thrifty
adjective
ˈthrif-tē 
thriftier; thriftiest
1
: given to or marked by economy and good management
2
: thriving by industry and frugality : prosperous
3
: growing vigorously
thriftily
ˈthrif-tə-lē
adverb thriftiness
ˈthrif-tē-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
- economical
- economizing
- frugal
- provident
- scrimping
- sparing
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
if you are thrifty, you can find ways to decorate your room stylishly yet inexpensively
Recent Examples on the Web The competitors will have to decide if being thrifty is the way to go since the winner will ultimately win the remaining funds. 
Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 19 Aug. 2022 Neuroscientists have found that our thrifty brains piggyback the experience of emotional pain in the same location. Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2022 The legs — a thrifty cut of the bird — are pierced and rubbed with a sweet and spicy paste of oil and honey whisked with Cajun seasoning, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, chili powder and garlic powder. Ann Maloney, Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2022 That doesn’t add up to an ideal environment for convincing thrifty households to pour their life savings into property. Jacky Wong, WSJ, 28 July 2022 Annie Ramirez’s penchant for yard designs may stem from her father, a thrifty man who loved Halloween. Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 4 July 2022 While notoriously underfunded-to-financially-thrifty, nonprofit businesses are the epitome of ‘champagne tastes on a beer budget’, or rather, in dire need of best tech strategy to deliver highest value. Paige Francis, Forbes, 20 June 2022 The rest of us, who work with what nature has given us, find that our lawns disappear after the flush of spring because nature here gives with such a thrifty hand. Richard Brookhiser, National Review, 26 May 2022 Our dinners were usually thrifty and utilitarian, with lots of repeats, but holidays and birthdays — celebrations of any kind — were another thing entirely. Emily Heil, Washington Post, 9 June 2022 See More
Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 19 Aug. 2022 Neuroscientists have found that our thrifty brains piggyback the experience of emotional pain in the same location. Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2022 The legs — a thrifty cut of the bird — are pierced and rubbed with a sweet and spicy paste of oil and honey whisked with Cajun seasoning, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, chili powder and garlic powder. Ann Maloney, Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2022 That doesn’t add up to an ideal environment for convincing thrifty households to pour their life savings into property. Jacky Wong, WSJ, 28 July 2022 Annie Ramirez’s penchant for yard designs may stem from her father, a thrifty man who loved Halloween. Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 4 July 2022 While notoriously underfunded-to-financially-thrifty, nonprofit businesses are the epitome of ‘champagne tastes on a beer budget’, or rather, in dire need of best tech strategy to deliver highest value. Paige Francis, Forbes, 20 June 2022 The rest of us, who work with what nature has given us, find that our lawns disappear after the flush of spring because nature here gives with such a thrifty hand. Richard Brookhiser, National Review, 26 May 2022 Our dinners were usually thrifty and utilitarian, with lots of repeats, but holidays and birthdays — celebrations of any kind — were another thing entirely. Emily Heil, Washington Post, 9 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
thrifty
adjective
ˈthrif-tē
thriftier; thriftiest
: carefully and wisely managing money
thrifty
adjective
as in economical
careful in the management of money or resources if you are thrifty, you can find ways to decorate your room stylishly yet inexpensively Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- economical
- economizing
- frugal
- saving
- prudent
- provident
- conserving
- scrimping
- sparing
- cheap
- preserving
- foresighted
- parsimonious
- forehanded
- miserly
- foresightful
- tightfisted
- stingy
- penurious
- spare
- pinching
- niggard
- penny-pinching
- penny-wise
- close
- mean
- niggardly
- stinting
- tight
- closefisted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- spendthrift
- wasteful
- profligate
- unthrifty
- prodigal
- thriftless
- improvident
- generous
- liberal
- unselfish
- shortsighted
- charitable
- munificent
- bountiful
- squandering
- extravagant
- indulgent
- unsparing
- lavish
- openhanded
- freehanded
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of thrifty are economical, frugal, and sparing. While all these words mean "careful in the use of one's money or resources," thrifty stresses good management and industry.
thrifty use of nonrenewable resources
Although the words economical and thrifty have much in common, economical stresses prudent management, lack of wastefulness, and use of things to their best advantage.
an economical health-care plan
The meanings of frugal and thrifty largely overlap; however, frugal implies absence of luxury and simplicity of lifestyle.
ran a frugal household
The words sparing and thrifty can be used in similar contexts, but sparing stresses abstention and restraint.
sparing in the offering of advice