Mixing
Difference between miser, stingy, frugal, thrifty, cheap ( Positive and negative connotations )
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What should we call a person who doesn't spend money(on necessary things) instead saves it?
He or she enjoys when other people spend their money but when it comes to them they avoid spending money.
I know the words like the *miser, stingy, frugal, thrifty, cheap.* But I don't know which would be more suitable in a more casual setting.
I read that frugal is not necessarily a person who is a miser but he spends his money wisely.
I usually use stingy.
He's a stingy fellow. We could not bring him to spend one extra dime on dessert after a bill of 70$ on dinner.
word-usage word-choice
asked 7 hours ago
lea
415
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
What should we call a person who doesn't spend money(on necessary things) instead saves it?
He or she enjoys when other people spend their money but when it comes to them they avoid spending money.
I know the words like the *miser, stingy, frugal, thrifty, cheap.* But I don't know which would be more suitable in a more casual setting.
I read that frugal is not necessarily a person who is a miser but he spends his money wisely.
I usually use stingy.
He's a stingy fellow. We could not bring him to spend one extra dime on dessert after a bill of 70$ on dinner.
word-usage word-choice
asked 7 hours ago
lea
415
2
Related question that might be helpful: Word to describe a person who spends extremely little money
– ColleenV♦
7 hours ago
@ColleenV Thanks for the link. Frugal and thrifty have a positive connotation I think as per the answers in the link. So I will stick to words like stingy, miser and cheap if I have to express something in a negative way.
– lea
7 hours ago
2
Miser is a noun, unlike the others which are adjectives. Someone can be "a miser" but all the others need a noun, for example "a frugal person".
– Eric Nolan
5 hours ago
What do you mean you do not know which to use in a casual setting? Those four words need to be grouped by meaning before you ask your question.
– Lambie
4 hours ago
@Lambie I'm not a native speaker so sometimes I use words which may carry a negative connotation. I know their literal meaning but because of the connotations associated with the words I sometimes end up using the wrong word. For Example - the words (Hate/dislike/disapprove). Disapprove is not the word which we will use with friends in a casual way. So that is what I had asked here.
– lea
3 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
What should we call a person who doesn't spend money(on necessary things) instead saves it?
He or she enjoys when other people spend their money but when it comes to them they avoid spending money.
I know the words like the *miser, stingy, frugal, thrifty, cheap.* But I don't know which would be more suitable in a more casual setting.
I read that frugal is not necessarily a person who is a miser but he spends his money wisely.
I usually use stingy.
He's a stingy fellow. We could not bring him to spend one extra dime on dessert after a bill of 70$ on dinner.
word-usage word-choice
asked 7 hours ago
lea
415
What should we call a person who doesn't spend money(on necessary things) instead saves it?
He or she enjoys when other people spend their money but when it comes to them they avoid spending money.
I know the words like the *miser, stingy, frugal, thrifty, cheap.* But I don't know which would be more suitable in a more casual setting.
I read that frugal is not necessarily a person who is a miser but he spends his money wisely.
I usually use stingy.
He's a stingy fellow. We could not bring him to spend one extra dime on dessert after a bill of 70$ on dinner.
word-usage word-choice
word-usage word-choice
asked 7 hours ago
lea
415
asked 7 hours ago
lea
415
edited 14 mins ago
asked 7 hours ago
lea
415
asked 7 hours ago
lea
415
asked 7 hours ago
lea
415
415
2
Related question that might be helpful: Word to describe a person who spends extremely little money
– ColleenV♦
7 hours ago
@ColleenV Thanks for the link. Frugal and thrifty have a positive connotation I think as per the answers in the link. So I will stick to words like stingy, miser and cheap if I have to express something in a negative way.
– lea
7 hours ago
2
Miser is a noun, unlike the others which are adjectives. Someone can be "a miser" but all the others need a noun, for example "a frugal person".
– Eric Nolan
5 hours ago
What do you mean you do not know which to use in a casual setting? Those four words need to be grouped by meaning before you ask your question.
– Lambie
4 hours ago
@Lambie I'm not a native speaker so sometimes I use words which may carry a negative connotation. I know their literal meaning but because of the connotations associated with the words I sometimes end up using the wrong word. For Example - the words (Hate/dislike/disapprove). Disapprove is not the word which we will use with friends in a casual way. So that is what I had asked here.
– lea
3 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
2
Related question that might be helpful: Word to describe a person who spends extremely little money
– ColleenV♦
7 hours ago
@ColleenV Thanks for the link. Frugal and thrifty have a positive connotation I think as per the answers in the link. So I will stick to words like stingy, miser and cheap if I have to express something in a negative way.
– lea
7 hours ago
2
Miser is a noun, unlike the others which are adjectives. Someone can be "a miser" but all the others need a noun, for example "a frugal person".
