▶ adjective
a spare set of keys: EXTRA, supplementary, additional, second, other, alternative; emergency, reserve, back-up, relief, fallback, substitute; fresh;
N. Amer. alternate.
they sold off the spare land: SURPLUS, superfluous, excessive; redundant, unnecessary, inessential, unessential, unneeded, uncalled for, dispensable, disposable, expendable, unwanted;
informal going begging.
your spare time: FREE, leisure, own.
a spare woman: SLENDER, lean, willowy, svelte, lissom, rangy, clean-limbed, trim, slight; thin, skinny, gaunt, lanky, spindly;
informal skin and bone.
▶ verb
he could not spare any money: AFFORD, do without, manage without, dispense with, part with, give, provide.
they were spared by their captors: PARDON, let off,
forgive, reprieve, release, free;
leave uninjured, leave unhurt; be merciful to,
show mercy to,
have mercy on, be lenient to, have pity on.
■ go spare (Brit. informal).
See get angry at
angry.
■ to spare LEFT (OVER), remaining, unused, unneeded, not required, still available, surplus (to requirements), superfluous, extra;
informal going begging.
From: Concise Oxford Thesaurus