GRE Words for Generous vs. Stingy: Etymology and Memory Hooks

Generosity and stinginess are a natural antonym pair, and the GRE exploits that contrast often. Learning both groups at once locks in the connotation of each word.

Munificent (extremely generous). From Latin munus (gift) + facere (to make/do). Hook: a munificent donor makes gifts freely.

Magnanimous (generous and noble, especially toward rivals). magnus (great) + animus (spirit). Hook: a magnanimous victor has a great spirit, big enough to forgive.

Prodigal (recklessly extravagant; lavish with spending). From Latin prodigere, "to drive away, squander." Hook: the prodigal son spent everything. Note the connotation can be wasteful, not just generous.

Parsimonious (extremely frugal; stingy). From Latin parsimonia, "thrift," from parcere, "to spare." Hook: a parsimonious person spares every penny.

Miserly (hoarding money; stingy). From "miser," Latin for "wretched" — a hoarder is wretchedly attached to wealth. Hook: a miser is miserable guarding the hoard.

Penurious (extremely poor, or extremely stingy). From Latin penuria, "want, scarcity." Hook: penurious shares its root with "penury," severe poverty.

Watch the nuance: prodigal means lavish to the point of waste, which is not the same as admirably generous, while munificent is purely positive. Sentence Equivalence frequently turns on that shade of meaning.

Verbloom drills these words in sentences and pairs the generous group against the stingy group, so the connotations stay distinct.