frugal
/'fru:gəl/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Economical in use or expenditure; avoiding waste: Characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources, such as money, food, or time.
- Simple and costing little; not luxurious: Involving or characterized by simplicity and a lack of excess, especially regarding meals or lifestyle.
Usage
The adjective "frugal" describes a person's habitual behavior or the nature of an item or action. It is a positive term implying prudence and wise management, not necessarily extreme deprivation. It is often used with prepositions like "with" (e.g., frugal with money) or "of" (e.g., frugal of one's time).
Examples
- Describing a person's behavior:
- She leads a frugal life, saving a large portion of her income.
- My grandfather was frugal, repairing things instead of buying new ones.
- Describing a thing or action:
- We prepared a frugal meal of soup and bread.
- The office is frugal with its use of paper and electricity.
Advanced Usage
- "To be frugal with": To use a resource carefully and sparingly.
- You need to be more frugal with your weekly budget.
- "To be frugal of": (More formal) To be sparing in the use of something abstract, like time or words.
- He was frugal of his praise, which made his compliments meaningful.
Variants and Related Words
- Frugality (noun): The quality of being frugal.
- His frugality allowed him to retire early.
- Frugally (adverb): In a frugal manner.
- They live frugally to afford their travels.
Synonyms
- Thrifty: Careful and diligent in managing resources, especially money.
- Economical: Giving good value or service in relation to the resources used; not wasteful.
- Sparing: Moderate; using or giving only a little of something.
- Prudent: Acting with or showing care and thought for the future.
Antonyms
- Extravagant: Lacking restraint in spending money or using resources.
- Wasteful: Using or expending something of value carelessly or to no purpose.
- Lavish: Sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious.
Idioms and Phrases
- Frugal to a fault: Being so frugal that it becomes a negative trait, potentially leading to stinginess.
- He is frugal to a fault, never wanting to spend money even on necessities.
Adjective
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avoiding waste
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an economical meal
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an economical shopper
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a frugal farmer
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a frugal lunch
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a sparing father and a spending son
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sparing in their use of heat and light
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stinting in bestowing gifts
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thrifty because they remember the great Depression
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`scotch' is used only informally
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