sparing

adjective

spar·​ing ˈsper-iŋ 

1

: marked by or practicing careful restraint (as in the use of resources)

2

: meager, bare

the map is sparing of information

sparingly adverb

Synonyms

• economical
• economizing
• frugal
• provident
• scrimping
• thrifty

Choose the Right Synonym for sparing

sparing, frugal, thrifty, economical mean careful in the use of one's money or resources.

sparing stresses abstention and restraint.

sparing in the offering of advice

frugal implies absence of luxury and simplicity of lifestyle.

ran a frugal household

thrifty stresses good management and industry.

thrifty use of nonrenewable resources

economical stresses prudent management, lack of wastefulness, and use of things to their best advantage.

an economical health care plan

Examples of sparing in a Sentence

a sparing couple who are trying to save up enough for a house

a government agency that has always been sparing of public information

Recent Examples on the Web

But the smile is now more sparing, at least on camera. —Longreads, 13 Dec. 2024

Mercy for violence, however, remained more sparing. —New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sparing

adjective

spar·​ing

ˈspa(ə)r-iŋ,

ˈspe(ə)r-

: careful in the use of money or supplies

sparingly

-iŋ-lē

adverb