SPARING Synonyms: 195 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'sparing' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sparing are economical , frugal , and thrifty . While all these words mean "careful in the use of one's money or resources," sparing stresses abstention and restraint. // sparing in the offering of advice

Q: When might 'economical' be a better fit than 'sparing'?

Although the words economical and sparing have much in common, economical stresses prudent management, lack of wastefulness, and use of things to their best advantage. // an economical health-care plan

Q: When can 'frugal' be used instead of 'sparing'?

In some situations, the words frugal and sparing are roughly equivalent. However, frugal implies absence of luxury and simplicity of lifestyle. // ran a frugal household

Q: Where would 'thrifty' be a reasonable alternative to 'sparing'?

While in some cases nearly identical to sparing , thrifty stresses good management and industry. // thrifty use of nonrenewable resources

sparing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsper-iŋ

Definition of sparing

as in economical

careful in the management of money or resources a sparing couple who are trying to save up enough for a house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in careful

giving or sharing as little as possible a government agency that has always been sparing of public information

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sparse

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable unfortunately, the explanation of the health insurance plan was somewhat sparing on details

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sparing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of spare

as in conserving

to use or give out in stingy amounts I'll have a banana split—and don't spare the whipped cream

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in saving

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sparing distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sparing are economical, frugal, and thrifty. While all these words mean "careful in the use of one's money or resources," sparing stresses abstention and restraint.

sparing in the offering of advice

When might economical be a better fit than sparing?

Although the words economical and sparing have much in common, economical stresses prudent management, lack of wastefulness, and use of things to their best advantage.

an economical health-care plan

When can frugal be used instead of sparing?

In some situations, the words frugal and sparing are roughly equivalent. However, frugal implies absence of luxury and simplicity of lifestyle.

ran a frugal household

Where would thrifty be a reasonable alternative to sparing?

While in some cases nearly identical to sparing, thrifty stresses good management and industry.

thrifty use of nonrenewable resources

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 sparing

Adjective

In other cases, the redactions were more sparing. — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025

Verb

Chee is sparing of physical detail but unsparing in dissecting the social and psychological dynamics of abuse. — Garth Greenwell, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026 This would have let the Bears build on land that is or would become publicly owned, sparing the stadium from property taxes. — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026 The same tools that help scientists design a drug that targets cancer cells while sparing healthy ones can be tweaked to build a drug that targets healthy cells alone. — Ashish K. Jha, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026 Keep the diesel at home and prices will fall, sparing farmers, truckers, and inflationary pressures on all Americans. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 Skechers Endeavour Sneaker If a $300 price tag is a bit prohibitive to you right now, here’s a wallet-sparing alternative, in the form of the Skechers Endeavour. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026 The hospital treats about 175 major pediatric spine cases per year, sparing patients from pain, and in some advanced cases, degraded lung function. — Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026 Walking the red carpet at the National Television Awards in London on September 8, Graham explained his reasoning for sparing any details. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 14 Sep. 2026 If the Niners want to launch a rookie back into an opposing defensive front a few times each game, sparing CMC the wear and tear, that’s probably a good thing. — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparing

Adjective

That arrangement is efficient for moving large volumes over long distances, but assembling trains and coordinating terminal operations can make smaller, short-haul shipments less economical.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026
The routes are mapped out to ensure that not a drop of fuel goes wasted; however, there comes a point when costs must be passed on to customers or operating is no longer economical, Diaz said.

— Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of economical

Adjective

Democratic congressional candidates will also need to be careful about balancing partisan messages to their base with more measured appeals to independent voters.

— Julio Borquez, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
But perhaps the biggest challenge of all was being extremely careful not to pass moral judgment on the story or any of the characters being portrayed.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of careful

Adjective

The Kings began in 1967 before a sparse crowd in Long Beach, as executive Alan Rothenberg helped sell a skeptical Southern California on hockey’s place in a warm-weather city.

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
A couple of decades later, however, Ryan Field gamedays often seemed sparse.

— Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of sparse

Verb

These varietals are not only tolerant to the high desert environment, but they were also planted with the sole purpose of conserving water and controlling run-off.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
The Biden administration’s designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary in 2024 represents virtually all of California’s progress conserving coastal waters since the state began tracking.

— Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of conserving

Adjective

Hafley didn’t say this, but keeping him out through the bye would seem prudent.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
In my view, a multinational AI task force of government and private sector experts from a range of disciplines would be more prudent than creating an AI Force, a quasi-military entity that would institutionalize AI’s worst impulses.

— Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of prudent

Adjective

The company argued that the spending has so far secured scarce assets without generating cash flow.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
These approaches are particularly suitable for small-scale operations in colder climates or areas where water is scarce, although some may require greater energy expenditure to operate cooling equipment.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of scarce

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“Sparing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparing. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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