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
Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Caruso famously hired private firefighters to save his Palisades Village, successfully sparing it from the flames.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
He was sentenced to an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction intact but sparing him any punishment.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
He was sentenced to an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction intact but sparing him any punishment.
—Larry Neumeister, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Both Stetina and Tafazoli are known for sparing little expense on the design of their restaurants, and Vulture and Dreamboat apparently were no exception.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
The rest of the weekend is expected to be just as cold, but a storm previously poised to strike the city is now expected to mostly miss the area, sparing residents of more snow.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
The fear and uncertainty was enough for Jayden, who does boxing on the side, to begin texting his mother, father and sparing partners.
—Jacob Beltran, San Antonio Express-News, 29 Jan. 2026
This would keep its strongest winds and all of its snowfall offshore, sparing even the Carolinas from significant impacts.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 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 bill would require local governments to adopt ordinances allowing homeowners in single-family zones to construct accessory dwelling units by right, sparing them the usual bureaucratic hurdles, such as zoning hearings or special-use permits.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Caruso famously hired private firefighters to save his Palisades Village, successfully sparing it from the flames.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
He was sentenced to an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction intact but sparing him any punishment.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
He was sentenced to an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction intact but sparing him any punishment.
—Larry Neumeister, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Both Stetina and Tafazoli are known for sparing little expense on the design of their restaurants, and Vulture and Dreamboat apparently were no exception.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
The rest of the weekend is expected to be just as cold, but a storm previously poised to strike the city is now expected to mostly miss the area, sparing residents of more snow.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
The fear and uncertainty was enough for Jayden, who does boxing on the side, to begin texting his mother, father and sparing partners.
—Jacob Beltran, San Antonio Express-News, 29 Jan. 2026
This would keep its strongest winds and all of its snowfall offshore, sparing even the Carolinas from significant impacts.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparing
Adjective
-
For many tasks, 10% bleach solutions work fine and are more economical than alcohol.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Ecological and economical practicality By replacing fossil-fuel boilers with a system that utilizes electricity when prices are at their lowest, companies can finally align their ecological goals with economic practicality.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But turning this moment into lasting advantage will require careful planning, not just short-term opportunism.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Flyers never made Sorokin work with tough shots on goal and were just flat in front of a sparse crowd largely affected by a massive winter storm.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Its acoustic arrangements are sparse and her lyrics fragmentary, but the mood is warm and inviting.—
Marissa Lorusso,
Pitchfork,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
On Tuesday, the US Embassy in Havana urged American citizens in Cuba to take precautions amid the energy crisis by conserving fuel, water, food and charging their phones.—
Bianna Golodryga,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The body interprets weight loss as a threat to survival and responds by slamming the brakes on metabolism through sophisticated energy-conserving mechanisms.—
Amy J. Sheer,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The administration says this is a cost-saving solution for Americans at a time when rising energy bills are causing concern around the country.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
While putting a chair in a parking spot may seem like a simple gesture, saving spaces has created friction among residents.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Moltbook’s emergence suggests that a future in which bots act autonomously is closer than previously thought.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Recent reporting has put a spotlight on Medicaid fraud and what can happen when large public programs operate without close oversight.—
Miki Kapoor,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Although plants played a central role in subsistence for centuries, Neolithic communities heavily relied on human and animal figures, with scarce traces of plant visual representation, such as flowers, shrubs, and branches.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Feb. 2026
-
For fans, that means tickets available at face value are scarce.—
Julian Torres,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Additional commitments include maintaining HBO as an independent operation, ensuring every film receives a full theatrical release with a minimum 45-day global window before paid video-on-demand availability, and preserving the home video window following theatrical runs.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Lamont now wants to reduce the new tax hike from $375 million to $100 million while preserving the plan passed last year to boost payments to hospitals by $140 million annually, netting the hospitals a collective $40 million a year.—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sparing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparing. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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