sparing

[ spair-ing ]

adjective

1. economical (often followed by in or of ).

   Synonyms: penurious, saving, frugal

2. lenient or merciful.
3. scanty; limited.

   Synonyms: sparse, meager

sparing

/ ˈspɛərɪŋ /

adjective

1. sometimes foll bywith or of economical or frugal (with)
2. scanty; meagre
3. merciful or lenient

Derived Forms

• ˈsparingness, noun
• ˈsparingly, adverb

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sparing¹

A Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; spare, -ing ²

Example Sentences

The sparing of Jones’s life brings relief to his supporters, but not satisfaction.

From Vox

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

From The Daily Beast

His cadence is a steady beat rather than a roller coaster, and his words sparing and simple.

From The Daily Beast

His body had caught the impact, sparing the lives of two of his friends.

From The Daily Beast

As he rode away, the redheaded wildling filled her lover with three arrows, sparing his life.

From The Daily Beast

A commotion has erupted in one of the dressing rooms, sparing me more reminiscences from Tyrone.

From The Daily Beast

She says she ain't going to spoil her children by sparing rods when our 'upper lot' is full of 'em.

From Project Gutenberg

She was in a bitter mood to-night, not sparing Ralph Towne as she would not have spared herself.

From Project Gutenberg

Hitherto he had been sparing of his movements, husbanding his strength against the long battle that seemed promised him.

From Project Gutenberg

Naturally an elaborate novel like The Nabob lends itself indefinitely to minute comment, but we must be sparing of it.

From Project Gutenberg

All the other St. Julien beasts had perished; men muttered at Longsword for sparing the horse.

From Project Gutenberg