Scrimp means to live on very little money or to managesucceed in using resources or handling a situation with difficulty with a very small amount of something. It often suggests carefulshowing close attention to avoid waste or unnecessary spending saving, doing without, or getting by with less than is comfortablepleasantly easy, free from hardship or worry.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /skrɪmp/
Easy pronunciation: SCRIMP (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, so the whole word is stressed.
Pronounced for the verb meaning to live or manage with very little money or resources.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Scrimp Meaning
to live or manage with very little money or resources
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to subsist on a meager allowance; to get by on very little
Example: They had to scrimp to pay the rent each month.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- skimp — A close substitute in the sense of living or managing with too little.
- stint — Works in the sense of using or allowing only a small amount, though it is less common in everyday speech.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Scrimp Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- skimp
- stint
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Don't confuse scrimp with skimping on quality in every context; scrimp specifically means managing with very little or living very frugally.
- In some phrases, such as "scratch and scrimp," the word appears as part of a set expression about getting by on little.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does scrimp mean?
Scrimp means to live very frugally or manage with very little money or resources.
What are synonyms for scrimp?
Good synonyms include skimp and stint, depending on the context.
Is scrimp a verb?
Yes. In this meaning, scrimp is a verb.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
