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

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 notes

In plain EnglishUsing very little of something, on purpose — careful not to overdo it.

Common pairings

sparing use be sparing with

Word forms

more sparing comparative, sparings plural, most sparing superlative

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She was _____ with her praise, so his compliment meant a lot.

Rhymes for sparing

daring caring baring raring Waring hearing bearing wearing sharing staring roaring searing

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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.