closefisted
Definition
Adjective: - Stingy, miserly: Describes a person who is unwilling to spend or give away money; characterized by a lack of generosity.
Usage
The adjective "closefisted" is used to describe a person's character or behavior regarding money. It implies a strong reluctance to part with one's funds, often to an excessive or ungenerous degree. It is typically used in a critical or disapproving manner.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- Comparative and Superlative Forms: "more closefisted," "most closefisted." While grammatically correct, these forms are less common than the simpler "stingier" or "stingiest."
- Descriptive Use: Can be used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like "is" or "was").
- Attributive: He has a closefisted approach to finances.
- Predicative: Her uncle is very closefisted.
Variants and Related Words
- Tightfisted (adjective): A very common synonym with identical meaning.
- Parsimonious (adjective): A more formal term for being extremely frugal or stingy.
- Miserly (adjective): Specifically suggests hoarding wealth and living in a poor way to avoid spending.
- Penny-pinching (adjective/noun): Emphasizes saving small amounts of money in a stingy way.
Synonyms
- Stingy
- Tightfisted
- Miserly
- Parsimonious
- Niggardly
- Penurious
- Cheap
Antonyms
- Generous
- Open-handed
- Liberal
- Munificent
- Bountiful
Idioms and Phrases
- Closefisted with money: A common collocation that reinforces the meaning.
- You won't get a loan from him; he's too closefisted with his money.
- To have a closefisted grip on one's purse strings: An idiomatic expression meaning to control spending very tightly.
- The treasurer keeps a closefisted grip on the club's purse strings.
Adjective
-
unwilling to part with money
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