parsimony
parsimony — noun
1. a harshly ungenerous habit of holding back money, materials, or help, even when
a harshly ungenerous habit of holding back money, materials, or help, even when more should reasonably be provided.
The committee's parsimony left the youth center without enough chairs.
parsimony + practical shortage
Workers criticized the company's parsimony with safety equipment.
collocation: parsimony with [resource]
Farah mistook careful budgeting for parsimony and upset her business partner.
The charity director was accused of parsimony after refusing small travel grants.
Because of his parsimony, guests were offered only water at the reception.
- stinginess
the everyday noun for unwillingness to spend or give
- miserliness
strongly negative; suggests hoarding money
- meanness
broader; can describe ungenerous behavior, not only money
- generosity
willingness to give money, help, or resources freely
- open-handedness
formal or literary word for generous giving
文法句型
parsimony with [resource]
parsimony towards [person]
accuse someone of parsimony
用法筆記
Usually uncountable and formal. In everyday speech, people usually say 'stinginess' or 'being cheap'. This learner sense is negative; do not use it for the neutral scientific idea of choosing the simplest explanation.
常見錯誤
Do not use 'parsimony' when you mean positive careful spending. Use 'frugality' or 'thrift' for a careful habit that is not being criticized.