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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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
After the longest criminal trial in Georgia history, Young Thug pleaded guilty to gun, drug and gang charges but was spared a lengthy prison sentence. Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 8 May 2025 Senga settled in the fourth, retiring six straight and nine of 10 to spare his pitch count and get into a rhythm. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 7 May 2025
Adjective
Redundancy uses spare devices and links, activating backups after a failover, leading to brief disruptions as connections drop before standbys take over. Apeksha Jain, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 Traces of her Oglala Lakota mother survive in the spare federal records that track reservation residents. Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
Most former Grand Prix bikes that reach auction have a racing provenance, but this one is an absolute unicorn – a grand prix racing bike untouched from new, with spares. Mike Hanlon, New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2025 But there will be a couple of spares in the paddock in case a team (or two) experiences a failure, according to Formula E's head of championship, Pablo Martino. Ars Technica, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spare
Verb
  • By scanting this complexity, Remnick leaves readers with a less than totally satisfying depiction of Obama's encounter with the world of black Chicago.
    Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2010
  • 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
Verb
  • To say that is an insult to the years of painful work my wife has done to save herself.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • Fire department personnel were already there, trying to save Davis with CPR.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • For those who don’t want more AI, or to pay extra, Adobe is introducing a new plan called Creative Cloud Standard, which still gives you access to all of the company’s desktop apps, plus 25 image-generation credits every month.
    James Peckham, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
  • The clean formula contains a light shimmer to help skin look extra radiant in the sun.
    Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • The review process is careful for a reason – and perhaps the only real method of speeding it up is the one Zeldin has proposed: reassigning staff so there are more people to share the work.
    Jeffrey Gore, The Conversation, 14 May 2025
  • Hillman and the department urged residents in the area to be extra careful this time of year.
    Brooke Baitinger, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Biden administration lowered prices on 10 widely prescribed drugs, such as the blood thinner Eliquis, which will take effect in 2026.
    Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 13 May 2025
  • 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, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • These alliances are particularly beneficial for smaller organizations that stand to gain from pooled resources or those in regions where talent is scarce but demand for specialized staff is high.
    Randy Wong, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • Ahead of Pink Elephant, the Montreal collective known for its insistent politics and uplifting lyricism was scarce and guarded in its direct communications.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Calvin Pickard Pickard dressed as the backup for Game 1 against the Kings on April 21.
    Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • Furner noted that the company doesn’t have any concerns about port backups in the U.S., particularly as Marketplace sellers navigate the tariff situation.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • In Dubai, a hotel uses AI to dynamically adjust water pressure and temperature in real time, conserving millions of liters annually.
    Dan Drogman, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • Environmental initiatives have been undertaken to conserve water and protect wildlife habitat areas.
    Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Spare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spare. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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