spares 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of spare
1
as in conserves
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

spares

2 of 2

noun

plural of spare
as in substitutes
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

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 spares
Verb
As engagement-farming social-media accounts like Pop Base and celebrity-gossip accounts such as Deuxmoi still post frequent updates of celebrity sightings and speculation, the type of blanketing gossip press that Hilton introduced now spares no one. Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026 The timing spares the Eagles and Carter from the questions and speculation that would have unfolded when training camp opened to the media Wednesday. Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 28 July 2026 Senior dogs with arthritis or chronic pain also benefit because mobile service spares them the physical strain of travel. Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026 The move spares Rodriguez a punishing cut to 145 but drops him into the sport's deepest, most wrestling-heavy division. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 The outcome spares officials the headache of changing their ballot rules just a few months before the 2026 midterm congressional elections. Mark Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 That move largely spares local governments budgetary hits that nonpartisan legislative analysts pegged between $2 billion to $3 billion annually. Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026 The taxpayers association refused, instead striking a deal with lawmakers to place an amendment on the ballot that raises the threshold for special taxes to two-thirds voter approval but spares existing taxes such as Measure ULA. Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 The exclusive course, which is financially supported by oligarch Oleg Deripaska, a Putin associate, spares no expense. Nikita Ostrovsky, Time, 18 June 2026
Noun
The contracts cover alternators and regulators for the torpedo program and new MK19 Mod 2 air turbine pump assemblies for submarine spares, supporting the US Navy’s undersea warfare capabilities and fleet readiness. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026 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 Stroll subsequently couldn’t participate in FP2 as the team did not have enough time to repair the damage and had to fly more spares out to Hungary from its UK factory. Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 25 July 2026 Previously, another wrist joint was replaced and both of the arm's end effectors were swapped out for spares. Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 30 June 2026 This doesn't see three Li-ion battery packs all connected at once for long-range riding, but rather provides a downtube pack plus two spares in a cage hanging from the rear rack. Paul Ridden june 23, New Atlas, 23 June 2026 One good test would be to create a national Navy Battle Depot, directing the new PAEs to immediately procure and maintain a full ship set of spares for every major type and variant of vessel in service today, using advanced manufacturing (additive manufacturing and 3D printing) where possible. Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026 And since no one expires from, say, cancer or other now-curable diseases, and bones and organs can be replaced like car parts with artificial spares, people only pass when involved in freak accidents…or take their own lives. Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spares
Verb
  • In Boise, a growing number of people have turned to xeriscaping in recent years, which is a type of landscaping that conserves water by using native or drought-tolerant plants, according to previous Statesman reporting.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 23 Aug. 2026
  • This approach reduces development time, conserves resources, and quickly delivers new capabilities to the battlefield.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • That’s the difference between a bill that saves Hollywood and one that saves American filmmaking.
    Sam Roseme, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Kevin Kelly pitched a perfect eighth and Tyler Wells finished for his sixth save after major league saves leader Bryan Baker exited with what the right-hander believed was dehydration after issuing two walks to start the ninth.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • In six states, Medicare beneficiaries must get preapproval for a few treatments that CMS considers to have little clinical benefit and to be susceptible to fraud or waste, including skin substitutes and knee arthroscopy for arthritis.
    Stephanie Armour, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Individual households may find ways to drive less when gas prices are high, for example, but there’s fewer immediate substitutes for networks that rely on diesel to help produce and haul goods worldwide.
    Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The Robotrax system’s central steel cable absorbs the primary tensile loads and preserves conductor integrity, dramatically extending cable service life.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2026
  • More than 75 events will take place at parks and preserves throughout Northwest Indiana.
    Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • His two-run homer in the ninth inning sent the game to extras.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2026
  • To re-create a Soviet-era May Day parade, the duo had enlisted 1,000 extras and 1,000 crewmembers.
    Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • With injuries putting several players’ Week 1 status in question, will the team travel with the entire practice squad to Australia as potential replacements if needed?
    Matt Barrows, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The study affirms the safety of joint replacements, which give millions around the world a new lease on life each year.
    Mike McRae August 31, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • But Brown added a pair of experienced backups in Kennesaw State transfer and C-USA champion Amari Odom and former five-star prospect Malachi Nelson, who all played on Saturday.
    The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Most of Fresno's offensive stats came from the last drive of the game against the SC backups.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Facing a potential domestic supply shortage, Russia recently extended a diesel export ban through the end of September, straining what were already critically low global diesel reserves.
    Rob Wile, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Head coach Eli Drinkwitz praised his team’s first-half performance but was displeased with the lack of intensity and sloppiness by reserves in the second half.
    PJ Green September 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spares. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster