Pinching — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun phrase adjective /ˈpinch/ (verb) /ˈpe-nē-ˌpin-chiŋ/ (noun)

Meaning & Definition of Pinching

Pinching (verb)

  1. to squeeze between the finger and thumb or between the jaws of an instrument
  2. to prune the tip of (a plant or shoot) usually to induce branching
  3. to squeeze or compress painfully

Pinching (noun)

  1. frugality, parsimony

Pinching (phrase)

  1. to practice strict economy

Pinching (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. giving or sharing as little as possible

    "neighborhood kids who were trick-or-treating knew better than to bother to knock on that pinching couple's door"

    similar: cheap, chintzy, close, closefisted, mean, mingy, miserly, parsimonious, penny-pinching, penurious, pinchpenny, spare, sparing, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous
    related: careful, chary, conserving, economical, economizing, frugal, saving, scrimping, skimping, thrifty, acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, desirous, grasping, greedy, hoggish, itchy, mercenary, rapacious, selfish, shabby, small, sordid, begrudging, envious, grudging, resentful, inhospitable
    opposite: bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, liberal, munificent, openhanded, unsparing, unstinting
    near: altruistic, selfless, unselfish, extravagant, free, handsome, lavish, overgenerous, profuse, beneficent, benevolent, hospitable, humanitarian, philanthropic, compassionate, good-hearted, greathearted, kindly, magnanimous, openhearted, thriftless, unthrifty, dissipating, frittering, prodigal, profligate, spendthrift, splurging, squandering, wasteful, wasting

Pinching (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money

    "this constant pinching is getting ridiculous—we can afford to turn on one or two lights!"

    similar: cheapness, cheeseparing, closeness, miserliness, parsimony, penny-pinching, penuriousness, stinginess, tightfistedness, tightness
    related: conserving, economizing, economy, frugality, husbandry, providence, scrimping, skimping, thrift, conservation, saving, husbanding, managing
    near: bountifulness, bounty, generosity, largesse, liberality, openhandedness, openheartedness, philanthropy, unselfishness, extravagance, lavishness, dissipation, improvidence, prodigality, squandering, wastefulness

Pinching (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points

    "the zipper on those jeans always pinches me"

    similar: nipping
    related: crimping, tweaking, clasping, clutching, grasping, gripping, holding, taking
    near: dropping, freeing, loosening, loosing, releasing, springing

  2. to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep

    "pinched the earrings while the boutique owner was distracted by another customer"

    similar: appropriating, boosting (slang), filching, heisting, hooking, lifting, misappropriating, nicking (British slang), nipping, pilfering, pocketing, purloining, ripping off, snitching, stealing, swiping, thieving, making away with, making off with, running off with, walking off with
    related: burglarizing, knocking over, robbing, looting, pillaging, plundering, sacking, carjacking, hijacking, picking, rifling, poaching, rustling, shoplifting, collaring, grabbing, grasping, nailing, seizing, snatching, taking, mooching, sponging, abducting, kidnapping, shanghaiing, spiriting
    near: buying, purchasing, bestowing, contributing, donating, giving, handing over, presenting

  3. to take or keep under one's control by authority of law

    "pinched the purse snatcher just two blocks from where he had robbed the old lady"

    similar: apprehending, arresting, busting (slang), collaring, nabbing, nailing, nicking (British slang), picking up, pulling in, restraining, running in, seizing
    related: bagging, capturing, catching, getting, grabbing, grappling, hooking, landing, snapping (up), snaring, snatching, trapping, committing, confining, detaining, holding, immuring, imprisoning, incarcerating, interning, jailing, jugging, locking (up), binding, enchaining, fettering, handcuffing, manacling, shackling, trammeling, rearresting, remanding
    opposite: discharging
    near: emancipating, freeing, liberating, loosening, loosing, releasing, springing, unbinding, unchaining

  4. to avoid unnecessary waste or expense

    "if we pinch hard for the upcoming year, we can probably afford the vacation at that fancy resort"

    similar: economizing, saving, scrimping, skimping, sparing, pinching pennies
    related: conserving, husbanding, maintaining, managing, preserving, scraping, cutting back, cutting down, retrenching, hoarding, laying up
    opposite: wasting
    near: blowing, dissipating, frittering (away), lavishing, misspending, running through, spending, squandering, throwing away, splurging

Related Entry: Pinch (verb)

Pinch is a different word from Pinching. The synonyms below are for pinch, not for pinching.

