- present participle of spare.
adjective
-
economical or frugal (with)
-
scanty; meagre
-
merciful or lenient
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sparing
A Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at spare, -ing 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What’s unsurprising about Chuck Lorre’s memoir: He dishes, and without sparing anyone, including himself.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who is in Kyrgyzstan for a regional summit, said on Monday that the country is sparing no effort in the search for missing people.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
The magistrate called the incident "a single act of stupidity or frustration" when sparing him a criminal record.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
With your home in Illinois paid off and a cash purchase in Florida, you’re largely sparing your monthly budget, but not completely.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
“Thank you for sparing me that discomfort,” Van Eck said disdainfully.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
