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
Seeing their sincerity and faith, God spared Prophet Ismail and instructed Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice a ram instead.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026
What would’ve happened if Butcher spared him?
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 20 May 2026
But Nereid would have been spared and sent on an eccentric orbit instead.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 20 May 2026
But Castro himself was spared as the Clinton administration raised concerns about such a high-profile indictment.
—Joshua Goodman, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
The family escaped with only minor injuries, and Copeland believed that God had spared his family and committed his life to serving God.
—Rachel Cole, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 May 2026
Thankfully, the Van Newkirk home was spared.
—Kailey Schuyler, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
These results, though, have not spared MCRT from potential funding cuts.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026
In delivering this critique against the state of the country, Lear spared few targets, and even soap operas were fair game.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026
What would’ve happened if Butcher spared him?
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 20 May 2026
But Nereid would have been spared and sent on an eccentric orbit instead.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 20 May 2026
But Castro himself was spared as the Clinton administration raised concerns about such a high-profile indictment.
—Joshua Goodman, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
The family escaped with only minor injuries, and Copeland believed that God had spared his family and committed his life to serving God.
—Rachel Cole, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 May 2026
Thankfully, the Van Newkirk home was spared.
—Kailey Schuyler, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
These results, though, have not spared MCRT from potential funding cuts.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026
In delivering this critique against the state of the country, Lear spared few targets, and even soap operas were fair game.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spared
Verb
-
The most significant transformation came in 2021, when Spanish design firm Lázaro Rosa‑Violán oversaw a renovation that preserved the landmark’s architectural soul and gave it a cleaner, more contemporary edge, with warmer lighting and a refined arrival experience.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
-
Bowen said what should be preserved are the crews’ experiences from the 74 expeditions to date, and those still to come.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
According to MoneyPuck, Lyon and Luukkonen were 14th and 15th in goals saved above expected among 24 qualifying goalies in the playoffs.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
Bednar’s resume saved him when the Avs fizzled for three consecutive years after winning the Stanley Cup.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
These nuclei are extremely well conserved across different species through evolution, all the way from lampreys to humans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
-
The fundamental principle is that water is conserved.—
Robert Knight,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spared. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
