adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from present participle of sparen to spare
1.
a. : economical in the use or expenditure of resources
a sparing father and a spending son — John Clarke
b. : reticent
sparing in speech
sparing prose
2. : meager , scanty
the map is sparing of information
3. : capable of preventing or characterized by prevention of waste of a vital substance in metabolism
carbohydrates are sparing agents of body proteins
aureomycin may exert a sparing action on some vitamins
Synonyms:
sparing , frugal , thrifty , and economical can mean, in common, tending to save or make unwasteful use of one's money, goods, or resources. sparing suggests abstention and restraint and can apply to the use of anything, although commonly applying to the use of money or goods
the sparing use of words
sparing in all matters of household expense
frugal suggests the absence of all luxury and implies simplicity and temperance
Roman life was a frugal thing, sparing in food, temperate in drink, modest in clothing, cleanly in habit — John Buchan
was frugal and he did not, like many of the villagers, spend his money freely at gambling or on foods too delicate for them — Pearl Buck
thrifty implies a minimum wastefulness and often a maximum of saving, and usually suggests industry and frugality
a miserly man who hoards money out of avarice and a thrifty man who saves money out of prudence — William Empson
a thrifty people — thrifty of property, of speech, of their emotions above all — H.S.Commager
economical , often interchangeable with thrifty when the sparing use of money or resources is involved, more distinctly emphasizes prudent management or use of things to their best advantage
an economical housewife
economical methods of using building materials
the economical use of words