1
as in preserved
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 saved
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
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 spared
In San Bernardino, while spared major flooding and landslides in this latest bout of rain, Highway 38, a major road into Big Bear, is still under repair following a massive mudslide in September.
—
Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
That, plus the lack of talent and cap space thanks to the sins of the Deshaun Watson contract, for which general manager Andrew Berry was somehow spared, makes life difficult for whatever quarterback(s) start for the Browns in 2026.
—Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Many of the residents whose houses were spared have returned.
—Calmatters, Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, even though Hines has tried to position herself as her husband’s supportive but not-overtly-political spouse, she has not been spared the wrath of the Schlossberg family.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
The saga ended as last-minute negations between civic leaders and company representatives temporarily spared the shop from shuttering.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
Some people are spared and others are not, and there is no moral logic to it.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
He was spared a possible life sentence when found not guilty of the more serious charges.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Few departments were spared, with staffers let go across news, movies, TV and back office.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
That, plus the lack of talent and cap space thanks to the sins of the Deshaun Watson contract, for which general manager Andrew Berry was somehow spared, makes life difficult for whatever quarterback(s) start for the Browns in 2026.
—Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Many of the residents whose houses were spared have returned.
—Calmatters, Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, even though Hines has tried to position herself as her husband’s supportive but not-overtly-political spouse, she has not been spared the wrath of the Schlossberg family.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
The saga ended as last-minute negations between civic leaders and company representatives temporarily spared the shop from shuttering.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
Some people are spared and others are not, and there is no moral logic to it.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
He was spared a possible life sentence when found not guilty of the more serious charges.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Few departments were spared, with staffers let go across news, movies, TV and back office.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spared
Verb
-
The restaurant itself has been protected as a historical French monument since 1990 and the classic interiors—complete with warm mahogany wood paneling by Jean Royère—are beautifully preserved.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The bar isn't called the Silver Dollar for nothing; the 65-foot bar has silver coins preserved in it from the 1920s.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The animal rights activist saved two cows from slaughter, Liberty and Indigo, in 2020.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Set 19 years after Harry, Ron and Hermione saved the wizarding world, the play follows them on a new adventure alongside a brave new generation arriving at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The eastern shoreline of Tuckertown Reservoir, totaling 2,420 acres and 31 miles of shoreline, was purchased and conserved in 2021.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Jan. 2026
-
It is now being conserved under the supervision of county archaeologist Kristoffer Dahle, Dybvik noted.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
8 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spared. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