– Eric Nolan
5 hours ago
What do you mean you do not know which to use in a casual setting? Those four words need to be grouped by meaning before you ask your question.
– Lambie
4 hours ago
@Lambie I'm not a native speaker so sometimes I use words which may carry a negative connotation. I know their literal meaning but because of the connotations associated with the words I sometimes end up using the wrong word. For Example - the words (Hate/dislike/disapprove). Disapprove is not the word which we will use with friends in a casual way. So that is what I had asked here.
– lea
3 hours ago
2
2
Related question that might be helpful: Word to describe a person who spends extremely little money
– ColleenV♦
7 hours ago
Related question that might be helpful: Word to describe a person who spends extremely little money
– ColleenV♦
7 hours ago
@ColleenV Thanks for the link. Frugal and thrifty have a positive connotation I think as per the answers in the link. So I will stick to words like stingy, miser and cheap if I have to express something in a negative way.
– lea
7 hours ago
@ColleenV Thanks for the link. Frugal and thrifty have a positive connotation I think as per the answers in the link. So I will stick to words like stingy, miser and cheap if I have to express something in a negative way.
– lea
7 hours ago
2
2
Miser is a noun, unlike the others which are adjectives. Someone can be "a miser" but all the others need a noun, for example "a frugal person".
– Eric Nolan
5 hours ago
Miser is a noun, unlike the others which are adjectives. Someone can be "a miser" but all the others need a noun, for example "a frugal person".
– Eric Nolan
5 hours ago
What do you mean you do not know which to use in a casual setting? Those four words need to be grouped by meaning before you ask your question.
– Lambie
4 hours ago
What do you mean you do not know which to use in a casual setting? Those four words need to be grouped by meaning before you ask your question.
– Lambie
4 hours ago
@Lambie I'm not a native speaker so sometimes I use words which may carry a negative connotation. I know their literal meaning but because of the connotations associated with the words I sometimes end up using the wrong word. For Example - the words (Hate/dislike/disapprove). Disapprove is not the word which we will use with friends in a casual way. So that is what I had asked here.
– lea
3 hours ago
@Lambie I'm not a native speaker so sometimes I use words which may carry a negative connotation. I know their literal meaning but because of the connotations associated with the words I sometimes end up using the wrong word. For Example - the words (Hate/dislike/disapprove). Disapprove is not the word which we will use with friends in a casual way. So that is what I had asked here.
– lea
3 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
13
down vote
Frugal and thrifty have positive meanings. They are usually used for someone who is careful about how he/she spends money and lives simply and economically.
Miser and stingy have negative connotations and they refer to someone who is reluctant to spend money, no matter what the circumstances.
Cheap has a negative connotation too and refers to someone who doesn't like to spend a lot of money. This person is always looking to buy the lowest cost item (The price of the item is more important than its quality for them)
You may also want to use tight-fisted which has the negative connotation you are looking for and it means:
unwilling to spend money
Here is an example from Cambridge dictionary:
Don't wait for Gillian to buy you a drink - she's too tight-fisted.
answered 7 hours ago
helen
2,5031526
7
There seems to be a slight difference between stingy and miser, to me at least. A miser tends to not spend money at all, simply hoarding it away. Stingy implies a selfishness and being unwilling to give or spend on others.
– Kevin
5 hours ago
You didn't cover "cheap". This definitely has a negative connotation. I think it may be more common in American English that British.
– Eric Nolan
5 hours ago
1
@EricNolan You're right. I forgot about it. I edited the post.
– helen
4 hours ago
Merriam-Webster says a miser is: one who is extremely stingy with money. Wikipedia goes so far as to say: sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities, in order to hoard money or other possessions. So even though this is basically a good answer, a miser is much worse than a stingy person when it comes to money. A stingy person might be fairly reluctant to spend money, but a miser pretty much refuses to spend money. A stingy person would have ordered much less than $70 for the meal, while a miser probably would have not eaten and had McDonald's later.
– computercarguy
1 hour ago
In my experience (take that for what it's worth) "Cheap" also carries the connotation of expecting someone else to pay.
– Michael J.
26 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
13
down vote
Frugal and thrifty have positive meanings. They are usually used for someone who is careful about how he/she spends money and lives simply and economically.
Miser and stingy have negative connotations and they refer to someone who is reluctant to spend money, no matter what the circumstances.
Cheap has a negative connotation too and refers to someone who doesn't like to spend a lot of money. This person is always looking to buy the lowest cost item (The price of the item is more important than its quality for them)
You may also want to use tight-fisted which has the negative connotation you are looking for and it means:
unwilling to spend money
Here is an example from Cambridge dictionary:
Don't wait for Gillian to buy you a drink - she's too tight-fisted.
answered 7 hours ago
helen
2,5031526
7
There seems to be a slight difference between stingy and miser, to me at least. A miser tends to not spend money at all, simply hoarding it away. Stingy implies a selfishness and being unwilling to give or spend on others.
