frugal 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfrü-gəl How to pronounce frugal (audio)
Definition of frugalnext
as in economical
careful in the management of money or resources by being frugal, the family is able to stretch its monthly budget

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

frugality

2 of 2

noun

frü-ˈga-lə-tē How to pronounce frugality (audio)
as in economy
careful management of material resources her lifelong frugality has enabled her to save enough money to go to college next year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word frugal distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of frugal are economical, sparing, and thrifty. While all these words mean "careful in the use of one's money or resources," frugal implies absence of luxury and simplicity of lifestyle.

ran a frugal household

When might economical be a better fit than frugal?

The synonyms economical and frugal are sometimes interchangeable, but economical stresses prudent management, lack of wastefulness, and use of things to their best advantage.

an economical health-care plan

In what contexts can sparing take the place of frugal?

While in some cases nearly identical to frugal, sparing stresses abstention and restraint.

sparing in the offering of advice

When is thrifty a more appropriate choice than frugal?

The words thrifty and frugal can be used in similar contexts, but thrifty stresses good management and industry.

thrifty use of nonrenewable resources

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of frugal
Adjective
Super frugal use of memory bandwidth, caching exactly what is needed & squeezing microseconds out of everything are needed to maintain the frame rate. — Jack Ewing, New York Times, 2 June 2026 Although it’s been made it was made on a frugal budget, none of that diminishes the power and enjoyment of this original and inspired indie from a team that just keeps making one good genre film after another. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
Noun
That requires discipline, vision, frugality and genuine responsiveness from City Hall. — Paul Suppa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026 Off-mountain Activities Vintage Shopping Ketchum has a treasure trove of vintage and second-hand shops, thanks to a culture of quiet luxury that prizes quality, taste, and frugality. — Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frugal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frugal
  1. economical
  2. thrifty
Adjective
  • Ronaldo is clearly more economical with his running — staying more static between the width of the goalposts — meaning Portugal are less fluid across the front line.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • At these densities, air cooling is often no longer sufficient or economical.
    — Phillip Marangella, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of economical
Adjective
  • DIYers and thrifty car owners like to replace their own to avoid the high labor cost.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
  • The most thrifty setting allows conservation of charge for use on the mountain playground.
    — Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Definition of thrifty

Browse Nearby Words

fructuous
frugal
frugality
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Cite this Entry

“Frugal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frugal. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on frugal

Nglish: Translation of frugal for Spanish Speakers

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