UNGENEROUS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ungenerous mean? 

• UNGENEROUS (adjective)
  The adjective UNGENEROUS has 2 senses:

1. lacking in magnanimity

2. unwilling to spend (money, time, resources, etc.)

  Familiarity information: UNGENEROUS used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNGENEROUS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lacking in magnanimity

Synonyms:

meanspirited; ungenerous

Context example:

a meanspirited man unwilling to forgive

Also:

stingy; ungenerous (unwilling to spend (money, time, resources, etc.))

Antonym:

generous (not petty in character and mind)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Unwilling to spend (money, time, resources, etc.)

Synonyms:

stingy; ungenerous

Context example:

an ungenerous response to the appeal for funds

Similar:

beggarly; mean ((used of sums of money) so small in amount as to deserve contempt)

cheap; chinchy; chintzy (embarrassingly stingy)

cheeseparing; close; near; penny-pinching; skinny (giving or spending with reluctance)

closefisted; hardfisted; tightfisted (unwilling to part with money)

grudging; niggardly; scrimy (petty or reluctant in giving or spending)

mean; mingy; miserly; tight ((used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity)

parsimonious; penurious (excessively unwilling to spend)

Also:

uncharitable (lacking love and generosity)

meanspirited; ungenerous (lacking in magnanimity)

selfish (concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others)

Attribute:

generosity; generousness (the trait of being willing to give your money or time)

 Context examples 

On that head, therefore, I shall be uniformly silent; and you may assure yourself that no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

At any rate it would be most ungenerous.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

My dear Sir Thomas, with all my faults I have a warm heart; and, poor as I am, would rather deny myself the necessaries of life than do an ungenerous thing.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Isabella appeared to her ungenerous and selfish, regardless of everything but her own gratification.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

This is surely most unfair and ungenerous upon your part.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Her heart had been long growing kinder towards Jane; and this picture of her present sufferings acted as a cure of every former ungenerous suspicion, and left her nothing but pity; and the remembrance of the less just and less gentle sensations of the past, obliged her to admit that Jane might very naturally resolve on seeing Mrs. Cole or any other steady friend, when she might not bear to see herself.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

No motive can excuse the unjust and ungenerous part you acted there.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Some resentment did arise at a perseverance so selfish and ungenerous.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I will not say all that I could of the family you are with, because I would not be ungenerous, or set you against those you esteem; but it is very difficult to know whom to trust, and young men never know their minds two days together.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

He had just parted from my sister, had seen her leave him in the greatest affliction; and if he felt obliged, from a fear of offending Mrs. Smith, to resist the temptation of returning here soon, and yet aware that by declining your invitation, by saying that he was going away for some time, he should seem to act an ungenerous, a suspicious part by our family, he might well be embarrassed and disturbed.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)