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
Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Mercy for violence, however, remained more sparing.
—New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021
Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
What’s especially striking is the sparing use of closeups.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2025
Today, many women are offered drugs designed to target specific cancer cell mutations, sparing them unnecessary toxicity.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2025
Gage writes with the style of a young person — with the benefit of hindsight, growth and a now-booming Hollywood career — attempting to find meaning and message in a profoundly complicated early life, without sparing a single devastating or delightful detail.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025
For those looking to keep their jewelry a bit more lowkey in the size department, huggie earrings present the ideal opportunity for playing with pearls and sparing your lobes from unwanted sagging.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
Those on potassium-sparing medications or ACE inhibitors should also monitor overall intake.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
Advertisement House Speaker Mike Johnson is not calling back his Republican members this week, sparing them from the uncomfortable questions in hallways at the Capitol.
—Phil Elliott, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Every day, your immune system performs a delicate balancing act, defending you from thousands of pathogens that cause disease while sparing your body’s own healthy cells.
—Aimee Pugh Bernard, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
Party officials ultimately ruled that Chase failed to submit enough valid signatures to make the ballot, sparing Earle-Sears a costly fight, but exposing early fractures among Virginia Republicans.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
What’s especially striking is the sparing use of closeups.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2025
Today, many women are offered drugs designed to target specific cancer cell mutations, sparing them unnecessary toxicity.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2025
Gage writes with the style of a young person — with the benefit of hindsight, growth and a now-booming Hollywood career — attempting to find meaning and message in a profoundly complicated early life, without sparing a single devastating or delightful detail.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025
For those looking to keep their jewelry a bit more lowkey in the size department, huggie earrings present the ideal opportunity for playing with pearls and sparing your lobes from unwanted sagging.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
Those on potassium-sparing medications or ACE inhibitors should also monitor overall intake.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
Advertisement House Speaker Mike Johnson is not calling back his Republican members this week, sparing them from the uncomfortable questions in hallways at the Capitol.
—Phil Elliott, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Every day, your immune system performs a delicate balancing act, defending you from thousands of pathogens that cause disease while sparing your body’s own healthy cells.
—Aimee Pugh Bernard, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparing
Adjective
-
Believe it or not, traveling by bus is a comfortable, economical, and reliable way to get around in Brazil.—
Jade Moyano,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
-
As space transport comes down in price, the team believes the idea could become economical by 2035.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Step by careful step, Holbrook climbed, holding out bologna and cheese until two pairs of cautious eyes peeked back.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Jessica Knackert, a Milwaukee wildlife educator and biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, said one reason is that foliage where coyotes like to conceal themselves becomes sparse at this time of year, as trees lose their leaves and snow starts to fall.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Carson crafts a sparse and reflective modern reimagining that deals with abuse, love and ultimately growth into adulthood.—
Amber McBride,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
To develop the novel energy-conserving deicing method, the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF teamed up with their partners from the EU’s Clean Aviation program, including aircraft manufacturer Airbus and aerospace company Parker-Meggitt.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Practicing sustainable energy-conserving habits is key to proper energy hygiene.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ten-year-olds are saving their allowances for $70 moisturizers and $90 serums, mimicking influencer routines meant for adults.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Cincinnati fire personnel attempted life-saving measures, but Spruill was determined to have died at the scene.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This was a decisive turn away from Hasina’s India-first posture and toward closer alignment with Beijing.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Highly acidic foods like pickles and tomatoes will react with the can after an extended period of time, causing both taste and texture changes so pay particularly close attention to expiration dates on these items.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Thrombectomy is the gold-standard treatment for major vessel blockages, but access remains scarce.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Palestinians are now returning to destroyed city blocks, where services are scarce, and access to water, food, and electricity is limited.—
Mohammed R. Mhawish,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Preserving income, insurance and retirement Financial security also depends on preserving income and protecting loved ones.—
Bruce Helmer,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Created during the prolific reign of Louis XIV, the Académie Française has played a significant role in shaping French culture, preserving and updating the country’s language, grammar and usage over time.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sparing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparing. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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