costive

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of costive In fact, their writings are more pungent now that they have been liberated from the costive confines of the movement. Jacob Heilbrunn, The New Republic, 23 Jan. 2020 Movies coiled up in other movies have a habit of becoming either costive or cute, but somehow Falardeau avoids the traps. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 15 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for costive
Adjective
  • Those who are approved must cope with notoriously unreliable in-home nursing, a byproduct of the state’s penurious reimbursement rates.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Those who are approved must cope with notoriously unreliable in-home nursing, a byproduct of the state’s penurious reimbursement rates.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Perhaps most perplexing about Smash, though, is its weirdly cynical, ungenerous take on the Bombshell herself.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Maybe that’s ungenerous, but my patience is running short with Adair.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Some have felt conflicted, but after decades without success and 14 years of soulless drudgery under Mike Ashley’s parsimonious ownership, many were willing to accept anything for the promise or even just the hope of better times.
    Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025
  • His father was intensely parsimonious as well, and once tried to build a front fence by hammering bookshelves together.
    Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Chrissy made a predictably miserly offer of $230,000, and obviously David did not take it.
    Laura Bradley, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Up to then, Wrexham had by far the most miserly defence in League One after conceding just 11 goals in 19 league games — five better than Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town.
    Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • But the opening scene underlines just how much Joel’s rash, deadly, selfish, ferociously loving decision hangs over these beloved characters.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
  • This is a challenging time that takes us out of our individual selfish comfort.
    Frida Guiza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Danny is preparing her staff for an imminent natural disaster in this scene, so the tone’s quite serious already, and her opinion of Grey’s seems uncharitable at best.
    Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 3 Apr. 2025
  • An uncharitable interpretation of these findings would conclude that people with fibromyalgia are complainers.
    Peter Ubel, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Best Luggage and Travel Bags Deals The online retailer wasn’t being stingy with its luggage deals.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Seattle is typically stingy with first-round grades, and this may be another year in which the team’s board has maybe a dozen or so prospects with Round 1 grades.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Every year, a complacent, tightfisted city council turned down the recommendations.
    Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2023
  • Kotick played the tightfisted owner of the Oakland A’s.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 31 May 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Costive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/costive. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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