spare 1 of 3

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

spare

2 of 3

adjective

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2
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spare

3 of 3

noun

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective spare contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of spare are gaunt, lanky, lank, lean, rawboned, scrawny, and skinny. While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise.

the gymnast's spare figure

When could gaunt be used to replace spare?

The words gaunt and spare are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering.

a prisoner's gaunt face

When is lank a more appropriate choice than spare?

The meanings of lank and spare largely overlap; however, lank implies tallness as well as leanness.

the lank legs of the heron

When is it sensible to use lanky instead of spare?

In some situations, the words lanky and spare are roughly equivalent. However, lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness.

a lanky youth, all arms and legs

When can lean be used instead of spare?

The synonyms lean and spare are sometimes interchangeable, but lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.

a lean racehorse

When would rawboned be a good substitute for spare?

The words rawboned and spare can be used in similar contexts, but rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.

a rawboned farmer

How do scrawny and skinny relate to one another, in the sense of spare?

Both scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality.

a scrawny chicken
skinny street urchins

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 spare
Verb
Obviously, no expense was spared in bringing it to life. Ari Stark, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025 Chatbots’ ability to answer potential buyers’ questions about an item’s condition or shipping costs, meanwhile, can spare sellers from having to respond to time-consuming messages. Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The late High Modernist architect and educator Charles Gwathmey created a body of work defined by playfully bold geometric forms and a spare use of adornment employed with formal elegance. Mark David, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2025 There’s also a markdown on these popular storage bags, which can neatly store off-season clothes, spare bedding, and more closet clutter. Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
But its replacement, which happened to be the only spare at the time, worked perfectly for six weeks and then off and on for several more years. IEEE Spectrum, 28 Aug. 2025 The Silverado’s tires were inflated to their highest acceptable pressure for lower rolling resistance except for the spare, which was removed to lighten the load. Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 6 Aug. 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
  • Just this summer, in June, the board approved moving seventh- and eighth-grade students from yellow school buses to the Metro in a move that saves CPS almost $3 million per year.
    Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
  • That is, aside from the hijinks of Trump trying to kill his unborn baby to save his nights at Mar-a-Lago.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Our hearts are extra full this week 🥰 #DedicationNight featuring our stars’ special guests is TONIGHT - 8/7c on ABC and Disney+.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
  • For a little extra fiber in the morning, consider adding an apple to your meal to help get things moving.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 14 Oct. 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
  • The researchers overcame traditional size limitations by embedding thin but powerful actuators that respond to heat and pressure.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
  • France’s government survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament on Thursday by a thin margin, giving the country a brief respite from intense political turmoil before what is expected to be another brutal battle over its budget.
    Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Steinbach said powered land has become its own investable asset class, because power rights themselves are scarce and valuable.
    Diana Olick, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The Vision Iconic appears to be a design study first and foremost, and as such, the mechanical details are scarce.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • His backup, Jacoby Brissett, did it last Sunday against a good Colts defense.
    Vic Tafur, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The longer the shutdown lasts, the greater the risk of cargo backups at these Texas ports due to unpaid employees calling in sick.
    NPR, NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • When asked about Roberts’ suggestion that Ohtani’s at-bats were shorter on his pitching days to conserve energy, his response was brief.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The system's purpose is to prevent structural tilt and conserve water in clay-rich areas.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Spare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spare. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

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