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sparing

spar·ing

sparing

 
pronunciation:
speI rIng
features:
Word Combinations (adjective)
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: careful or restrained, as in the use of money or goods; frugal; thrifty (often fol. by "in" or "of").
She was sparing in her use of gasoline.We had to be sparing of our supplies out there in the wilderness.
synonyms:
careful, economical, frugal, thrifty
antonyms:
profuse, unsparing
similar words:
chary, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, stingy, tightfisted
definition 2: scanty or meager; limited.
A sparing use of cleaning fluid will take out the spot.
synonyms:
limited, meager, scanty
antonyms:
lavish, unsparing
similar words:
frugal, niggardly, restricted, scant, skimpy, spare, stingy
definition 3: lenient, merciful, or forbearing.
He was never sparing in his criticism.
synonyms:
clement, forbearing, forgiving, indulgent, lenient, merciful
antonyms:
unsparing
similar words:
benignant, compassionate, easy, kind, kindly, permissive, sympathetic, tolerant
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: sparingly (adv.), sparingness (n.)