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Definitions

penny-wise

ADJECTIVE
economical
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cost-effective efficient practical prudent
WEAK
avaricious canny chary circumspect close closefisted curmudgeonly frugal meager mean methodical miserly money-saving on the rims parsimonious penny-pinching penurious provident prudential saving scrimping skimping spare sparing stingy thrifty tight time-saving unwasteful watchful work-saving
Antonyms
STRONGEST
inefficient
WEAK
careless uncareful uneconomical unreasonable wasteful
ADJECTIVE
frugal
Synonyms
STRONGEST
canny careful meticulous prudent stingy thrifty
WEAK
abstemious chary conserving discreet meager mingy parsimonious penny-pinching 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.

However, penny-wise, profit-driven developers want homes closer together on narrow streets that allow for more buildings.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 20, 2023

Ms Devlin added the move is a "penny-wise and pound-foolish approach to workforce".

From BBC • May 15, 2023

Allowing near-term inflation fears to undermine longer-term investments would be penny-wise and just plain foolish.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2021

“I just don’t think we should be penny-wise and pound-foolish on that,” Cole said.

From Washington Post • Feb. 26, 2020

Bobus Smith the other night proposed a caricature of a private conference between Hume and Vansittart as a dialogue of penny-wise and pound-foolish.

From Memoirs of the Court of George IV. 1820-1830 (Vol 1) From the Original Family Documents by Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Plantagenet Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos Grenville, Duke of