skimp

1 of 2

adjective

ˈskimp 

: skimpy

skimp

2 of 2

verb

skimped; skimping; skimps

transitive verb

: to give insufficient or barely sufficient attention or effort to or funds for

intransitive verb

: to save by or as if by skimping

Synonyms

Adjective

• exiguous
• hand-to-mouth
• light
• meager
• meagre
• niggardly
• poor
• scant
• scanty
• scarce
• skimpy
• slender
• slim
• spare
• sparing
• sparse
• stingy

Verb

• economize
• pinch
• save
• scrimp
• spare

Examples of skimp in a Sentence

Adjective

money would be skimp until she got her first paycheck from her new job

Verb

Parents shouldn't skimp when it comes to their child's safety.

we must skimp and save if we are going to afford a vacation this summer

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Elon Musk’s product reveals rarely, if ever, skimp on style. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2024

The caviar is often canned or frozen during the summer and fall to enjoy during the long winters—a taste of sunshine when our daylight hours are shortened to a skimp five. —Irina Groushevaia, Bon Appétit, 15 July 2021

Verb

Maybe your blood sugar took a nosedive because your granola bar lunch skimped on protein. —Caroline Tien, SELF, 12 Mar. 2025

Regardless of personal preference, most would agree that the best underwear for women shouldn’t skimp on comfort—but your go-to pair doesn’t have to skimp on style, either. —Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

perhaps alteration of scrimp

First Known Use

Adjective

1775, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1879, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for skimp

• blimp
• chimp
• crimp
• imp
• limp
• pimp
• shrimp
• wimp

Kids Definition

skimp

verb

ˈskimp

1

: to give not enough or barely enough attention or effort to or funds for

2

: to save by or as if by skimping : scrimp