poštedeti

1. to spare
   Otmičari su mu na kraju poštedeli život. — In the end the kidnappers spared his life.
   Požar je poštedeo samo jednu kuću u ulici. — The fire spared only one house on the street.
2. (someone + gen.) to spare someone something
   Poštedi me detalja, molim te. — Spare me the details, please.
   Hteo je da poštedi decu te priče. — He wanted to spare the children that story.

The thing someone is spared is in the genitive: poštedeti koga nečega.