– Kevin
5 hours ago
You didn't cover "cheap". This definitely has a negative connotation. I think it may be more common in American English that British.
– Eric Nolan
5 hours ago
1
@EricNolan You're right. I forgot about it. I edited the post.
– helen
4 hours ago
Merriam-Webster says a miser is: one who is extremely stingy with money. Wikipedia goes so far as to say: sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities, in order to hoard money or other possessions. So even though this is basically a good answer, a miser is much worse than a stingy person when it comes to money. A stingy person might be fairly reluctant to spend money, but a miser pretty much refuses to spend money. A stingy person would have ordered much less than $70 for the meal, while a miser probably would have not eaten and had McDonald's later.
– computercarguy
1 hour ago
In my experience (take that for what it's worth) "Cheap" also carries the connotation of expecting someone else to pay.
– Michael J.
26 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
13
down vote
Frugal and thrifty have positive meanings. They are usually used for someone who is careful about how he/she spends money and lives simply and economically.
Miser and stingy have negative connotations and they refer to someone who is reluctant to spend money, no matter what the circumstances.
Cheap has a negative connotation too and refers to someone who doesn't like to spend a lot of money. This person is always looking to buy the lowest cost item (The price of the item is more important than its quality for them)
You may also want to use tight-fisted which has the negative connotation you are looking for and it means:
unwilling to spend money
Here is an example from Cambridge dictionary:
Don't wait for Gillian to buy you a drink - she's too tight-fisted.
answered 7 hours ago
helen
2,5031526
7
There seems to be a slight difference between stingy and miser, to me at least. A miser tends to not spend money at all, simply hoarding it away. Stingy implies a selfishness and being unwilling to give or spend on others.
– Kevin
5 hours ago
You didn't cover "cheap". This definitely has a negative connotation. I think it may be more common in American English that British.
– Eric Nolan
5 hours ago
1
@EricNolan You're right. I forgot about it. I edited the post.
– helen
4 hours ago
Merriam-Webster says a miser is: one who is extremely stingy with money. Wikipedia goes so far as to say: sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities, in order to hoard money or other possessions. So even though this is basically a good answer, a miser is much worse than a stingy person when it comes to money. A stingy person might be fairly reluctant to spend money, but a miser pretty much refuses to spend money. A stingy person would have ordered much less than $70 for the meal, while a miser probably would have not eaten and had McDonald's later.
– computercarguy
1 hour ago
In my experience (take that for what it's worth) "Cheap" also carries the connotation of expecting someone else to pay.
– Michael J.
26 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
13
down vote
up vote
13
down vote
Frugal and thrifty have positive meanings. They are usually used for someone who is careful about how he/she spends money and lives simply and economically.
Miser and stingy have negative connotations and they refer to someone who is reluctant to spend money, no matter what the circumstances.
Cheap has a negative connotation too and refers to someone who doesn't like to spend a lot of money. This person is always looking to buy the lowest cost item (The price of the item is more important than its quality for them)
You may also want to use tight-fisted which has the negative connotation you are looking for and it means:
unwilling to spend money
Here is an example from Cambridge dictionary:
Don't wait for Gillian to buy you a drink - she's too tight-fisted.
answered 7 hours ago
helen
2,5031526
Frugal and thrifty have positive meanings. They are usually used for someone who is careful about how he/she spends money and lives simply and economically.
Miser and stingy have negative connotations and they refer to someone who is reluctant to spend money, no matter what the circumstances.
Cheap has a negative connotation too and refers to someone who doesn't like to spend a lot of money. This person is always looking to buy the lowest cost item (The price of the item is more important than its quality for them)
You may also want to use tight-fisted which has the negative connotation you are looking for and it means:
unwilling to spend money
Here is an example from Cambridge dictionary:
Don't wait for Gillian to buy you a drink - she's too tight-fisted.
answered 7 hours ago
helen
2,5031526
edited 4 hours ago
answered 7 hours ago
helen
2,5031526
answered 7 hours ago
helen
2,5031526
answered 7 hours ago
helen
2,5031526
2,5031526
7
There seems to be a slight difference between stingy and miser, to me at least. A miser tends to not spend money at all, simply hoarding it away. Stingy implies a selfishness and being unwilling to give or spend on others.
– Kevin
5 hours ago
You didn't cover "cheap". This definitely has a negative connotation. I think it may be more common in American English that British.
– Eric Nolan
5 hours ago
1
@EricNolan You're right. I forgot about it. I edited the post.
