spare 1 of 3

verb

Definition of sparenext
1
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
2
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spare

2 of 3

adjective

ˈsper How to pronounce spare (audio)
1
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
2
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
3
as in thin
having a noticeably small amount of body fat a tall, spare man

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in scarce
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable spare vegetation that made foraging very difficult

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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

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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
With this game being the first in a stretch of 13 without an off day, the Mets were hoping Canning (1-1) could steal a few more outs to spare the bullpen. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025 By weaving the parents’ past struggles with glimpses of their more peaceful present, Kim also sought to spare viewers from feeling overwhelmed by their hardships. —Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Sellers can access our full photo library, get price recommendations based on our database, and buyers get free spare parts. —Natalie Stoclet, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 Some of these handmade birds and bumblebees live on in the spare, whitewashed rooms of what is today known as the Alekos Fassianos Atelier, which is open to visitors during the summer. —Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
That the services will occur on Mr. Biden’s watch during his final days in office spares at least some awkward moments and decisions, since he and not Mr. Trump will be the sitting president at the time of the service. —Peter Baker, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024 Carry a basic tool kit with useful spares and don't be shy about getting your hands dirty! —New Atlas, 24 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for spare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spare
  1. scant
  2. save
  3. extra
  4. careful
  5. thin
  6. scarce
  7. backup
  8. conserve
Verb
  • By scanting this complexity, Remnick leaves readers with a less than totally satisfying depiction of Obama's encounter with the world of black Chicago.
    — Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2010
  • Trump captured attention his first time around, in part, by talking about issues that other candidates scanted: the threat of China, chaos at the southern border.
    — NR Editors, National Review, 22 Dec. 2023
Definition of scant
Verb
  • If projections around the tariffs’ impact are correct, then getting some shopping done now could save you time and money later.
    — Sara Coughlin, SELF, 10 Apr. 2025
  • California family discusses ongoing legal and political battle to 'save girls' sports' as issue heats up Taylor and Ryan Starling of Riverside, California discussed their ongoing lawsuit over trans inclusion in girls' sports, speaking at the state capital and all the fallout that has come with it.
    — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of save
Adjective
  • The Switch 2 version features extra story material, enhanced graphics, and new multiplayer modes.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Bay leaves introduce an extra dimension to soups, stews, and roasts.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of extra
Adjective
  • Be careful not to let in too much moisture to avoid any mildew or mold developing on your mattress.
    — Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Yet Schlossberg is careful to note that May did not shadow-direct the movie during production.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Unlike competitors like Neuralink, which implants a chip into the brain tissue, the company’s thin, flat device is instead placed under the skull directly on top of the brain.
    — Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • Details of who makes up the DOGE staff have been scarce despite the intense media attention on the team's efforts.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
  • As a rule, if rain is scarce, a crepe myrtle needs two to three gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter per week.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of scarce
Noun
  • On the other hand, the Sky don’t have a true backup at the 4 position for when Angel Reese isn’t on the court.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
  • At this point in the draft, the Steelers would be throwing a dart at a backup.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of backup
Verb
  • By implementing regenerative agricultural practices, SRI focuses on enhancing soil health, conserving biodiversity, reducing chemical dependency, and promoting water conservation.
    — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The regulations were placed in an effort to conserve water and energy resources, as well as lower utility bills.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of conserve

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Cite this Entry

“Spare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spare. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on spare

Nglish: Translation of spare for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spare

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