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spar·ing
 sparing
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- 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| related words: |
merciful, stringent, tight |
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| derivations: |
sparingly (adv.), sparingness (n.) |
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