adjective
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economical or frugal (with)
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scanty; meagre
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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.
Sparing his blushes as he missed the effort.
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2024
Sparing that land also would help limit biodiversity loss and conserve water, the researchers found.
From Salon • Sep. 19, 2023
Sparing people any of this is, indeed, a noble cause.
From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2022
Sparing Jeff the tough choices, the writers shunt moral transformation onto a minor character.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2022
But the question now arises, from what earlier book the quotations are taken, as they both appear in the Sparing Discovery in Latin, and not in English?
From Notes and Queries, Number 40, August 3, 1850 by Various
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.
