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pinched

pinched

6.5
A person who has little money to pay basic costs
  • adjective
  • /pɪnʧt/
translation icon : con apuros económicos
  • Since the rent went up, they have been feeling pinched and cutting back on groceries.

Examples

  • Many families feel pinched during the holiday season when expenses rise.

  • She's a bit pinched right now and can't afford to go on vacation.

  • After losing his job, Mark found himself pinched for cash most months.

  • She looked pinched after missing meals for days.

  • The pinched faces of the homeless were heartbreaking.

  • Many families feel pinched during the winter months when heating bills increase.

  • After her unexpected medical bills, she felt pinched and had to skip eating out.

Synonyms

broke
vspinched
  • Informal
237 1.8

Having no money

is used more for lacking funds specifically to meet basic needs
hard-pressed
vspinched
33 6.0

Short of money or resources and finding things difficult

is specific to lacking money for basic needs rather than general difficulty
penniless
vspinched
24 4.3

Having no money

is about lacking enough for basics rather than having literally no money
destitute
vspinched
20 6.5

Very poor and without basic things like food or a home

is milder noting financial strain rather than complete inability to provide
in the hole
vspinched
  • Informal
12 8.0

To owe more money than you have

is about lacking enough money for basic needs not primarily owing money
hard up
vspinched
  • Informal
10 8.0

Having very little money and struggling to pay bills

is the same idea but emphasizes inability to meet basic needs specifically
poverty-stricken
vspinched
9 5.1

Very poor and needing help to live

is less severe and does not imply needing outside help
broke-ass
vspinched
  • Offensive
2 9.9

Very poor and having almost no money

is a more neutral way to describe lacking money for basic needs
hand-to-mouth
vspinched
  • Informal
1 6.8

To live with only enough money to pay for basic needs and no savings

is more about lacking sufficient funds for basic needs rather than short term income
stone-broke
vspinched
  • Informal
1 8.6

Having no money at all

is milder describing financial strain instead of total lack of funds
skint
vspinched
  • Slang
1 9.9

Having little or no money

is the neutral description of lacking money for basic needs
impecunious
vspinched
1 9.9

Having little or no money

is the everyday way to say lacking enough money for basics
penurious
vspinched
  • Formal
1 9.9

Very poor and unable to pay for basic needs

is less extreme focusing on lacking enough money for basic needs
stony-broke
vspinched
  • Informal
1 9.3

With no money at all

is less absolute focusing on hardship rather than total absence of money
in straitened circumstances
vspinched
  • Formal
8.6

A person who has little money and cannot buy basic things

is the general term for lacking enough money to meet needs

Antonyms

520 2.5

Having a lot of money and many expensive things

1 6.0

A person who has a lot of money

How Poor

destitute
20 6.5
impoverished
50 6.2
pinched
6.5
poor
194 1.3

Surface Forms

pinched positive

Morphology

pinched = pinch (semi-transparent) = pinch + ed

The financial sense ('lacking money') is a conventional metaphorical extension of being 'squeezed' (in a pinch) and so is partially predictable but idiomatic.

Etymology

Pinched comes from the verb pinch, meaning 'to squeeze'. We use 'pinched' for money to show a very tight budget or lack of cash, like having your finances pressed so there is little room to spend.