What best describes the term "penurious"?

The term "penurious" best describes someone who is excessively unwilling to spend. This word is derived from the Latin "pénuria," meaning poverty or scarcity. In modern usage, it conveys a sense of extreme frugality or stinginess. A penurious person may have means but chooses to spend as little as possible, often out of a deep-seated fear of poverty or financial insecurity. Thus, it captures an attitude towards spending that is marked by reluctance or tightness with money, rather than an actual lack of resources.

In contrast, the other choices depict different concepts that do not align with the definition of "penurious." Living without undue worry is unrelated to financial behavior. Having an abundance of money directly opposes the essence of being penurious, which reflects tightness or scarcity. Lastly, being full of danger conveys a different context altogether, focusing on risk rather than financial habits.