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Definitions

economical

[ek-uh-nom-i-kuhl, ee-kuh-] / ˌɛk əˈnɒm ɪ kəl, ˌi kə- /
ADJECTIVE
conservative with resources; careful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cost-effective efficient practical prudent
WEAK
avaricious canny chary circumspect close closefisted curmudgeonly frugal meager mean methodical miserly money-saving on the rims parsimonious penny-pinching penny-wise penurious provident prudential saving scrimping skimping spare sparing stingy thrifty tight time-saving unwasteful watchful work-saving
Antonyms
STRONGEST
inefficient
WEAK
careless uncareful uneconomical unreasonable wasteful
ADJECTIVE
inexpensive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cheap reasonable
WEAK
bare-bones bought for a song cost next to nothing cost nothing cut-rate dime a dozen dirt-cheap dog cheap fair low low tariff low-priced marked down moderate modest on sale quite a buy reduced sound steal
Antonyms
STRONGEST
expensive
WEAK
uneconomical unreasonable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Your focus right now should be on applying for jobs and finding more economical ways to have fun.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

In a formal context, economical speech may come off as crude and sloppy; among friends, it might seem authentic and endearing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

The new DeepSeek-V4 model is released as two versions, DeepSeek-V4-Pro and DeepSeek-V4-Flash, with the latter being "a more efficient and economical choice" because it has smaller parameters.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

At times, it reminded me of John Carpenter’s little-seen, Lauren Hutton-starring 1978 film, “Someone’s Watching Me!,” an equally economical yet surprisingly stylish little TV movie that flaunted the still-budding horror legend’s early talents.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

Lazlo chose the more economical and understated leather.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Vocabulary lists containing economical

Commonly Confused Words, List 1

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"A Retrieved Reformation" by O. Henry

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Ronald Reagan, "Tear Down This Wall" (1987)

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!