Chintzy

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃɪntsi/

Definitions

1. Of cheap or poor quality, lacking refinement or generosity; miserly or unwilling to spend money
2. Lacking in quality and refinement, often appearing gaudy or ornate while being inexpensive
3. Characterized by a lack of quality or value, often being showy and cheap while also suggesting a stingy or tightfisted attitude towards spending money

Etymology: "Chintzy" has two strands that meet. The adjective is built from "chintz," the glazed printed cotton fabric, which reached English from Hindi "chīṭ," a word for a spotted or printed cloth. Chintz was prized and expensive in its day, so the "-y" ending turned the fabric into a judgment about things that look showy or cheap. Calling something chintzy meant it resembled that flashy printed cloth, not that it was costly. The other strand is older and gives the word its sense of stinginess. Middle English had "chinche," meaning stingy or a miser, and "chinchy" grew from it with the same "-y" suffix. The two forms blended over time, so the modern word carries both the notion of shoddy, tawdry goods and the notion of being tight with money.

Synonyms: cheap, shoddy, tacky, inferior, stingy

Antonyms: luxurious, expensive, high-quality, lavish, sumptuous