spare
Backup for emergencies
The adjective spare characterizes something extra that is available for use, especially to replace something that isn’t working (spare tire, spare battery, spare bedroom).
Spare change is a small amount of money, usually coins, that you have with you and may not need.
The noun spare designates some extra thing that must be gleaned from context: We had a flat tire, but the spare was also flat.
To spare something is to prevent it, abstain from it, avoid it, or avoid taking it.
To spare someone’s life is to save it, or to refrain from ending it.
Cease to blame
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
- leniencyMildness in punishment
compassion · mercy · exempt · release · acquit · absolve · let off · show mercy
Amount exceeding requirement
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- reserveSupply kept back
- additionalBeyond the existing amount
- leftoverFood saved after meals
unused · redundant · superfluous · replacement · duplicate · auxiliary · supplementary · standby
Forceful impact or stoppage
- pinPointed metal fastener
- frameSupporting outer structure
- splitSeparation into parts
- turkeyWattled North American fowl
perfect game · gutter · lane · ball · alley · tenpin · kingpin · knockout
Basic and unremarkable
- unadornedLacking decoration or ornament
- bareLacking any covering
- minimalSmallest amount needed
- basicFundamental in nature
stark · understated · clean · unembellished · no-frills · utilitarian · functional · stripped-down
Prudent with resources
- economicalUsing resources sparingly
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- restrainedHeld under control
- modestLacking in pretension
conservative · careful · measured · judicious · parsimonious · saving · efficient · austere
forgive
Cease to blame
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- clemencyMerciful treatment of offenders
leniency · compassion · mercy · exempt · release · acquit · absolve · let off · show mercy · save
surplus
Amount exceeding requirement
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- reserveSupply kept back
- additionalBeyond the existing amount
leftover · unused · redundant · superfluous · replacement · duplicate · auxiliary · supplementary · standby · emergency
strike
Forceful impact or stoppage
turkey · perfect game · gutter · lane · ball · alley · tenpin · kingpin · knockout
thin
Small in diameter
lanky · bony · scrawny · angular · sinewy · slight · trim · meager · austere · ascetic
plain
Basic and unremarkable
basic · stark · understated · clean · unembellished · no-frills · utilitarian · functional · stripped-down · austere
thrifty
Prudent with resources
- economicalUsing resources sparingly
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- restrainedHeld under control
modest · conservative · careful · measured · judicious · parsimonious · saving · efficient · austere · scrimping
- freefree, freed, liberated, released, unchained
- bowlingbowling pin, bowling ball, bowling pins, bowling balls, bowling lane
- sports termssoccer, football, basketball, tennis, golf
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- nonessentialunnecessary, unneeded, nonessential, inessential, expendable
- Remainderleftover, residue, surplus, excess, balance
- spare timeUncommitted personal hours
- spare changeExtra coins on hand
- spare tireEmergency replacement wheel
- spare ribsBone-in pork cuts
- spare partsReserve pieces for repairs
- spare keyDuplicate for emergencies
sparse, sparing, spartan, spared, unsparing, spares, spare time, sparingly, spare ribs