scrimpiness

A shopkeeper displays scrimpiness by carefully counting every coin.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The quality of being scrimpy: "scrimpiness" refers to the state or condition of being scanty, meager, or insufficient in amount, size, or extent. It often implies stinginess or a lack of generosity.

Usage Examples

• (The portions were too small and meager.)
• (She was stingy and sparing with praise.)

Advanced Usage

• "to complain about the scrimpiness of something": to express dissatisfaction with the inadequacy or scantiness of something.
  • The villagers complained about the scrimpiness of the harvest after the drought. (The harvest was too small and insufficient.)

Variants and Related Words

• Scrimpy (adj): meager, scant, or stingy.
  • The scrimpy salary barely covered his rent. (The salary was too small and insufficient.)
• Scrimp (verb): to be sparing or frugal, often to the point of stinginess.
  • She had to scrimp on groceries to save money. (She was very frugal and limited her spending.)

Synonyms

• Meagerness: the quality of being lacking in quantity or quality.
• Scantiness: the state of being insufficient in amount.
• Stinginess: unwillingness to give or spend; miserliness.
• Insufficiency: the condition of being not enough.

Related Idioms

• "Scrimp and save": to be very frugal and economize in order to accumulate money or resources.
  • They had to scrimp and save for years to buy a house. (They lived very frugally and saved diligently.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Scrimp on: to use or provide less than is needed; to be stingy with.
  • Don't scrimp on the ingredients if you want the cake to taste good. (Don't be too sparing or cheap with the ingredients.)