– helen
4 hours ago
Merriam-Webster says a miser is: one who is extremely stingy with money. Wikipedia goes so far as to say: sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities, in order to hoard money or other possessions. So even though this is basically a good answer, a miser is much worse than a stingy person when it comes to money. A stingy person might be fairly reluctant to spend money, but a miser pretty much refuses to spend money. A stingy person would have ordered much less than $70 for the meal, while a miser probably would have not eaten and had McDonald's later.
– computercarguy
1 hour ago
In my experience (take that for what it's worth) "Cheap" also carries the connotation of expecting someone else to pay.
– Michael J.
26 mins ago
add a comment |Â
7
There seems to be a slight difference between stingy and miser, to me at least. A miser tends to not spend money at all, simply hoarding it away. Stingy implies a selfishness and being unwilling to give or spend on others.
– Kevin
5 hours ago
You didn't cover "cheap". This definitely has a negative connotation. I think it may be more common in American English that British.
– Eric Nolan
5 hours ago
1
@EricNolan You're right. I forgot about it. I edited the post.
– helen
4 hours ago
Merriam-Webster says a miser is: one who is extremely stingy with money. Wikipedia goes so far as to say: sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities, in order to hoard money or other possessions. So even though this is basically a good answer, a miser is much worse than a stingy person when it comes to money. A stingy person might be fairly reluctant to spend money, but a miser pretty much refuses to spend money. A stingy person would have ordered much less than $70 for the meal, while a miser probably would have not eaten and had McDonald's later.
– computercarguy
1 hour ago
In my experience (take that for what it's worth) "Cheap" also carries the connotation of expecting someone else to pay.
– Michael J.
26 mins ago
7
7
There seems to be a slight difference between stingy and miser, to me at least. A miser tends to not spend money at all, simply hoarding it away. Stingy implies a selfishness and being unwilling to give or spend on others.
– Kevin
5 hours ago
There seems to be a slight difference between stingy and miser, to me at least. A miser tends to not spend money at all, simply hoarding it away. Stingy implies a selfishness and being unwilling to give or spend on others.
– Kevin
5 hours ago
You didn't cover "cheap". This definitely has a negative connotation. I think it may be more common in American English that British.
– Eric Nolan
5 hours ago
You didn't cover "cheap". This definitely has a negative connotation. I think it may be more common in American English that British.
– Eric Nolan
5 hours ago
1
1
@EricNolan You're right. I forgot about it. I edited the post.
– helen
4 hours ago
@EricNolan You're right. I forgot about it. I edited the post.
– helen
4 hours ago
Merriam-Webster says a miser is: one who is extremely stingy with money. Wikipedia goes so far as to say: sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities, in order to hoard money or other possessions. So even though this is basically a good answer, a miser is much worse than a stingy person when it comes to money. A stingy person might be fairly reluctant to spend money, but a miser pretty much refuses to spend money. A stingy person would have ordered much less than $70 for the meal, while a miser probably would have not eaten and had McDonald's later.
– computercarguy
1 hour ago
Merriam-Webster says a miser is: one who is extremely stingy with money. Wikipedia goes so far as to say: sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities, in order to hoard money or other possessions. So even though this is basically a good answer, a miser is much worse than a stingy person when it comes to money. A stingy person might be fairly reluctant to spend money, but a miser pretty much refuses to spend money. A stingy person would have ordered much less than $70 for the meal, while a miser probably would have not eaten and had McDonald's later.
– computercarguy
1 hour ago
In my experience (take that for what it's worth) "Cheap" also carries the connotation of expecting someone else to pay.
– Michael J.
26 mins ago
In my experience (take that for what it's worth) "Cheap" also carries the connotation of expecting someone else to pay.
– Michael J.
26 mins ago
add a comment |Â
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2
Related question that might be helpful: Word to describe a person who spends extremely little money
– ColleenV♦
7 hours ago
@ColleenV Thanks for the link. Frugal and thrifty have a positive connotation I think as per the answers in the link. So I will stick to words like stingy, miser and cheap if I have to express something in a negative way.
– lea
7 hours ago
2
Miser is a noun, unlike the others which are adjectives. Someone can be "a miser" but all the others need a noun, for example "a frugal person".
– Eric Nolan
5 hours ago
What do you mean you do not know which to use in a casual setting? Those four words need to be grouped by meaning before you ask your question.
– Lambie
4 hours ago
@Lambie I'm not a native speaker so sometimes I use words which may carry a negative connotation. I know their literal meaning but because of the connotations associated with the words I sometimes end up using the wrong word. For Example - the words (Hate/dislike/disapprove). Disapprove is not the word which we will use with friends in a casual way. So that is what I had asked here.
– lea
3 hours ago