The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word STINGIER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
S
T
I
N
G
I
E
R
More clues leading to the result STINGIER
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Less generous" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case less generous = stingier.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does STINGIER mean?
STINGIER adjective- Unwilling to spend, give, or share; ungenerous; mean
- Small, scant, meager, insufficient
- Stinging; able to sting.