1
as in economical
careful in the management of money or resources
a sparing couple who are trying to save up enough for a house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in careful
giving or sharing as little as possible
a government agency that has always been sparing of public information
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sparse
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable
unfortunately, the explanation of the health insurance plan was somewhat sparing on details
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in conserving
to use or give out in stingy amounts
I'll have a banana split—and don't spare the whipped cream
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in saving
to avoid unnecessary waste or expense
she had grown up during the Great Depression, so she was no stranger to sparing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sparing
Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Mercy for violence, however, remained more sparing.
—New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
Every day, your immune system performs a delicate balancing act, defending you from thousands of pathogens that cause disease while sparing your body’s own healthy cells.
—Aimee Pugh Bernard, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2025
Prosecutor Christy Slavik told the judge that sparing Combs serious prison time would excuse years of violence.
—Jennifer Peltz, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile Jack Ciattarelli continues to rake in cash from billionaire landlords while his running mate wants to raise taxes on working New Jerseyans while sparing the ultra-wealthy.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Trump could have faced up to four years in prison, but a judge issued an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction in place but sparing him any penalty or fine.
—Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2025
Like the white flag of surrender or throwing a towel into a boxing ring, crying signals that a person acknowledges defeat and can no longer put up a fight, sparing both sides in a conflict from the costs of further fighting when the outcome is a foregone conclusion.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
The researchers tested their two-part drug on mice and zebrafish engineered to produce β-glucuronidase, and found that the drug was activated almost exclusively in tumors, sparing healthy tissue and organs.
—New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025
Lawmakers will be on their annual autumn recess, sparing the government an awkward decision.
—Jill Lawless, Twin Cities, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
But the smile is now more sparing, at least on camera.
—Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Mercy for violence, however, remained more sparing.
—New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021
Verb
Dynamic pigment technology is at play here, making sure the hues layer on in an even and harmonious way (thereby sparing you from having to do any blending yourself).
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
Every day, your immune system performs a delicate balancing act, defending you from thousands of pathogens that cause disease while sparing your body’s own healthy cells.
—Aimee Pugh Bernard, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2025
Prosecutor Christy Slavik told the judge that sparing Combs serious prison time would excuse years of violence.
—Jennifer Peltz, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile Jack Ciattarelli continues to rake in cash from billionaire landlords while his running mate wants to raise taxes on working New Jerseyans while sparing the ultra-wealthy.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Trump could have faced up to four years in prison, but a judge issued an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction in place but sparing him any penalty or fine.
—Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2025
Like the white flag of surrender or throwing a towel into a boxing ring, crying signals that a person acknowledges defeat and can no longer put up a fight, sparing both sides in a conflict from the costs of further fighting when the outcome is a foregone conclusion.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
The researchers tested their two-part drug on mice and zebrafish engineered to produce β-glucuronidase, and found that the drug was activated almost exclusively in tumors, sparing healthy tissue and organs.
—New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025
Lawmakers will be on their annual autumn recess, sparing the government an awkward decision.
—Jill Lawless, Twin Cities, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparing
Adjective
-
Professional teeth whitening services can cost hundreds of dollars, but an at-home remedy that’s both effective and economical can be a solid alternative.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Ink-tank printers looked poised to become the better, more economical choice for the future of printing.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Integrating such a messy light source into a silicon photonics chip required careful engineering.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Details are sparse on the exact location and timeline for the new luxury hotel and restaurant, which will boast amenities such as a state-of-the-art fitness center, spa and a rooftop infinity pool with panoramic views of the Nashville skyline.—
Mackensy Lunsford,
Nashville Tennessean,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Its compact design is convenient for small-apartment dwellers and college students living in dorms where storage space is sparse.—
Shalwah Evans,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In their book, Holmes and her co-authors explain that planting with your site conditions in mind has many benefits, including conserving resources, like water, fertilizers, labor, financial savings, and positive environmental impacts.—
Mike Irvine,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Iran can achieve that by abandoning water-hungry crops, shifting to smart farming, conserving every drop, and reviving flood-management techniques Iranians once mastered to recharge depleted aquifers.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Experts at Sweetbriar said the effort was not just about saving one insect but also about raising awareness.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Making guardedness and affable self-deprecation part of her identity, Keaton was known for wearing turtlenecks, gloves, and hats that kept her largely covered up, saving emotional vulnerability for her performances.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Bishnoi denies involvement in Moosewala’s murder, but in an explosive interview from behind bars, accused his close aide of orchestrating it.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The departure of Busquets and Alba means Messi will lose two of his most talented teammates and closest friends.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Details remain scarce, but Netflix says that players will have to undergo physical and mental challenges in order to receive clues, with characters like the aforementioned Mustard, Professor Plum and others all represented.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
-
And don’t forget to keep filling the DesGully Window Bird Feeder all winter long—birds come to rely on that food source, especially when the weather’s cold and the food is scarce.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In September 2024, it was granted a Quiet Conservation Area award by Quiet Parks International, a nonprofit dedicated to identifying and preserving the world’s least noisy corners.—
Rosecrans Baldwin,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The events test longstanding norms separating the White House from Department of Justice (DOJ) decision-making—a boundary traditionally aimed at preserving public confidence in impartial justice.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sparing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparing. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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