Skinflint
“A person who spends as little money as possible and is excessively reluctant to part with wealth.”
Synonyms by Register & Formality
Antonyms & Opposites
Nuance Analysis & Word Contrasts
Skinflint carries a specific connotation of active, almost aggressive stinginess. While 'frugal' implies a virtuous or necessary management of resources, 'skinflint' suggests a moral failing or a pathological obsession with hoarding money at the expense of social obligations or personal comfort. It is more derogatory than 'penny-pincher' and implies a deeper, more ingrained character flaw than the situational 'cheapskate'.
skinflint vs miser
A miser is often defined by the secret, obsessive hoarding of wealth for its own sake, whereas a skinflint is defined by the active, visible refusal to spend money on necessary or expected expenses.
skinflint vs spendthrift
A skinflint represents the extreme of fiscal restriction, while a spendthrift represents the extreme of fiscal recklessness; they are polar opposites in their relationship to capital.