as in parsimonious
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Recent Examples of penny-wise
Cutting these programs is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
—
Aisha Nyandoro, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
In fiscal terms, the budget cuts are penny-wise and galactically foolish.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
But even if successful, such an effort would likely be penny-wise and pound-foolish, leading U.S. allies to turn away from Washington in the long term.
—Stephen G. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2025
Cheap graphics cards are penny-wise but dollar-foolish for gaming PCs.
—Brad Bourque, Wired News, 9 Aug. 2024
Having these tenants lose their apartments and become homeless is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2024
On the other hand, avoid being penny-wise, pound-foolish.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2024
Ironically, its source is here on Earth: Congress, which has the penny-wise but pound-foolish policy of releasing just a trickle of funding to the space agency every year, hobbles many of nasa's mission goals that require thinking past a two-year House or six-year Senate term.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2023
Aisha Nyandoro, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
In fiscal terms, the budget cuts are penny-wise and galactically foolish.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
But even if successful, such an effort would likely be penny-wise and pound-foolish, leading U.S. allies to turn away from Washington in the long term.
—Stephen G. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2025
Cheap graphics cards are penny-wise but dollar-foolish for gaming PCs.
—Brad Bourque, Wired News, 9 Aug. 2024
Having these tenants lose their apartments and become homeless is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2024
On the other hand, avoid being penny-wise, pound-foolish.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2024
Ironically, its source is here on Earth: Congress, which has the penny-wise but pound-foolish policy of releasing just a trickle of funding to the space agency every year, hobbles many of nasa's mission goals that require thinking past a two-year House or six-year Senate term.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penny-wise
Adjective
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Chelsea are famously parsimonious in the transfer market, after all.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
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Wimpy was a mild-mannered, soft-spoken, lazy, parsimonious, and utterly gluttonous hamburger-wolfing straight man to Popeye.—
Richard Lederer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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McKim, Mead & White quickly became the place for aspiring young architects, who avidly sought jobs there despite miserly salaries.—
Henry Wiencek
July 22,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
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The miserly email account offerings are particularly limiting for larger ventures, and unusual for the category which typically offers unlimited email.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Every year, a complacent, tightfisted city council turned down the recommendations.—
Margaret Talbot,
The New Yorker,
2 Oct. 2023
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Kotick played the tightfisted owner of the Oakland A’s.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
31 May 2023
Adjective
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But both are gone because neither could make magic of Sherman’s low-spending model that still includes the most penurious payroll in MLB in 2025.—
Greg Cote
July 16,
Miami Herald,
16 July 2025
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Even so, the general picture of a mother’s absence and a daughter’s understandable resentment at having had to pick up the maternal slack in penurious conditions comes through loud and clear.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Astros, Guardians Their injury list has a payroll greater than a bunch of frugal franchises, yet the Rangers keep humming along and applying pressure to their AL West counterparts.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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My final contribution is this frugal feast loaded with seasonal goodies that’s sure to earn top grades with your family and auditor.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Marketing has been quite thrifty on this anime movie, on par with other Crunchyroll titles.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
13 Sep. 2025
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According to Amazon shoppers, this thrifty top can hold up, wear after wear.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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That’s good news for the many wage workers who have seen their purchasing power shrink as prices get higher, and companies get stingier with pay.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Jordan Gillissie and Tatum Morehouse lead a stingy defense.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Clarify how equity-centric design enables the organization to collectively go the distance regardless of environment, economical and legislative shifts and obstacles.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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The latter is much more economical than the full box, of course, yet includes virtually all of the copious music (if none of the trinkets), save for a couple of tracks that appear to be exclusive to vinyl.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penny-wise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penny-wise. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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