SPARE Synonyms: 308 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'spare' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of spare are gaunt , lanky , lank , lean , rawboned , scrawny , and skinny . While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise. // the gymnast's spare figure

Q: When could 'gaunt' be used to replace 'spare'?

The words gaunt and spare are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering. // a prisoner's gaunt face

Q: When is 'lank' a more appropriate choice than 'spare'?

The meanings of lank and spare largely overlap; however, lank implies tallness as well as leanness. // the lank legs of the heron

Q: When is it sensible to use 'lanky' instead of 'spare'?

In some situations, the words lanky and spare are roughly equivalent. However, lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness. // a lanky youth, all arms and legs

Q: When can 'lean' be used instead of 'spare'?

The synonyms lean and spare are sometimes interchangeable, but lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours. // a lean racehorse

Q: When would 'rawboned' be a good substitute for 'spare'?

The words rawboned and spare can be used in similar contexts, but rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment. // a rawboned farmer

Q: How do 'scrawny' and 'skinny' relate to one another, in the sense of 'spare'?

Both scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality. // a scrawny chicken // skinny street urchins

spare 1 of 3

verb

Definition of spare

as in to scant

to use or give out in stingy amounts I'll have a banana split—and don't spare the whipped cream

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to save

to avoid unnecessary waste or expense she had grown up during the Great Depression, so she was no stranger to sparing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spare

2 of 3

adjective

ˈsper

as in extra

being over what is needed I had some spare time to kill, so I cleaned up my cubicle a bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in careful

giving or sharing as little as possible a man who is kind and gentle but definitely spare of speech

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in thin

having a noticeably small amount of body fat a tall, spare man

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in scarce

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable spare vegetation that made foraging very difficult

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spare

3 of 3

noun

as in backup

an interchangeable part or piece of equipment that is kept on hand for replacement of an original we promptly replaced the burnt-out lightbulb with a spare

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective spare contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of spare are gaunt, lanky, lank, lean, rawboned, scrawny, and skinny. While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise.

the gymnast's spare figure

When could gaunt be used to replace spare?

The words gaunt and spare are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering.

a prisoner's gaunt face

When is lank a more appropriate choice than spare?

The meanings of lank and spare largely overlap; however, lank implies tallness as well as leanness.

the lank legs of the heron

When is it sensible to use lanky instead of spare?

In some situations, the words lanky and spare are roughly equivalent. However, lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness.

a lanky youth, all arms and legs

When can lean be used instead of spare?

The synonyms lean and spare are sometimes interchangeable, but lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.

a lean racehorse

When would rawboned be a good substitute for spare?

The words rawboned and spare can be used in similar contexts, but rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.

a rawboned farmer

How do scrawny and skinny relate to one another, in the sense of spare?

Both scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality.

a scrawny chicken

skinny street urchins

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of spare

Verb

With just hours to spare, the California State Senate passed SB 2319 by a vote of 33-5. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2026 The 200 people living there managed to run up the hill to safety, with minutes to spare. — Bhadra Sharma, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Adjective

For example, Iran uses the UAE as a reexport hub and buffer, and receives vehicle spare parts from China, according to the Observatory for Economic Complexity. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026 That’s a sentiment shared by Akshay Ruparelia, co-founder of startup Brdge, who believes the most valuable thing a sharp person can do with spare capacity is think, and that this is a resource companies should be desperate for. — Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

Stroll subsequently couldn’t participate in FP2 as the team did not have enough time to repair the damage and had to fly more spares out to Hungary from its UK factory. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 25 July 2026 Previously, another wrist joint was replaced and both of the arm's end effectors were swapped out for spares. — Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for spare

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spare

Verb

For one, most victims do not trust the justice system, which leads to scant reporting.

— Lenore Anderson, ELLE, 7 Nov. 2022
There were few roads or trails or even paths to follow and scant potable water, but plenty of pit vipers and tarantulas.

— Ellen Ruppel Shell, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2022

Definition of scant

Verb

As impressive as many space-saving tiny houses are, not everyone is cut out for climbing into small lofts using movable ladders, or sleeping on a sofa bed every night.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
Goldman found Koreans in their sixties save more than any other age group, retaining 37% of their income.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of save

Adjective

There have been scattered instances of athletes returning to their previous school for the extra season, including two LSU women’s soccer players who are part of the case.

— Seth Emerson, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
The closure channeled extra traffic to and then backed up I-285 northbound on both sides of town from well before its two I-20 intersections.

— Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of extra

Adjective

Apply the serum directly to sparse areas of your brows, being careful to avoid letting the product touch other areas of your skin.

— Iman Balagam, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
According to the researchers, careful process design and optimization as well as architecture simplification could help in solving most of these issues, something that industrial production focuses on much more than academic researchers.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of careful

Adjective

Days turn crisp, aspens begin streaking the valley with gold and summer crowds thin in Grand Teton National Park.

— Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Unlike mainstream fusion projects such as tokamaks, the Texatron does not rely on giant superconducting magnets to hold a thin gas in place for long periods.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

For reference, antimony is a relatively scarce metal/mineral used in things like flame retardants, batteries, electronics, and defense applications.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
David Szondy/New Atlas What was needed was a cheap, effective weapon that could be produced quickly and in large numbers with the scarce resources available in a country committed to total war.

— David Szondy August 30, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of scarce

Noun

There aren’t that many practice reps available during the season for one backup let alone two.

— Jon Machota, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Since the late 1990s, taxpayers have been funding a program to stash extra Colorado River water underground, with the idea that it could be used as a backup in times of shortage.

— Alex Hager, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of backup

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“Spare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spare. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of spare

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