  1. to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points

    "the zipper on those jeans always pinches me"

    similar: nip
    related: crimp, tweak, clasp, clutch, grasp, grip, hold, take
    near: drop, free, loose, loosen, release, spring

  2. to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep

    "pinched the earrings while the boutique owner was distracted by another customer"

    similar: appropriate, boost (slang), filch, heist, hook, lift, misappropriate, nick (British slang), nip, pilfer, pocket, purloin, rip off, snitch, steal, swipe, thieve, make away with, make off with, run off with, walk off with
    related: burglarize, knock over, rob, loot, pillage, plunder, sack, carjack, hijack, pick, rifle, poach, rustle, shoplift, collar, grab, grasp, nail, seize, snatch, take, mooch, sponge, abduct, kidnap, shanghai, spirit
    near: buy, purchase, bestow, contribute, donate, give, hand over, present

  3. to take or keep under one's control by authority of law

    "pinched the purse snatcher just two blocks from where he had robbed the old lady"

    similar: apprehend, arrest, bust (slang), collar, nab, nail, nick (British slang), pick up, pull in, restrain, run in, seize
    related: bag, capture, catch, get, grab, grapple, hook, land, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap, commit, confine, detain, hold, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, jug, lock (up), bind, enchain, fetter, handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel, rearrest, remand
    opposite: discharge
    near: emancipate, free, liberate, loose, loosen, release, spring, unbind, unchain

  4. to avoid unnecessary waste or expense

    "if we pinch hard for the upcoming year, we can probably afford the vacation at that fancy resort"

    similar: economize, save, scrimp, skimp, spare, pinch pennies
    related: conserve, husband, maintain, manage, preserve, scrape, cut back, cut down, retrench, hoard, lay up
    opposite: waste
    near: blow, dissipate, fritter (away), lavish, misspend, run through, spend, squander, throw away, splurge

Related Entry: Pinching pennies (phrase)

Pinching pennies is a different word from Pinching. The synonyms below are for pinching pennies, not for pinching.

  1. to avoid unnecessary waste or expense

    "They pinched pennies in order to afford a nice vacation."

    similar: economizing, pinching, saving, scrimping, skimping, sparing
    related: conserving, husbanding, maintaining, managing, preserving, scraping, cutting back, cutting down, retrenching, hoarding, laying up
    opposite: wasting
    near: blowing, dissipating, frittering (away), lavishing, misspending, running through, spending, squandering, throwing away, splurging

Related Entry: Penny-pinching (adjective)

Penny-pinching is a different word from Pinching. The synonyms below are for penny-pinching, not for pinching.

  1. giving or sharing as little as possible

    "the new CEO's penny-pinching ways have helped to keep the company out of bankruptcy"

    similar: cheap, chintzy, close, closefisted, mean, mingy, miserly, parsimonious, penurious, pinching, pinchpenny, spare, sparing, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous
    related: careful, chary, conserving, economical, economizing, frugal, saving, scrimping, skimping, thrifty, acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, desirous, grasping, greedy, hoggish, itchy, mercenary, rapacious, selfish, shabby, small, sordid, begrudging, envious, grudging, resentful, inhospitable
    opposite: bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, liberal, munificent, openhanded, unsparing, unstinting
    near: altruistic, selfless, unselfish, extravagant, free, handsome, lavish, overgenerous, profuse, beneficent, benevolent, hospitable, humanitarian, philanthropic, compassionate, good-hearted, greathearted, kindly, magnanimous, openhearted, thriftless, unthrifty, dissipating, frittering, prodigal, profligate, spendthrift, splurging, squandering, wasteful, wasting

Related Entry: Penny-pinching (noun)

Penny-pinching is a different word from Pinching. The synonyms below are for penny-pinching, not for pinching.

