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pinchpenny

pinchpenny

1 9.8
A person who does not like to spend money
  • noun
  • /ˈpɪnʧˌpɛni/
  • Offensive
: tacaño
  • My neighbor is a notorious pinchpenny who never tips at restaurants.

Examples

  • Or stepping out of the Pinchpenny with the navy knit dress in a bag.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • When it comes to shopping, Lisa is a real pinchpenny; she always looks for the cheapest deals.

  • He's such a pinchpenny that he refuses to buy a cup of coffee.

Synonyms

cheapskate
vspinchpenny
  • Offensive
14 7.0

A person who does not like to spend money

is slightly more severe in stinginess than this general term
miser
vspinchpenny
6 6.5

A person who keeps most of their money and refuses to spend it, even if they are rich

emphasizes hoarding and self deprivation beyond mere stinginess
scrooge
vspinchpenny
  • Offensive
6 8.5

A person who refuses to spend money or share with others

lacks the added idea of refusing to share with others
tightwad
vspinchpenny
  • Offensive
5 8.7

A person who does not like to spend money

is more extreme in unwillingness to spend money
penny pincher
vspinchpenny
  • Informal
1 5.8

A person who spends very little money to save as much as possible

focuses on general extreme unwillingness rather than careful thrift
skinflint
vspinchpenny
  • Offensive
1 9.1

A person who does not like to spend money

is the head label used in the key entry
cheapo
vspinchpenny
  • Offensive
1 9.3

A person who does not like to spend money

is the standard description focusing on extreme unwillingness rather than slang
cheapie
vspinchpenny
  • Offensive
1 8.3

A person who does not like to spend money

is the more formal description used in the key entry
piker
vspinchpenny
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who does not want to spend money or take risks

focuses only on unwillingness to spend rather than risk avoidance
scunge
vspinchpenny
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who does not like to spend money

is the neutral label rather than an informal expression
pinchgut
vspinchpenny
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who spends almost no money and gives very small meals

refers more generally to extreme unwillingness to spend, not food denial

Antonyms

A person who gives money to help people or charities

32 2.1

A person who often buys many things

How Stingy

pinchpenny
  • Offensive
1 9.8
saver
10 1.4

Surface Forms

pinchpenny singular
pinchpennies plural

Morphology

pinchpenny = pinch + penny (transparent) = pinch + penny

The noun is a straightforward compound meaning 'one who pinches pennies', so knowledge of the components yields the sense.

Etymology

Pinchpenny is made from pinch 'to squeeze' and penny 'a small coin', giving the picture of someone who even 'pinches' pennies to keep them. So a pinchpenny is a person who is very unwilling to spend money.