    more informal everyday word for the same idea

  • tight-fisted

    informal; vivid image of a closed fist holding money

  • parsimonious

    very formal; often neutral rather than disapproving

反義詞

文法句型

miserly with [noun]

用法筆記

Strongly disapproving in tone; describes a person, attitude, or behaviour, not the money itself. Distinguish from sense 2, which describes the small AMOUNT that is given rather than the giver.

常見錯誤

❌The salary was miserly because the boss is mean.
✅The salary was miserly.' OR 'The boss was miserly with salaries.
💡keep the focus on either the amount (sense 2) or the person (sense 1), not both at once.

2. describes a sum, share, or quantity that is unfairly small — so small that the s

2.形容詞C1
釋義

describes a sum, share, or quantity that is unfairly small — so small that the speaker feels insulted or short-changed.

例句

After ten years of service, Darius received a miserly pay rise of just two percent.

collocation: a miserly + [amount/percentage]

Sofia left the cafe annoyed by the miserly portion of cake on her plate.

同義詞
  • paltry

    very close synonym; emphasises insultingly small

  • meagre

    neutral or slightly sad in tone, less indignant

  • derisory

    formal; suggests the amount is laughable

反義詞
  • generous

    of an amount: pleasingly large

  • lavish

    very large, even excessive

文法句型

a miserly + [amount]

用法筆記

Subject is typically an amount, sum, portion, share, or percentage — not a person. Distinguish from sense 1: in sense 2, the noun being modified IS the small quantity itself.

常見錯誤

❌He earned a miserly person.
✅He earned a miserly salary.
💡in this sense the noun must be an amount or quantity, not a person.