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.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of sparing

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

OTHER WORDS FROM sparing

Words nearby sparing

sparganoma, sparganosis, sparge, sparid, sparine, sparing, sparing action, spark, spark arrester, spark chamber, spark coil
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to sparingly

easily, delicately, casually, tenderly, moderately, gingerly, softly, simply, mildly, freely, quietly, slightly, sparsely, faintly, subtly, occasionally, intermittently, sporadically, rarely, fairly

Example sentences from the Web for sparingly

British Dictionary definitions for sparingly

sparing
/ (ˈspɛərɪŋ) /

adjective

(sometimes foll by with or of) economical or frugal (with)
scanty; meagre
merciful or lenient

Derived forms of sparing

sparingly, adverbsparingness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012