1
as in to scant
to use or give out in stingy amounts
I'll have a banana split—and don't spare the whipped cream
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to save
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
1
as in extra
being over what is needed
I had some spare time to kill, so I cleaned up my cubicle a bit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in careful
giving or sharing as little as possible
a man who is kind and gentle but definitely spare of speech
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in thin
having a noticeably small amount of body fat
a tall, spare man
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in scarce
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable
spare vegetation that made foraging very difficult
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in backup
an interchangeable part or piece of equipment that is kept on hand for replacement of an original
we promptly replaced the burnt-out lightbulb with a spare
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spare
Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
The discovery points to a potential new class of drug targets that could selectively disrupt cancer growth while sparing healthy tissue.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
Their No 10s play close to Mateta and help to overload the defence — which is why Munoz and Mitchell can end up as the spare player at the back post — but rarely make incisive runs in the half-space to create cutbacks, in the move which Manchester City used so well to break down low blocks.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 Sep. 2025
Something around the house is always in need of new batteries, and the junk drawer can be a good place to keep the spares.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spare
Verb
Their lone motivation now is to beat the Giants and spare their head coach from ending his first season with a losing record.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
The discovery points to a potential new class of drug targets that could selectively disrupt cancer growth while sparing healthy tissue.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Turn on music or a podcast and fill a few spare minutes wiping down surfaces, dusting, or putting things away.
—Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
Their No 10s play close to Mateta and help to overload the defence — which is why Munoz and Mitchell can end up as the spare player at the back post — but rarely make incisive runs in the half-space to create cutbacks, in the move which Manchester City used so well to break down low blocks.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
Furthermore, all items containing lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries, along with spares or uninstalled batteries, belong in carry-on baggage, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 Sep. 2025
Something around the house is always in need of new batteries, and the junk drawer can be a good place to keep the spares.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spare
Verb
-
Trump captured attention his first time around, in part, by talking about issues that other candidates scanted: the threat of China, chaos at the southern border.—
NR Editors,
National Review,
22 Dec. 2023
-
For each of the debaters, the session will provide an opportunity for attention that has scanted them during months dominated by news about Trump and his parade of indictments.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Aug. 2023
Verb
-
Keeping Tabs on Car and Insurance-Related Documents Good documentation helps save time and stress during claims or disputes.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
After first responders tried to save her at the scene, she was taken to Hennepin Healthcare and pronounced dead.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And although lightweight, the shoe doesn’t compromise on support — it’s designed with a memory foam sole that absorbs impact and provides an extra layer of padding.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
While there are plenty of bandages, wraps, and tapes, extra items such as an emergency thermal blanket, flashlights, sting relief, burn compression, and other items elevate this kit to support a variety of solutions.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Jan. 2026
-
These soft and chewy treats are the result of dozens of careful recipe tests.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Yimobra Memory Foam Bath Mat, $9 with Prime The bath mat is made from memory foam that feels plush underfoot and cushions each step, unlike thin cotton mats.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The capacity for attention on books is so scarce, more so every year.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
8 Jan. 2026
-
And the buildout is putting stress on local water resources that communities worry will cause shortages, with 160 new facilities located in areas with scarce supply, according to Bloomberg.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The officer directed both men to exit the SUV as his backup arrived.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Kispert has been a backup for the bulk of his five NBA seasons, all with Washington.—
Tim Reynolds,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To conserve resources, the company generally covers only coach travel for employees.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
But grasshoppers use cheap flight or gliding to conserve energy.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spare. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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