niggardly

Some common synonyms of niggardly are close, miserly, parsimonious, penurious, and stingy. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

Although the words close and niggardly have much in common, close suggests keeping a tight grip on one's money and possessions.

The meanings of miserly and niggardly largely overlap; however, miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.

The synonyms parsimonious and niggardly are sometimes interchangeable, but parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.

While in some cases nearly identical to niggardly, penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

The words stingy and niggardly can be used in similar contexts, but stingy implies a marked lack of generosity.