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sparing

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verb

present participle of spare

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
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
  • Beyond personal preference—which is no small consideration—there are also economical considerations involved in making the decision to invest the time and money to prepare a home for aging in place.
    Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 May 2025
  • Fast food has long been considered a more economical, if not more healthful, way to eat.
    Alain Sherter, CBS News, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • Momentum is a real thing within the postseason, and if the Thunder aren't careful, Minnesota could sneak back into this matchup.
    Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • But turnout at Wednesday’s sessions was sparse; at faculty and student forums, more than half of the seats were empty.
    Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
  • The Spa The Recovery Lab feels more like a doctor’s office than a traditional spa, with sparse white walls and minimal decor.
    Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 22 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
  • Among the close friends and family celebrating were Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban.
    Rachel Flynn, People.com, 24 May 2025
  • After the close, discount retailer Miniso Group (9896 HK, MSO US) missed Q1 estimates while online travel agency Tongcheng (780 HK) beat analyst expectations for Q1.
    Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • In a job market where interviews are scarce and searches can stretch for months, Marino-Briggs was struck by how often candidates arrived unprepared.
    Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • In a year where momentum is scarce, NASCAR’s 600-mile test provides a chance to put some distance between the good and the great.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • A day—or week—of being surrounded by flowering, textural plants while doing good for the future by preserving the past provides lasting benefits and more fragrant spaces for all.
    Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • Photo : Sunseeker Yachts Lewis Hamilton, Sunseeker 90 Scuderia Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton is enjoying spare moments off the track aboard his Sunseeker 90.
    Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 24 May 2025
  • The film will be set in a dystopian future, where the elite harvest clones for spare parts.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sparing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparing. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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