tightwad

noun

tight·​wad ˈtīt-ˌwäd How to pronounce tightwad (audio)
: a close or miserly person

Examples of tightwad in a Sentence

Her husband's such a tightwad that he never wants to go out to dinner. you're always such a tightwad when charity comes calling
Recent Examples on the Web But come Sunday, the tightwad could still walk away with the trophy. Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2022 Valentine’s Day plus being too much of a tightwad to buy a gift. Erika W. Smith, refinery29.com, 5 Feb. 2020 So Carew signed with the Angels and the Yankees maintained their imperious and often disdainful view of the Twins as backwater tightwads who didn't sufficiently appreciate the privilege of playing against the Yankees, much less for them. Steve Rushin, SI.com, 20 Sep. 2019 Maybe because the tightwad organization has shed $20 million off an already bottom-feeding payroll, to an even thinner $63.5 million. Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Mar. 2018 The details of the tax returns painted Reagan as a tightwad, helping augment his public image as a crusader who would cut government spending. Kevin M. Kruse, Esquire, 14 Apr. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tightwad.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tightwad was in 1906

Dictionary Entries Near tightwad

Cite this Entry

“Tightwad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tightwad. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tightwad

noun
tight·​wad ˈtīt-ˌwäd How to pronounce tightwad (audio)
: a stingy person

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