as in to save
to avoid unnecessary waste or expense
had to scrimp and save for years in order to be able to afford a house
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scrimp
Racing became a way of life, traveling the Midwest and scrimping together money for fuel and parts.
—
Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
The Premier League, too, does not scrimp on its legal representation.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
The power went out intermittently, and families scrimped to get enough food.
—Maggie Doherty, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Far from the envy of the world, Britain has been scrimping by spending 37 billion pounds ($53 billion) on the health services each year, well below Germany, France and Australia, a landmark review found last year.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrimp
Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
The Premier League, too, does not scrimp on its legal representation.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
The power went out intermittently, and families scrimped to get enough food.
—Maggie Doherty, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Far from the envy of the world, Britain has been scrimping by spending 37 billion pounds ($53 billion) on the health services each year, well below Germany, France and Australia, a landmark review found last year.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrimp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrimp
Verb
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One Secret Service agent was shot but was saved by a bulletproof vest.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
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In virtually every track meet, especially the big ones, Rancho Buena Vista High School’s Justian Richardson has saved his best triple jump for last.—
Steve Brand,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In short, economizing on non-defense outlays simply has to bring mandatory spending under review.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
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In short, economizing on non-defense outlays simply has to bring mandatory spending under review.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The move would not trigger any mandatory water restrictions yet, but would force all public water systems to launch messaging campaigns to encourage customers to conserve water.—
Drew Kann,
AJC.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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Its primary goal is to protect and conserve key parts of African, Asian and South American landscapes, and any new location is hand-picked with this in mind.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Still in Boston with the Yankees, Weathers hopped in a car service and made it to the hospital with about 10 minutes to spare.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
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Hamas did not field candidates in Deir al Balah, which was damaged by airstrikes but spared an Israeli ground invasion in over two years of war.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There are good and bad nonprofits and good and bad for-profits, but industry analysts have told me for years that generally speaking, nonprofits are more reliable than for-profits, which can be inclined to skimp on staffing.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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For the rest of us who skimp here and there—or have yet to make flossing routine, despite the awkward biannual urges from our dentist—now’s a great time to pick up the habit.—
Michele Ross,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scrimp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrimp. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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