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Showing results for frugal. Search instead for frugan.
Definitions

frugal

[froo-guhl] / ˈfru gəl /
ADJECTIVE
economical
Synonyms
STRONGEST
canny careful meticulous prudent stingy thrifty
WEAK
abstemious chary conserving discreet meager mingy parsimonious penny-pinching penny-wise preserving provident saving scrimping sparing spartan tight tightwad unwasteful wary
Antonyms
STRONGEST
careless incautious spendthrift wasteful
WEAK
generous lavish spendthrifty uneconomical

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They’re very frugal and save a lot, yet they also have a “can’t take it with us” mindset.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

After spending more than £1.1bn since 2023, new regulations announced by the country's ministry of sport in July 2025 means clubs have switched to a more frugal and financially sustainable model.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026

But even frugal Germany signed on, despite its longstanding opposition to this funding model.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

Several current or former big-name athletes, including NBA legends Charles Barkley and LeBron James, have railed against the idea of supporting other people’s lifestyles and the importance of being frugal when possible.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 20, 2025

Snap judgments can be made in a snap because they are frugal, and if we want to protect our snap judgments, we have to take steps to protect that frugality.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell