frugal
frugal — adjective
- frugalpositive
- more frugalcomparative
- most frugalsuperlative
1. describes a person who uses only a small amount of money or resources and avoids
describes a person who uses only a small amount of money or resources and avoids spending more than necessary, or describes a meal, activity, or lifestyle that costs very little.
Quinn leads a frugal life, growing vegetables and fixing old furniture instead of buying new.
Yael prepared a frugal meal of lentil soup and homemade bread for her guests.
collocation: frugal meal
Hassan was frugal with electricity, switching off lights whenever he left a room.
Charlotte's frugal habits helped her save enough money to travel around Asia.
João's grandmother taught him that frugal living does not mean being unhappy.
- thrifty
Very similar, but 'thrifty' focuses more on getting value for money through smart choices, while 'frugal' emphasises a deliberate minimising of overall spending.
- economical
Broader in scope — can apply to use of any resource (time, energy, fuel) and feels more factual than 'frugal', which has a lifestyle-choice tone.
- sparing
Implies using very small amounts of something specific, often non-financial (e.g., 'sparing with praise'), and is less commonly used for money habits.
- extravagant
Spending much more than necessary, often wastefully or showily.
- wasteful
Using resources carelessly without regard for need or cost.
文法句型
frugal + noun
frugal + with + noun
frugal + about + noun
用法筆記
Frequently carries a positive connotation of wise resource management, unlike 'stingy' or 'miserly' which suggest an unpleasant refusal to share or spend.