  1. careful management of material resources

    "they'll have to practice some penny-pinching if they want to save for a house"

    similar: economy, frugality, husbandry, parsimony, providence, scrimping, skimping, thrift
    related: conservation, saving, miserliness, stinginess, belt-tightening, retrenchment, discretion, forehandedness, prudence, austerity, moderation, restraint, temperance
    opposite: diseconomy, wastefulness
    near: extravagance, improvidence, lavishness, prodigality, squandering

  2. the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money

    "reusing your tea bags is perhaps taking penny-pinching too far"

    similar: cheapness, cheeseparing, closeness, miserliness, parsimony, penuriousness, pinching, stinginess, tightfistedness, tightness
    related: conserving, economizing, economy, frugality, husbandry, providence, scrimping, skimping, thrift, conservation, saving, husbanding, managing
    near: bountifulness, bounty, generosity, largesse, liberality, openhandedness, openheartedness, philanthropy, unselfishness, extravagance, lavishness, dissipation, improvidence, prodigality, squandering, wastefulness

Related Entry: Pinch pennies (phrase)

Pinch pennies is a different word from Pinching. The synonyms below are for pinch pennies, not for pinching.

  1. to avoid unnecessary waste or expense

    "They pinched pennies in order to afford a nice vacation."

    similar: economize, pinch, save, scrimp, skimp, spare
    related: conserve, husband, maintain, manage, preserve, scrape, cut back, cut down, retrench, hoard, lay up
    opposite: waste
    near: blow, dissipate, fritter (away), lavish, misspend, run through, spend, squander, throw away, splurge

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pinching

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pinching:

Slang: boosting, busting
British slang: nicking
cheap, chintzy, close, closefisted, mean, mingy, miserly, parsimonious, penny-pinching, penurious, pinchpenny, spare, sparing, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous, cheapness, cheeseparing, closeness, miserliness, parsimony, penuriousness, stinginess, tightfistedness, tightness, nipping, appropriating, filching, heisting, hooking, lifting, misappropriating, pilfering, pocketing, purloining, ripping off, snitching

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Pinching

Words with the opposite meaning of Pinching:

bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, liberal, munificent, openhanded, unsparing, unstinting, discharging, wasting

Related Words for Pinching

careful, chary, conserving, economical, frugal, thrifty, acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, desirous, grasping, greedy, hoggish, itchy, mercenary, rapacious, selfish, shabby, small, sordid, begrudging, envious, grudging, resentful, inhospitable, economy, frugality, husbandry

Near Antonyms of Pinching

altruistic, selfless, unselfish, extravagant, free, handsome, lavish, overgenerous, profuse, beneficent, benevolent, hospitable, humanitarian, philanthropic, compassionate, good-hearted, greathearted, kindly, magnanimous, openhearted, thriftless, unthrifty, dissipating, frittering, prodigal, profligate, spendthrift, splurging, squandering, wasteful

Word Forms of Pinching

Inflections: pinched, pinches

Derived words: penny-pincher (noun), penny-pinching (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Pinching

Middle English, from Anglo-French *pincher, pincer

First known use: 13th centuryt

Words & Phrases Containing Pinching

penny-pinching

Frequently Asked Questions about Pinching

What does "Pinching" mean?

"Pinching" means to squeeze between the finger and thumb or between the jaws of an instrument. As an a verb, a noun, a phrase and an adjective, it is defined as: to squeeze between the finger and thumb or between the jaws of an instrument. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pinching"?

Other words for "Pinching" include cheap, chintzy, close, closefisted, mean, mingy, miserly and parsimonious. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pinching" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pinching"?

There are 165 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pinching". Common alternatives include cheap, chintzy, close, closefisted, mean, mingy, miserly, parsimonious, penny-pinching and penurious.

What is a slang word for "Pinching"?

Slang words for "Pinching" include boosting, busting and nicking.

What is the opposite of "Pinching"?

Antonyms of "Pinching" include bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, liberal, munificent and openhanded. Near antonyms include altruistic, selfless, unselfish and extravagant.

How do you use "Pinching" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pinching" in a sentence: "neighborhood kids who were trick-or-treating knew better than to bother to knock on that pinching couple's door"; "this constant pinching is getting ridiculous—we can afford to turn on one or two lights!"; "the zipper on those jeans always pinches me".

Is "Pinching" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pinching" can be used as a verb, a noun, a phrase and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Pinching"?

"Pinching" is pronounced /ˈpinch/ as a verb and /ˈpe-nē-ˌpin-chiŋ/ as a noun.