unsparing

adjective

un·​spar·​ing ˌən-ˈsper-iŋ 

1

: not merciful or forbearing : hard, ruthless

an unsparing satire

an unsparing critic

2

: not frugal : liberal, profuse

unsparing generosity

unsparingly

ˌən-ˈsper-iŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• bighearted
• bounteous
• bountiful
• charitable
• free
• freehanded
• freehearted
• fulsome
• generous
• liberal
• munificent
• open
• openhanded
• unselfish
• unstinting

Examples of unsparing in a Sentence

neighbors were unsparing in their charity when a local family was rendered homeless by a fire

unsparing in his criticism of the welfare state

Recent Examples on the Web

Lucy Grealy was an unsparing observer of human physiognomy. —Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2024

The unsparing remarks quickly drew attention on China’s social media including Weibo, where videos and transcripts of Gao’s speech have been trending. —Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 3 Dec. 2024

Things get even darker from there as the story unfolds in a frank and unsparing style. —John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 16 Nov. 2024

In execution, however, the film exhibits something of a split personality by awkwardly moving between cutesy soap operatic romance and an unsparing, oft-devastating portrait of the myriad hurdles facing foreign workers. —Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

unsparing

adjective

un·​spar·​ing ˌən-ˈspa(ə)r-iŋ 

-ˈspe(ə)r-,

ˈən-

1

: not merciful or forgiving : hard, ruthless

unsparing attacks

2

: not stingy : liberal

unsparing in their gifts to charity

unsparingly adverb