1
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
2
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
3
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
1
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
2
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sparing
Joe Walsh, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
But the smile is now more sparing, at least on camera.
—Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Mercy for violence, however, remained more sparing.
—New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021
Kareem Chehayeb, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026
Otherwise, Dillon could carve out a role as a short-yardage ball-carrier, sparing the Panthers from forcing a QB sneak setup.
—Mike Kaye
updated May 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026
Thankfully, Papa Bob had a can opener, sparing us hours of hearing about it.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 17 May 2026
These are not women who just help get their grandkids ready for school in the morning or watch them on a Saturday night; these are women who have chosen to become parents again, sparing their grandchildren from life in the foster system.
—Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
The concentrated ultrasound energy is able to kill the diseased tissues by raising their temperature, while sparing the healthy parts nearby.
—Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 8 May 2026
Danske Bank, the country’s biggest bank, also credits the firm as sparing Denmark’s economy from recession that year.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Strong words, reflective of how the Ryces faced tragedy from the start, without sparing themselves and without blaming each other.
—Amy Driscoll, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
More likely, the Nuggets will run plenty of sets with him coming off pin-downs and other screens to catch in the flow of their half-court offense, sparing him from the burden of initiating every possession.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
In other cases, the redactions were more sparing.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
But the smile is now more sparing, at least on camera.
—Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Mercy for violence, however, remained more sparing.
—New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021
Verb
The talks have extended a nominal ceasefire that went into effect April 17, although the attacks have since intensified, while largely sparing Beirut.
—Kareem Chehayeb, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026
Otherwise, Dillon could carve out a role as a short-yardage ball-carrier, sparing the Panthers from forcing a QB sneak setup.
—Mike Kaye
updated May 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026
Thankfully, Papa Bob had a can opener, sparing us hours of hearing about it.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 17 May 2026
These are not women who just help get their grandkids ready for school in the morning or watch them on a Saturday night; these are women who have chosen to become parents again, sparing their grandchildren from life in the foster system.
—Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
The concentrated ultrasound energy is able to kill the diseased tissues by raising their temperature, while sparing the healthy parts nearby.
—Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 8 May 2026
Danske Bank, the country’s biggest bank, also credits the firm as sparing Denmark’s economy from recession that year.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Strong words, reflective of how the Ryces faced tragedy from the start, without sparing themselves and without blaming each other.
—Amy Driscoll, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
More likely, the Nuggets will run plenty of sets with him coming off pin-downs and other screens to catch in the flow of their half-court offense, sparing him from the burden of initiating every possession.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparing
Adjective
-
Spinning off its cellular network will allow Nova Labs to focus on its more economical data offloading business.—
Jack Kubinec,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
-
The trend points to a clear move toward smarter, more economical travel without sacrificing the joy of discovery.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Be careful and don’t overreact.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
On trips to Spain this month and France in September, Leo will find thousands of young people like her in these traditionally Catholic but now staunchly secular countries, where historic churches are abundant and Mass attendance is sparse.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
-
Most subsea drones can only trade sparse, primitive status blips.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
As with minimizing soil disturbance, this, too, helps tremendously with controlling erosion, increasing the carbon content of soil and conserving moisture.—
Special to The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
-
The impact of the heat was most obvious with regards to Kim Hellberg’s Middlesbrough, whose usual fluent style was swapped for a more energy-conserving approach of injecting bursts of intensity.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Through rapid technological changes and the growing use of AI, employees are saving a lot of time on repetitive tasks, brainstorming, team collaboration and many other activities that AI can now support.—
Gwen Mdinaradze,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Jack Lloyd, the prolific East Bay engineer, entrepreneur and inventor, whose innovations include making the pulse oximeter, a life-saving medical device indispensable in hospitals worldwide, has died at age 90, his family announced this week.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
But these suites are also closest to the elevators, and the historic walls don’t adequately muffle the sounds of other guests.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Gertrud would keep the girls close, one on either side.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Through narrow, treacherous tunnels, some waterlogged and cold enough for wetsuits, others so tight oxygen was scarce, the men navigated 260 meters (approximately 850 feet), from the chamber they’d been trapped in to the cave’s mouth, a distance equivalent to the height of a 78-story building.—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
-
The outbreak has sickened at least 134 people and killed 18 across Congo and Uganda, with survivors describing harsh symptoms, scarce therapies and fearful neighbors who kept their distance.—
Justin Kabumba,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The Reposado is aged for at least eight months, giving it a more pronounced oak influence than many lighter Reposados while still preserving the brand’s citrusy, agave-forward style.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
But if no stars are acquired this offseason, Plan C for the Heat is preserving max-level cap space for the 2027 offseason.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sparing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparing. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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