spared

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'spared' is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used in a variety of contexts and has multiple meanings, such as: 1. To refrain from harming, injuring, or punishing someone or something: Example: The firefighters were able to spare the building from complete destruction. 2. To save someone from experiencing or enduring something unpleasant or harmful: Example: The teacher decided to spare the students from taking the difficult test. 3. To give something up or use less of it: Example: We should try to spare our natural resources for future generations. 4. To have more of something than needed and not need to share or use it all: Example: Fortunately, she was able to spare some extra pens for her classmates who forgot theirs. 5. To show mercy or forgiveness: Example: The judge spared the defendant from a harsh sentence due to their remorse and good behavior. 6. To not have to go through or deal with something: Example: He was lucky to be spared from the long and tedious meeting. 7. To keep someone or something from being affected or involved: Example: She made sure to spare her children from the drama and conflicts between their parents. Overall, 'spared' can be used in various.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was the second time in seven months that Hill has come close to the death chamber: last July he was spared by just 90 minutes and the experience was repeated on Tuesday night with just 30 minutes to go.

The Guardian

So far, we've been spared any plugs for athletes' personal sponsors because the Olympic branding rules forbid them (to keep the field clear for overall advertisers such as Coca Cola and Adidas).

The Guardian - Opinion

The conversation starts at battle speed and soon changes up to full Glaswegian ramming rate: nothing is missed and no one is spared.

The Guardian

Congerton will have the job of identifying a long-term head coach, having hoped that Advocaat might have spared him that difficult task.

The Guardian - Sport

And voters will be spared a Hobson's choice, with the option of coming out of Europe with the loss of investment and jobs that would entail, or staying in but with key rights such as paid holidays, gender equality and protection for agency workers stripped away.

The Guardian - Opinion

Aleksander Rajcevic and, more critically, Luka Zahovic should even have extended that lead but the teenage striker skied over the bar from inside the six-yard box and the visitors were spared their humiliation.

The Guardian - Sport

I was not spared: the guard kept hitting me on my head and squeezing my neck against the rear end of the other detainee.

The Guardian

According to the family, the Kennedys were among those due to be cleared from the land in the early part of the 19th century, bound for Canada, but were spared and moved into what would become their long-term home in 1801.

The Guardian

A winter that has largely spared the north-eastern US is about to arrive with gusto: a storm the National Weather Service (NWS) called "potentially historic" could dump 2ft to 3ft of snow from northern New Jersey to Connecticut.

The Guardian

More than 3000 people rallied in Sydney against funding cuts at the ABC amid fears that few areas of the public broadcaster will be spared.

The Guardian

The chorus of criticism from the eastern periphery of the eurozone meant that the usual suspects – Wolfgang Schäuble of Germany and eurogroup chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem of the Netherlands – were spared the need to issue their usual dire warnings to the Greeks.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spared" to emphasize the avoidance of a negative outcome or experience. This highlights a sense of relief or good fortune.

Common error

Avoid using "spared" when the intended meaning is to actively give something. "Spared" implies an avoidance or exemption, not a deliberate act of giving. Use "gave" or "offered" instead for active donations.

Linguistic Context

Spared" primarily functions as a verb in the past participle form, indicating that someone or something has been exempted from an undesirable experience or consequence. Ludwig's examples showcase how "spared" is used to express the avoidance of negative outcomes, reinforcing its verbal function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spared" is a versatile verb form used to indicate that someone or something has been exempted from an undesirable experience or consequence. According to Ludwig, its correct grammatical usage and frequent appearance across authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist make it a valuable addition to any writer's vocabulary. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correctly and commonly used in written English. To ensure clarity, remember that "spared" emphasizes avoidance, not active giving, and that "spared from" is the preferred construction. Understanding these nuances will help you wield "spared" with precision and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avoided

Implies successfully keeping away from something undesirable, similar to being "spared" from it.

escaped

Suggests getting free from danger or harm, much like being "spared" from a negative consequence.

granted immunity

Highlights the act of being exempt from something, like legal repercussions, akin to being "spared".

given clemency

Focuses on receiving mercy or leniency, paralleling the act of being "spared" from a punishment.

was exempt from

Directly states that someone did not have to undergo something, similar to being "spared".

protected from

Indicates being shielded from harm, which aligns with the idea of being "spared" from negative impact.

relieved of

Suggests the removal of a burden or obligation, similar to being "spared" from a responsibility.

was delivered from

Conveys being rescued or saved from a difficult situation, much like being "spared".

preserved from

Emphasizes keeping something safe and intact, akin to being "spared" from damage or loss.

let off

Informal term for avoiding punishment or responsibility, akin to being "spared" from consequences.

FAQs

How can I use "spared" in a sentence?

You can use "spared" to indicate that someone or something has been saved from harm or an unpleasant experience. For instance, "The city was spared from the worst of the storm" or "He was spared the embarrassment of failing the test".

What's the difference between "spared" and "avoided"?

"Spared" implies that an external force or circumstance prevented something negative from happening, while "avoided" suggests a deliberate action taken to prevent something. For example, "The country was spared a recession" (external force) versus "He avoided the pothole" (deliberate action).

Which is correct, "spared from" or "spared of"?

"Spared from" is the correct and more common usage. It indicates that someone or something was saved or protected from a negative experience or consequence. "Spared of" is less frequent and can sound awkward.

What can I say instead of "being spared"?

You can use alternatives like "being exempted", "being relieved", or "being protected", depending on the specific context. These alternatives convey a similar meaning of being freed from something negative.