frugalness
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - Prudence in avoiding waste: The quality of being careful and economical in the use of resources, such as money, food, or materials, to avoid unnecessary expenditure or consumption.
Usage
"Frugalness" describes a character trait or habitual practice of using things sparingly and avoiding extravagance. It is a formal synonym for thriftiness.
Examples
- Her frugalness was evident in how she saved and reused every scrap of fabric.
- The family's frugalness allowed them to live comfortably on a modest income.
- He practiced frugalness not out of poverty, but out of a deep-seated belief in avoiding waste.
Advanced Usage
- As a measured quality: "Frugalness" can be discussed as a virtue or a practical strategy.
- The project's success was due in part to the manager's remarkable frugalness.
- In contrast to stinginess: While "stinginess" implies a lack of generosity, "frugalness" focuses on efficiency and the avoidance of waste, often without negatively affecting others.
Variants and Related Words
- Frugal (adj): Characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources.
- They lead a frugal lifestyle.
- Frugality (n): The most common synonym for "frugalness," meaning the same thing.
- He was known for his frugality.
Synonyms
- Thriftiness: The quality of using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully.
- Economy: Careful management of available resources.
- Parsimony (formal): Extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources (can have a more negative connotation than "frugalness").
Antonyms
- Extravagance: Lack of restraint in spending money or using resources.
- Wastefulness: Using or expending something carelessly or to no purpose.
- Profligacy: Reckless extravagance or wastefulness.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Penny-wise: Being careful about small amounts of money (often used in the idiom "penny-wise and pound-foolish," which contrasts carefulness with small sums and foolishness with large ones).
- To tighten one's belt: To spend less money because there is less available. This idiom describes an action, while "frugalness" describes a habitual quality.
Noun
- prudence in avoiding waste