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

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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

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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
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 exclusive course, which is financially supported by oligarch Oleg Deripaska, a Putin associate, spares no expense. Nikita Ostrovsky, Time, 18 June 2026 Selectivity also spares defendants and victims from the prolonged uncertainty of a lingering case. Rebecca Dunlea, The Conversation, 17 June 2026 Given this is one of the lower profile group stage matches taking place in Miami, with the headliners being Colombia-Portugal and Brazil-Scotland, an attendance of over 62,000 is somewhat impressive and spares FIFA’s blushes in the context of how many empty seats there were in the first half. Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 16 June 2026 As for features, Mercedes-Benz spares no expense on its iconic SUV. Charles Singh, USA Today, 4 June 2026 Yet once Adam is fully in command of his sword, so to speak, and subjected to a brawny He-Man makeover that at least spares him the lank bowl cut of the original model, things get rather less spry. Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 June 2026 The non-Classic Lightroom spares you from having to think about catalogs. Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 2 June 2026 Robbie spares Tom’s life and later sacrifices himself to ensure a better future for his children. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 2 June 2026
Noun
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 The Fort Worth division of Lockheed Martin was also given a $17 million modification to an existing contract for provisioning spares. Maven Navarro june 1, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 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 White House officials defended the arrangement, arguing that donor anonymity is standard practice for major projects and that using private funds spares taxpayers. Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 22 Apr. 2026 The contract covers full-rate production engines, initial spares, modules, engineering resources, program oversight and dedicated production support services, according to a release from RTX. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026 Palmeri’s dad, Tony, loved cars from the 1930s, and dual spares weren’t unusual to see on the sides of cars in that era. Eric D. Lawrence, Freep.com, 3 Mar. 2026 Precision is necessary to pick up spares. Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spares
Verb
  • The brain further conserves power by relying on highly efficient biological mechanisms that have been refined through millions of years of evolution.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 June 2026
  • Mulching not only conserves water, requiring less frequent watering, but also helps maintain consistent soil temperature, promoting a healthier growing environment for your roses.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • That saves you the guessing game.
    Emily Siner, NPR, 27 June 2026
  • Healthcare economists say giving people access to preventive healthcare saves taxpayers money in the long run by keeping the workforce healthy and relieving pressure on an overburdened system.
    Christine Mai-Duc, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • On matchdays, the first sittings begin around five hours before kick-off, with the last one taking place around three hours before, usually taken by the substitutes who prefer to eat later.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • Senegal led the way with four goals from substitutes while Switzerland, Germany and Canada each had three goals off the bench.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The restrictions apply to existing single-family homes, not new construction, a carveout that preserves incentives for financial firms to invest in new housing construction, the staffer noted.
    Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 22 June 2026
  • Daniel Mendelsohn, the most recent translator of the Odyssey, preserves that scheme, writing a detailed, luxuriant, often beautiful line.
    David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • Store the extras in your larger carry-on or checked bag.
    Carin Ryan, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026
  • Ottilia Heritage shares a name—and most facilities—with its sister hotel, Hotel Ottilia, which occupies the adjoining building, but Heritage raises the bar with luxury extras that make the experience feel all the more indulgent.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Battery pack replacements typically range from $5,000 to $20,000.
    Emily Mercer, USA Today, 22 June 2026
  • In their place, Spain boss Luis de la Fuente somewhat bafflingly lined up Barcelona duo Ferrán Torres and Gavi as their replacements.
    Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • Still, the backups for Argentina are probably better than the best players for Jordan.
    David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
  • Chain restaurants, moldy cutting boards, sewage backups and the usual vermin fill this week’s list restaurants failing inspection in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Florida Keys.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Therefore, building mental endurance is essential to staving off decision fatigue and reducing the judgment errors that tend to surface when a leader's cognitive reserves run low.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 24 June 2026
  • The deficit spending will be made up by district reserves, which may or may not be exhausted at some point within the next three years.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Spares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spares. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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