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
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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
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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
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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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparing
Adjective
-
The vehicles are not only economical but also quite eccentric.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
8 May 2025
-
For the price, there are more economical choices that can also clean well.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Watch out for slippery roads: Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
7 June 2025
-
This decision reflects careful consideration and was made in light of today’s challenging financial environment.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
Juan Soto, meanwhile, went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout and heard a smattering of boos from a sparse crowd after a seventh-inning groundout.—
Peter Sblendorio,
Hartford Courant,
28 May 2025
-
Soto, meanwhile, received a smattering of boos from a sparse crowd, particularly after a seventh-inning groundout.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
In 1980, voters overwhelmingly chose Reagan’s sunny optimism over Carter’s gloomy warnings about cutting back and conserving.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
30 Dec. 2024
-
Addressing these inefficiencies through sustainable practices, energy-efficient technologies, energy audits and waste-to-energy solutions is crucial to reducing the global carbon footprint, conserving resources, and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Before June comes to a close, Mercury will oppose Pluto retrograde in your sign, sparking uncomfortable conversations and revelations that could shift power dynamics within your closest relationships.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
4 June 2025
-
The 296 rooms of the new hotel would get close, but not surpass, the largest hotel in the Greater Boise Auditorium District’s boundaries: the Riverside Hotel in Garden City, with 300 rooms.—
Nick Rosenberger,
Idaho Statesman,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
That's key in a country where good-paying jobs are scarce.—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
8 June 2025
-
But information about food availability has been scarce by all accounts.—
Juliette Kayyem,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Turkey has emerged as a key broker in the Black Sea region, preserving relations with both Ukraine and Russia.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2025
-
By preserving the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes, solventless concentrates offer a richer flavor and potentially more robust effects.—
Matt Rozo,
Mercury News,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Make a Statement with Lighting With its midcentury table, Lucite chairs, and bare white walls, the Kells' dining room is quite spare and restrained—all the better to show off a chandelier with a rainbow of glass teardrops.—
Amy Panos,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 June 2025
-
The spare but spectral landscapes recall Julie Taymor’s Shakespearean adaptation Titus as well as the supernal opening that Vilmos Zsigmond photographed for Scarecrow, Jerry Schatzberg’s 1970s exploration of American anomie.—
Armond White,
National Review,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sparing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparing. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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