SPARE Synonyms: 308 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

spare 1 of 3

verb

Definition of spare

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

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

spare

2 of 3

adjective

ˈsper

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

as in careful

giving or sharing as little as possible a man who is kind and gentle but definitely spare of speech

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in thin

having a noticeably small amount of body fat a tall, spare man

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Beyond bulk exemptions, very few alcoholic beverages shipped from Canada were spared. — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026 The same tools that help scientists design a drug that targets cancer cells while sparing healthy ones can be tweaked to build a drug that targets healthy cells alone. — Ashish K. Jha, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026

Adjective

In Long Beach, crews built berms out of sand, hoping that waves would crash upon them and spare homes. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026 An unremarkable meal, or a conversation that fills 10 spare minutes rarely feels consequential on its own. — Justin Vaughn, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026

Noun

Temporary spares are narrower, lighter, and made with less tread than standard tires. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026 The contract will procure spares for F-35 fighter jets and will deploy spare packages to the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, F-35 program partners and foreign military customers. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for spare

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spare

Verb

For one, most victims do not trust the justice system, which leads to scant reporting.

— Lenore Anderson, ELLE, 7 Nov. 2022
There were few roads or trails or even paths to follow and scant potable water, but plenty of pit vipers and tarantulas.

— Ellen Ruppel Shell, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2022

Definition of scant

Verb

Hospital staff were working to save Pike's life and as of late Thursday were trying to clear the two doses of the drug that the state uses to execute prisoners, her lawyers wrote in a Friday filing in Davidson County Chancery Court.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
California’s plan to save coastal homes from El Niño could end up killing beaches.

— Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of save

Adjective

The sink, for example, was part of an extra-long counter along one of the walls, offering plenty of extra room to stow my skincare and travel essentials.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2026
People don't want to go around changing their Clocks anymore and, besides, far and away, most people like having an hour of extra sunlight in the evening, rather than in the morning.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of extra

Adjective

Nick wants to be careful about their firm’s spending, but Serena reminds him that Cathcarts has every resource at its disposal.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
The Iranian regime will need to be careful before launching such an attack, or even before undertaking lesser forms of escalation.

— Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of careful

Adjective

When new, concrete possesses a thin, temporarily protective layer that, if not maintained, will wear away, exposing the interior, which gradually crumbles.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Officials issued the alert Monday after a man shared with police an image appearing to show the dangerous reptile slithering from the thin branch of a tree onto the roof of a backyard shed.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

In line with Parton’s original goal, the Imagination Library may do the most to change reading habits in lower-income homes – where children’s books tend to be scarce.

— Alex H. Poole, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026
Both men said that California was expensive, housing too scarce, homelessness too common and education too often failing to serve the state’s children.

— Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of scarce

Noun

Now the clock is ticking on whether Harbaugh is grooming McCarthy to compete with Jameis Winston for the starting job or if the Giants only acquired McCarthy as developmental backup insurance.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
However, Bagent is expected to serve as the backup to third-stringer Case Keenum, who will start, according to multiple reports.

— Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of backup

Verb

The Wyss gallery, for example, has been constructed in a Y-shape to conserve the park’s old trees.

— Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
In March, Sri Lanka moved its schools, universities, and government offices to a four-day week, giving everyone Wednesdays off to conserve fuel.

— Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of conserve

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“Spare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spare. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of spare

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noun

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