1. Excessively sparing in the use of money; sordid; stingy; miserly. "A penurious niggard of his wealth." Milton. 2. Not bountiful or liberal; scanty. Here creeps along a poor, penurious stream. C. Pitt. 3. Destitute of money; suffering extreme want. [Obs.] "My penurious band." Shak. Syn. -- Avaricious; covetous; parsimonious; miserly; niggardly; stingy. See Avaricio...