adjective
sparing
SPEH-uh-rihng
Sparing (adjective) means Careful and restrained, especially in the amount of something used. Example: “She was sparing with her praise, so his compliment meant a lot.”
adjective
1
Careful and restrained, especially in the amount of something used.
"She was sparing with her praise, so his compliment meant a lot."
"Be sparing with the salt — the dish is already quite salty."
How to use sparing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsing very little of something, on purpose — careful not to overdo it.
Common pairings
sparing use
be sparing with
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Word forms
- Plural
- sparings
- Comparative
- more sparing
- Superlative
- most sparing
Fill the gap
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She was _____ with her praise, so his compliment meant a lot.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sparing
See all rhymes for sparing →Frequently asked questions
What does “sparing” mean?
The word “sparing” means careful and restrained, especially in the amount of something used. In plain terms, using very little of something, on purpose — careful not to overdo it.
How do you pronounce “sparing”?
“Sparing” is pronounced SPEH-uh-rihng (/ˈspɛəɹɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sparing” in a sentence?
Here is “sparing” used in a sentence: “She was sparing with her praise, so his compliment meant a lot.”
What part of speech is “sparing”?
“Sparing” is an adjective.
