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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

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
And the hooves of the poor horses this woman rode would have been spared. —Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026 Wong Yu Liang/Getty Images At today's price of $4,729 an ounce, gold sounds more like an asset built for institutional portfolios and the ultra-wealthy rather than an investment option for someone with less cash to spare. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Current American Airlines policy allows up to two spare portable batteries or chargers in carry-on bags. —Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026 His office was spare and no nonsense, with a poster from OSHA about the importance of keeping farmworkers hydrated. —Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
Palmeri’s dad, Tony, loved cars from the 1930s, and dual spares weren’t unusual to see on the sides of cars in that era. —Eric D. Lawrence, Freep.com, 3 Mar. 2026 That means having standard spares available and maintenance procedures drawn up and tested. —New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2026 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
  • 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
  • For each of the debaters, the session will provide an opportunity for attention that has scanted them during months dominated by news about Trump and his parade of indictments.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2023
Definition of scant
Verb
  • One Secret Service agent was shot but was saved by a bulletproof vest.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
  • In virtually every track meet, especially the big ones, Rancho Buena Vista High School’s Justian Richardson has saved his best triple jump for last.
    — Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Definition of save
Adjective
  • That can range from an extra $5 for the same-day delivery of flowers to $20 for overnight chocolates.
    — Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The mayor’s office says the measure would provide additional tax revenue for the city and extra beds for visitors during the 2028 Summer Olympics, with the measure expiring at the end of that year.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of extra
Adjective
  • Detecting such tiny numbers of atoms takes time, and the setup requires careful calibration and advanced equipment.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • These thin stainless steel cake testers are not only cheap to replace but also widely available.
    — Jennifer Zyman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
  • That, along with the March trade that sent Sam Carrick to the Buffalo Sabres, would leave them painfully thin down the middle, with little center help coming up through the system.
    — Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • The sharp debate in Union Park is only the latest in a series of thorny confrontations about how best to manage homelessness in the Central Florida region, where housing costs are high, shelter space is scarce, and residents are concerned about people living in public spaces.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2026
  • As costs of both real estate and farming continue to rise, many parcels are vanishing without notice, making wine made from old vines increasingly scarce, especially in Napa.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2026
Definition of scarce
Noun
  • That was the advice Queta’s veteran backup, Nikola Vucevic, had for the first-year starting center ahead of Game 6 against the 76ers on Thursday.
    — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Second-year guard Saniya Rivers, who mostly played the two or three last season, ran point in the starting lineup with Leger-Walker and second-year guard Migna Toure coming in as her backups, and the lack of experience in the team’s ball-handlers was apparent in their turnover woes.
    — Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Definition of backup
Verb
  • The move would not trigger any mandatory water restrictions yet, but would force all public water systems to launch messaging campaigns to encourage customers to conserve water.
    — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Its primary goal is to protect and conserve key parts of African, Asian and South American landscapes, and any new location is hand-picked with this in mind.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
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 2 May. 2026.

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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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