SPARING Synonyms: 195 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

sparing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsper-iŋ

Definition of sparing

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

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

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

sparing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of spare

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

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

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

In other cases, the redactions were more sparing. — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025

Verb

The HomeView can also share intercom-style broadcasts to any other room equipped with smart speakers, sparing you the need to yell up the stairs when dinner is ready. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026 Chee is sparing of physical detail but unsparing in dissecting the social and psychological dynamics of abuse. — Garth Greenwell, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026 This would have let the Bears build on land that is or would become publicly owned, sparing the stadium from property taxes. — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026 The same tools that help scientists design a drug that targets cancer cells while sparing healthy ones can be tweaked to build a drug that targets healthy cells alone. — Ashish K. Jha, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026 Keep the diesel at home and prices will fall, sparing farmers, truckers, and inflationary pressures on all Americans. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 Skechers Endeavour Sneaker If a $300 price tag is a bit prohibitive to you right now, here’s a wallet-sparing alternative, in the form of the Skechers Endeavour. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026 The hospital treats about 175 major pediatric spine cases per year, sparing patients from pain, and in some advanced cases, degraded lung function. — Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026 Walking the red carpet at the National Television Awards in London on September 8, Graham explained his reasoning for sparing any details. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 14 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sparing

Adjective

Conceived with an advanced hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system, the vessel has a range of approximately 6,500 nautical miles at an economical cruising speed of 12 knots.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
This is so economical and an effective supplement to love declarations.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of economical

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

Menon's photo reveals spectacular pink, purple and red auroras glowing in Earth's upper atmosphere above a sparse dappling of city lights, subtly blurred by the motion of the orbital spacecraft over the course of the exposure.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Most accumulation will be sparse, including snow, where snowfall could reach 1–2 inches along mountain peaks between Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Springs.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of sparse

Verb

The team behind the project known as the Stitch have applied for a $60 million federal transportation grant through the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-saving Transportation program.

— Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Tucked away under a bed frame, trundle beds are a space-saving solution for a kid’s room, home office, or guest room.

— Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of saving

Adjective

With six couples, having two separate houses gave us space to spread out while keeping everyone close enough to gather for dinner, drinks, and games.

— Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
These regions could warrant closer investigation, but the assessment does not establish that any is suitable for a future greenhouse.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of close

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

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spares

sparing

sparingly

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Style

“Sparing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sparing. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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