penurious
- Extremely poor, or unwilling to spend money; characterized by severe poverty or miserliness.
- Giving or yielding little; meager or scanty.
In a sentence
- The penurious landlord refused to repair the heating system despite the freezing temperatures.
- Growing up in penurious circumstances taught her the value of every penny she earned.
Usage note. Be aware that 'penurious' can describe either a person who is genuinely poor or one who is merely tight-fisted; context usually makes the intended meaning clear.
Where it comes from
English penurious · entered English late 16th c.
From Latin 'penuria' meaning want, scarcity, or need, related to 'paene' (almost, barely). It entered English in the late 16th century, initially describing conditions of scarcity before broadening to describe miserly persons.