avoiding waste; "an economical meal"; "an economical shopper"; "a frugal farmer"; "a frugal lunch"; "a sparing father and a spending son"; "sparing in their use of heat and light"; "stinting in bestowing gifts"; "thrifty because they remember the great Depression"; "`scotch' is used only informally"
Someone who is sparing with something uses it or gives it only in very small quantities. Her sparing use of make-up only seemed to enhance her classically beautiful features + sparingly spar·ing·ly Medication is used sparingly