What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
skimp
Example
Don't skimp on the ingredients if you want the dish to taste good. [skimp: verb]
Example
The company decided to skimp on safety measures to save money. [skimp: verb]
Example
The hotel room was skimpily furnished and lacked basic amenities. [skimpily: adverb]
spare
Example
Do you have a spare pen I could borrow? [spare: adjective]
Example
I can spare a few minutes to help you with your project. [spare: verb]
Example
He spends his spare time volunteering at the local shelter. [spare: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Spare is more commonly used than skimp in everyday language. Spare is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while skimp is less common and often used in specific situations where a lack or insufficiency is being described.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between skimp and spare?
Both skimp and spare are relatively informal words, but skimp may be considered more informal due to its negative connotation and association with cutting corners or saving resources.
