WordWeb Online

1. Avoiding waste
   "a sparing father and a spending son"; "sparing in their use of heat and light";
   - economical, frugal, scotch, stinting

1. Refrain from harming
   - save
    
2. Save or relieve from an experience or action
   "I'll spare you from having to apologize formally"
    
3. Give up what is not strictly needed
   "he asked if they could spare one of their horses to speed his journey";
   - give up, part with, dispense with
    
4. Use frugally or carefully

See also: thrifty

Type of: exempt, expend, forbear, free, give, refrain, relieve, use

Encyclopedia: Spare