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economical - 2 dictionary results

ec⋅o⋅nom⋅i⋅cal

  [ek-uh-nom-i-kuhl, ee-kuh-]
Use economical in a Sentence
–adjective
1. avoiding waste or extravagance; thrifty: an economical meal; an economical use of interior space.
2. economic.
Origin:
1570–80; economic + -al 1

Synonyms:
1. saving, provident, sparing, parsimonious. Economical, thrifty, frugal imply careful and saving use of resources. Economical implies prudent planning in the disposition of resources so as to avoid unnecessary waste or expense: economical in budgeting household expenditures. Thrifty is a stronger word than economical, and adds to it the idea of industry and successful management: a thrifty shopper looking for bargains. Frugal emphasizes being saving, sometimes excessively saving, esp. in such matters as food or dress: frugal almost to the point of being stingy.

Antonyms:
1. wasteful, extravagant, spendthrift, prodigal, profligate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ec·o·nom·i·cal   (ěk'ə-nŏm'ĭ-kəl, ē'kə-)   
adj.  
  1. Prudent and thrifty in management; not wasteful or extravagant. See Synonyms at sparing.
  2. Intended to save money, as by efficient operation or elimination of unnecessary features; economic: an economical heating system; an economical approach to control of corporate growth.
ec'o·nom'i·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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