Miserly describes someone who is extremely unwilling to spend money or share resources; stingy to an excessive degree. It can also convey a cold, parsimonious attitude. As an adjective, it often carries a slightly negative or judgmental tone, especially when contrasted with generosity or prudence.
US: rhotic, stronger /ɹ/ and a slightly brighter vowel in the middle; UK/AU: less rhotic or non-rhotic, with a more centralized middle vowel and a softer /l/ at the end. IPA cues: US /ˈmɪzərli/, UK/AU /ˈmɪzəli/. To practice: exaggerate the initial MIZ, then compress to a quick SCHWA in the middle (ə), and finish with a light /li/. Pay attention to vowel quality in the second syllable (ə) vs. clear /eɪ/ or /ɜː/ in other words. Match mouth shapes with each variant.
"She was so miserly that she refused to lend even a single dollar to her sister."
"The old man’s miserly habits kept him from enjoying simple pleasures."
"Despite his wealth, his miserly behavior shocked his friends."
"The company’s miserly budget cut programs that benefited the community."
Miserly originates from the noun miser, derived from Old French mesier, which itself comes from Latin miser, meaning “wretched, wretchedly poor.” In Middle English, miser became a person who hoards wealth, especially money, often with a negative moral valence. The suffix -ly formed an adjective by the late 15th to 16th centuries, giving the sense of “paternal or characteristic of a miser.” Over time, miserly shifted from denoting a behavior (hoarding wealth) to describing a temperament or manner that is stingy or parsimonious, with occasional pejorative connotations. The word entered broader usage in the 16th–17th centuries as English speakers described people whose savings habits bordered on excessive or improper. Today, miserly typically collocates with money, spending, budgeting, and generosity, and it often appears in critiques of frugality perceived as mean-spirited. The evolution reflects a cultural tension between prudence and avarice, where miserly behavior is highlighted as a cautionary example of negative thrift rather than prudent saving.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Miserly" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Miserly"
-ox) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronunciation guide: /ˈmɪzərli/ (US) or /ˈmɪzəli/ (UK/AU). Put primary stress on the first syllable: MIZ-er-lee. The first syllable has a short, lax /ɪ/ like in ‘sit’, the second is /zə/ or /zə/ with a schwa, and the final syllable is an unstressed /li/ as in ‘lee’. Think “MIZ-ur-lee” with a clear, short vowel in the first syllable. For audio references, you can compare to standard dictionaries or pronunciation videos from Pronounce or Rachel’s English.
Two common errors: (1) treating it as MIS-er-ly with heavy emphasis on the second syllable. Correct by stressing the first: MIZ-er-ly. (2) Over-pronouncing the middle /ər/ as a full rhotic /ɜr/ rather than a reduced schwa /ər/. Use a quick, relaxed /ər/ and move smoothly to the final /li/. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘miser’ vs ‘miserly’ and focus on sequence MIZ - ər - lee.
In US English, /ˈmɪzərli/ with a clear /ɹ/ bi-phonemic link and a rhotic r. In UK and AU English, you’ll hear /ˈmɪzəli/ or /ˈmɪzəliː/ with a smaller rhotic cue and a lighter /r/; some speakers reduce the r-coloring, giving a slightly more centralized vowel in the second syllable. The final syllable remains /li/ but may be shorter or less rounded in non-rhotic varieties. Overall, stress is primary on the first syllable in all varieties.
Because it involves a delicate sequence: a stressed initial /ɪ/ that must quickly soften into a schwa in the second syllable, followed by a smooth /li/ ending. The consonant cluster in the middle /z/ plus /ər/ requires precise tongue movement so the /z/ remains clear while the /ər/ cohort sits as a reduced vowel. For non-native speakers, nasalization and linking can blur syllable boundaries. Focus on crisp onset of the first syllable and a clean transition to the final /li/.
A unique aspect is the subtle, almost imperceptible schwa in the second syllable that links to the final /li/ without adding a strong vowel. You’ll want a quick, relaxed /ər/ rather than a pronounced /ɜr/. This subtlety is what helps make miserly sound natural in connected speech, especially in rapid delivery. Practice by saying MIZ-ər-lee, then MIZ-ə-lee, to feel the difference.
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