sparing

[ spair-ing ]

/ ˈspɛər ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR sparing ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

economical (often followed by in or of).

lenient or merciful.

scanty; limited.

Origin of sparing

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at spare, -ing²

SYNONYMS FOR sparing

1 frugal, saving, penurious.

3 meager, sparse.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR sparing ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM sparing

spar·ing·ly, adverb spar·ing·ness, noun non·spar·ing, adjective o·ver·spar·ing, adjective

o·ver·spar·ing·ly, adverb o·ver·spar·ing·ness, noun

Words nearby sparing

sparganoma, sparganosis, sparge, sparid, sparine, sparing, sparing action, spark, spark arrester, spark chamber, spark coil

Definition for sparing (2 of 2)

spare

[ spair ]

/ spɛər /

verb (used with object), spared, spar·ing.

to refrain from harming or destroying; leave uninjured; forbear to punish, hurt, or destroy: to spare one's enemy.

to deal gently or leniently with; show consideration for: His harsh criticism spared no one.

to save from strain, discomfort, embarrassment, or the like, or from a particular cause of it: to spare him the bother; to spare her needless embarrassment.

to refrain from, forbear, omit, or withhold, as action or speech: Spare us the gory details.

to refrain from employing, as some instrument or recourse: to spare the rod.

to set aside for a particular purpose: to spare land for a garden.

to give or lend, as from a supply, especially without inconvenience or loss: Can you spare a cup of sugar? Can you spare me a dollar till payday?

to dispense with or do without: We can't spare a single worker during the rush hour.

to use economically or frugally; refrain from using up or wasting: A walnut sundae, and don't spare the whipped cream!

to have remaining as excess or surplus: We can make the curtains and have a yard to spare.

verb (used without object), spared, spar·ing.

to use economy; be frugal.

to refrain from inflicting injury or punishment; exercise lenience or mercy.

Obsolete. to refrain from action; forbear.

adjective, spar·er, spar·est.

kept in reserve, as for possible use: a spare part.

being in excess of present need; free for other use: spare time.

frugally restricted or meager, as a manner of living or a diet: a spare regime.

lean or thin, as a person.

scanty or scant, as in amount or fullness.

economical, moderate, or temperate, as persons; sparing.

noun

a spare thing, part, etc., as an extra tire for emergency use.

Ceramics. an area at the top of a plaster mold for holding excess slip.

Bowling.

the knocking down of all the pins with two bowls.
a score so made.Compare strike(def 69).

Origin of spare

before 900; (v.) Middle English sparen, Old English sparian; cognate with Dutch, German sparen, Old Norse spara; (noun and adj.) Middle English; compare Old English spær sparing, frugal (cognate with Old High German spar, Old Norse sparr

SYNONYMS FOR spare

6 reserve.

14, 15 extra.

17 See thin.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spare ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM spare

spare·a·ble, adjective spare·ly, adverb spare·ness, noun spar·er, noun

un·spared, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for sparing

In addition to sparing their lives, Kruger offered the prisoners better food and other privileges for their hard work.

On the Trail of Nazi Counterfeiters |Dr. Kevin C. Ruffner |September 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
His body had caught the impact, sparing the lives of two of his friends.

“Bring Our Boys Home!” Say the Wives of Ukraine’s Soldiers |Anna Nemtsova |August 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
As he rode away, the redheaded wildling filled her lover with three arrows, sparing his life.

Game of Thrones’ Rose Leslie on Ygritte and Jon Snow’s Reunion at the Battle of Castle Black |Marlow Stern |June 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
A commotion has erupted in one of the dressing rooms, sparing me more reminiscences from Tyrone.

The Stacks: The Neville Brothers Stake Their Claim as Bards of the Bayou |John Ed Bradley |April 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

He drank less for a while, was sparing with drugs, and sang gospel songs to the crowds who greeted his return.

The Strange and Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis |Richard Ben Cramer |January 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The chief was desirous also of sparing the feelings of the parents of the boy, whom he liked.

The Campers Out |Edward S. Ellis
Accordingly he is not sparing of invective against those who so disparage his race.

Notes and Queries, Number 69, February 22, 1851 |Various
I told her my tale, as I have told it you, sparing none of the details.

Curious, if True |Elizabeth Gaskell
When her day was thus spent, she went late to supper, which was ever sparing, and very moderate.

The Town |Leigh Hunt
But you will prove that you are in earnest by sparing those men.

The Long Patrol |H. A. Cody

British Dictionary definitions for sparing (1 of 2)

sparing

/ (ˈspɛərɪŋ) /

adjective

(sometimes foll by with or of) economical or frugal (with)

scanty; meagre

merciful or lenient

Derived forms of sparing

sparingly, adverb sparingness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for sparing (2 of 2)

spare

/ (spɛə) /

verb

(tr) to refrain from killing, punishing, harming, or injuring

(tr) to release or relieve, as from pain, suffering, etc

(tr) to refrain from using spare the rod, spoil the child

(tr) to be able to afford or give I can't spare the time

(usually passive) (esp of Providence) to allow to survive I'll see you again next year if we are spared

(intr) rare to act or live frugally

(intr) rare to show mercy

not spare oneself to exert oneself to the full

to spare more than is required two minutes to spare

adjective

(often immediately postpositive) in excess of what is needed; additional are there any seats spare?

able to be used when needed a spare part

(of a person) thin and lean

scanty or meagre

(postpositive) British slang upset, angry, or distracted (esp in the phrase go spare)

noun

a duplicate kept as a replacement in case of damage or loss

a spare tyre

tenpin bowling

the act of knocking down all the pins with the two bowls of a single frame
the score thus madeCompare strike (def. 40)

Derived forms of spare

sparely, adverb spareness, noun sparer, noun

Word Origin for spare

Old English sparian to refrain from injuring; related to Old Norse spara, Old High German sparōn

Idioms and Phrases with sparing

spare

In addition to the idioms beginning with spare

spare the rod and spoil the child
spare tire

also see:

to spare

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

sparing

adjective

Origin of sparing

SYNONYMS FOR sparing

OTHER WORDS FROM sparing

Words nearby sparing

Definition for sparing (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), spared, spar·ing.

verb (used without object), spared, spar·ing.

adjective, spar·er, spar·est.

noun

Origin of spare

SYNONYMS FOR spare

OTHER WORDS FROM spare

Example sentences from the Web for sparing

British Dictionary definitions for sparing (1 of 2)

adjective

Derived forms of sparing

British Dictionary definitions for sparing (2 of 2)

verb

adjective

noun

Derived forms of spare

Word Origin for spare

Idioms and Phrases with sparing

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

sparing

adjective

Origin of sparing

SYNONYMS FOR sparing

OTHER WORDS FROM sparing

Words nearby sparing

Definition for sparing (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), spared, spar·ing.

verb (used without object), spared, spar·ing.

adjective, spar·er, spar·est.

noun

Origin of spare

SYNONYMS FOR spare

OTHER WORDS FROM spare

Words related to sparing

Example sentences from the Web for sparing

British Dictionary definitions for sparing (1 of 2)

adjective

Derived forms of sparing

British Dictionary definitions for sparing (2 of 2)

verb

adjective

noun

Derived forms of spare

Word Origin for spare

Idioms and Phrases with sparing