he was spared

USAGE SUMMARY

"he was spared" is a grammatically correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe a situation in which someone is exempted from a negative consequence. For example, "The mayor was spared from the scandal's consequences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As an eavesdropper, he was spared nothing.

The New Yorker

He was spared, England were spared.

Independent

And he was spared the death penalty.

The New York Times

He was spared from facing any more hitters.

The New York Times - Sports

He was spared the long, pointless agony of intensive care for untreatable malignant illness.

The New York Times

Seconds from his own execution, he was spared because he was a kid.

The New York Times

Rain fell before the ceremony ended, however, and he was spared.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Then my grandfather returned with the coat, and he was spared.

The New Yorker

But without the video, he was spared the kind of blackballing others have drawn.

The New York Times - Sports

Then, amid the steep cuts after Chase's 1996 acquisition of Chemical, he was spared once again.

The New York Times

He was spared because of an even more shocking meltdown by the tournament host, Tiger Woods.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was spared" to indicate that someone avoided an unpleasant or harmful experience, especially when luck or intervention played a role.

Common error

Avoid overusing passive voice constructions like "he was spared" when a more active voice would make the sentence clearer and more direct. Consider rephrasing with an active verb when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was spared" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that someone avoided or was exempted from an unpleasant or harmful experience. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he was spared" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that someone avoided a negative experience or consequence. Ludwig AI analysis of numerous examples shows that the phrase is frequently used in news and media, as well as in scientific and encyclopedic contexts. While semantically related alternatives such as ""he was rescued"" and ""he was saved"" exist, "he was spared" often carries a nuance of being deliberately exempted or providentially protected.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was rescued

Emphasizes being saved from a dangerous situation, focusing on the act of deliverance.

he was saved

Highlights being kept safe or delivered from harm, often implying a fortunate escape.

he escaped

Focuses on the act of getting away from a dangerous or undesirable situation.

he was relieved

Indicates a feeling of ease and lessening of anxiety after avoiding a negative event.

he avoided

Highlights the action of steering clear of something unpleasant or harmful.

he evaded

Suggests skillfully dodging or escaping something threatening.

he was exempted

Formally indicates being officially excused from an obligation or duty.

he was fortunate

Emphasizes luck and good fortune in avoiding something negative.

he was immune

Highlights being unaffected or protected from something harmful.

he got away with it

Implies avoiding punishment or negative consequences for an action.

FAQs

How can I use "he was spared" in a sentence?

Use "he was spared" to indicate that someone avoided a negative experience or consequence. For example, "He was spared the worst of the storm's damage" or "He was spared a prison sentence due to his cooperation".

What can I say instead of "he was spared"?

You can use alternatives like "he was rescued", "he was saved", or "he escaped" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "he was spared" or "he is spared"?

"He was spared" is used to describe an event that occurred in the past, while "he is spared" is used to describe a current or future situation. For example, "He was spared a fine last year", vs "He is spared jury duty because of a medical condition".

What's the difference between "he was spared" and "he was sheltered"?

"He was spared" implies avoiding a specific negative experience or consequence, while "he was sheltered" suggests being protected from broader life experiences, often implying a lack of exposure to reality.