SPARE Synonyms: 308 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'spare' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of spare are gaunt , lanky , lank , lean , rawboned , scrawny , and skinny . While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise. // the gymnast's spare figure

Q: When could 'gaunt' be used to replace 'spare'?

The words gaunt and spare are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering. // a prisoner's gaunt face

Q: When is 'lank' a more appropriate choice than 'spare'?

The meanings of lank and spare largely overlap; however, lank implies tallness as well as leanness. // the lank legs of the heron

Q: When is it sensible to use 'lanky' instead of 'spare'?

In some situations, the words lanky and spare are roughly equivalent. However, lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness. // a lanky youth, all arms and legs

Q: When can 'lean' be used instead of 'spare'?

The synonyms lean and spare are sometimes interchangeable, but lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours. // a lean racehorse

Q: When would 'rawboned' be a good substitute for 'spare'?

The words rawboned and spare can be used in similar contexts, but rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment. // a rawboned farmer

Q: How do 'scrawny' and 'skinny' relate to one another, in the sense of 'spare'?

Both scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality. // a scrawny chicken // skinny street urchins

spare 1 of 3

verb

Definition of spare

as in to scant

to use or give out in stingy amounts I'll have a banana split—and don't spare the whipped cream

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to save

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

spare

2 of 3

adjective

ˈsper

as in extra

being over what is needed I had some spare time to kill, so I cleaned up my cubicle a bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in careful

giving or sharing as little as possible a man who is kind and gentle but definitely spare of speech

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in thin

having a noticeably small amount of body fat a tall, spare man

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in scarce

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable spare vegetation that made foraging very difficult

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spare

3 of 3

noun

as in backup

an interchangeable part or piece of equipment that is kept on hand for replacement of an original we promptly replaced the burnt-out lightbulb with a spare

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective spare contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of spare are gaunt, lanky, lank, lean, rawboned, scrawny, and skinny. While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise.

the gymnast's spare figure

When could gaunt be used to replace spare?

The words gaunt and spare are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering.

a prisoner's gaunt face

When is lank a more appropriate choice than spare?

The meanings of lank and spare largely overlap; however, lank implies tallness as well as leanness.

the lank legs of the heron

When is it sensible to use lanky instead of spare?

In some situations, the words lanky and spare are roughly equivalent. However, lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness.

a lanky youth, all arms and legs

When can lean be used instead of spare?

The synonyms lean and spare are sometimes interchangeable, but lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.

a lean racehorse

When would rawboned be a good substitute for spare?

The words rawboned and spare can be used in similar contexts, but rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.

a rawboned farmer

How do scrawny and skinny relate to one another, in the sense of spare?

Both scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality.

a scrawny chicken

skinny street urchins

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 spare

Verb

Formlabs’ pre-tuned resin profiles are designed to spare you the usual exposure calibration, although PreForm still allows manual adjustments. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026 Those girls in the hothouses maintained by fathers and uncles certainly would not spare a single thought for Percherette. — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026

Adjective

The 15 à la carte dishes are described in spare language but use senior-seminar-level food geography terms. — John Kessler, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 This huge discount also gives you more spare cash to spend on some nice glass and get one of the best lenses for astrophotography. — Harry Bennett, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Noun

Temporary spares are narrower, lighter, and made with less tread than standard tires. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026 The contract will procure spares for F-35 fighter jets and will deploy spare packages to the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, F-35 program partners and foreign military customers. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for spare

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spare

Verb

For one, most victims do not trust the justice system, which leads to scant reporting.

— Lenore Anderson, ELLE, 7 Nov. 2022
There were few roads or trails or even paths to follow and scant potable water, but plenty of pit vipers and tarantulas.

— Ellen Ruppel Shell, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2022

Definition of scant

Verb

In what was actually an uneventful game for nearly three full quarters, each squad decided to save their best theatrics until the final minutes.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
The Texas Senate race is the most expensive race in the country right now, and Republicans are pouring $200 million to save the nominee there.

— Jacob Brogan, Vox, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of save

Adjective

An extra $6,000 or $29,000 in gains over a decade won’t replace a lost job.

— Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
In 2003, however, Kember made a splash with Forged Prescriptions, a re-release that favored fuller mixes and extra overdubs which the band had jettisoned owing to the difficulty of reproducing them.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of extra

Adjective

Full-scale, 10-foot Hulk standins helped actors and camera crews judge his dimensions on set, and even his pants required careful attention.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Turning a field into a recognizable maze requires specialized planning and careful execution.

— Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of careful

Adjective

Bajaria may also have hit thin ice with Sarandos after the streamer won just 16 Primetime Emmy Awards this year — its worst showing since 2016 and down from 30 in 2025.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
It was designed with a column, sheath silhouette, with sequins, thin spaghetti straps and a midlength skirt.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

The scarce resource today is a person willing to stand behind what a test claims to prove.

— Jay Singh, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
The conventional seed sector is dominated by hybrid and GMO cotton varieties, making certified organic and non-GMO seed scarce and difficult to obtain.

— Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of scarce

Noun

Ohio State could still beat USC on the road, even with a backup, considering the Trojans' struggles to win big games under Riley and their suffocating defense.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
The team’s 2026 fortunes now rest in the hands of career backup Tanner McKee, a sixth-round 2023 draft pick.

— David K. Li, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of backup

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“Spare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spare. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of spare

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