nickel-and-dime
1 of 2adjective
nick·el-and-dime ˌni-kəl-ən-ˈdīm 
1
: involving or offering only a small amount of money
2
: small-time
nickel-and-dime
2 of 2verb
nickeled-and-dimed ˌni-kəld-ən-ˈdīmd or nickel-and-dimed ˌni-kəl-ən-ˈdīmd ; nickeling-and-diming ˌni-k(ə-)liŋ-ən-ˈdī-miŋ or nickel-and-diming ˌni-kəl-ən-ˈdī-miŋ
or nickel-and-dimed ˌni-kəl-ən-ˈdīmd ; nickeling-and-diming ˌni-k(ə-)liŋ-ən-ˈdī-miŋ or nickel-and-diming ˌni-kəl-ən-ˈdī-miŋ transitive verb
1
: to impair, weaken, or defeat piecemeal (as through a series of small incursions or excessive attention to minor details)
2
: to treat (a person or situation) by paying excessive attention to small amounts of money often with a detrimental effect
Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1
nickel-and-dime
adjective
as in petty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- petty
- worthless
- small-time
- jerkwater
- paltry
- one-horse
- trivial
- small-fry
- frivolous
- trifling
- obscure
- unimportant
- fiddling
- foolish
- nameless
- incidental
- anonymous
- insignificant
- inconsequential
- nugatory
- minor
- uncelebrated
- small
- negligible
- unknown
- inconsiderable
- little
- minute
- slight
- Mickey Mouse
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- major
- substantial
- important
- big
- meaningful
- significant
- weighty
- consequential
- fatal
- worthwhile
- overbearing
- decisive
- material
- momentous
- chief
- overriding
- dominant
- principal
- valuable
- distinctive
- worthy
- eventful
- outstanding
- prominent
- fateful
- basic
- exceptional
- unfrivolous
- remarkable
- impressive
- great
- distinguished
- fundamental
- illustrious
- essential
- eminent
- notorious
- overmastering
- famous
- key
- prestigious
- preeminent
- renowned
- all-important