miser

noun

mi·​ser ˈmī-zər How to pronounce miser (audio)
: a mean grasping person
a miser cackling over unexpected treasureR. T. Peterson
especially : one who is extremely stingy with money
a miser who inherited a fortune but lives in a shanty

Examples of miser in a Sentence

the miser liked to sit and play with his money
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This ahead-of-its-time 1988 film stars Bill Murray as Frank Cross, a TV executive and self-seeking miser who receives a wake-up call from the ghosts of Christmas Past (David Johansen), Present (Carol Kane) and Future (Robert Hammond) to help straighten his mean spirit. Skyler Caruso, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024 For a more tuneful version of the Dickens tale, there’s this 1970 musical starring Albert Finney as the eponymous miser. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024 The Bay Area’s relationship with the infamous miser Scrooge is undergoing some shifts. David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2024 Rather than just a simple miser, this movie portrays Scrooge as more of a ruthless businessman who believes he’s justified in his actions, making the character more relatable and redemptive. Janey Tracey, EW.com, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for miser 

Word History

Etymology

Latin miser miserable

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of miser was circa 1560

Dictionary Entries Near miser

Cite this Entry

“Miser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miser. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

miser

noun
mi·​ser ˈmī-zər How to pronounce miser (audio)
: a mean grasping person
especially : one who lives poorly in order to store away money

More from Merriam-Webster on miser

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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