was not spared

USAGE SUMMARY

"was not spared" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to convey that something or someone did not escape or avoid something negative or unpleasant. Example: Even though she was the youngest in her family, Sarah was not spared from chores and responsibilities.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Annan was not spared.

The Guardian

Agdam was not spared.

The Guardian - Sport

My family's region was not spared.

The New York Times

Yet he was not spared disappointments.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Budweiser plant was not spared.

The New York Times

Even a child was not spared".

The New York Times

(Mr. Roberts was not spared from Mr. Naughton's pranks.

The New York Times

My sister also was not spared from such blows".

The New Yorker

But he was not spared the dislocation, the misunderstanding.

The New Yorker

Property was not spared during the violent weather.

The New York Times

"Bedford Hills was not spared that," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was not spared" to emphasize that something or someone experienced the full force of a negative event or situation, highlighting the lack of exceptions or protection.

Common error

Avoid using "was not spared" when describing positive experiences. This phrase is best suited for conveying negative or challenging situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not spared" functions as a passive construction indicating that a subject experienced something negative or undesirable without exception. Ludwig shows numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was not spared" is a versatile expression primarily used to convey that something or someone did not escape a negative experience. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used. Its frequent appearance in news and media outlets emphasizes its role in highlighting unavoidable hardships. While alternatives like "did not escape" or "was subjected to" exist, "was not spared" maintains a specific emphasis on the lack of exemption. Remember to reserve its use for negative contexts to avoid sounding unnatural.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not escape

Uses a more direct phrasing to convey that something could not avoid a certain outcome.

could not avoid

Emphasizes the lack of ability to evade or prevent a situation.

was not exempt from

Replaces "spared" with "exempt", focusing on the lack of exception from a rule or situation.

was not immune to

Similar to "was not exempt from", highlighting the absence of protection.

was subjected to

Shifts the focus to the act of being made to undergo something, rather than being spared from it.

fell victim to

Implies a negative or harmful event that could not be avoided.

was not protected from

Focuses on the lack of safeguarding against something.

experienced

A simple and direct way to say something was affected.

endured

Implies suffering through something difficult or unpleasant.

was affected by

A broader term indicating influence or impact, without necessarily implying severity.

FAQs

How can I use "was not spared" in a sentence?

Use "was not spared" to indicate that someone or something experienced the full effect of something, typically something negative. For example, "Even the oldest buildings in the city were not spared from the earthquake's destruction."

What's a synonym for "was not spared"?

Alternatives include "did not escape", "was subjected to", or "fell victim to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was not spared from"?

Yes, "was not spared from" is grammatically correct and commonly used. It emphasizes that something or someone did not avoid a particular negative experience.

Can "was not spared" be used in a positive context?

While grammatically possible, "was not spared" is generally used in negative contexts to emphasize that someone or something experienced the full force of a negative event or situation. Using it in a positive context might sound awkward or ironic.