: a small mass of fried or sautéed batter often containing fruit or meat
frittered; frittering; fritters
1
: to spend or waste bit by bit, on trifles, or without commensurate return
—usually used with away
frittered away their inheritance
2
: to break into small fragments
Synonyms of fritter
Relevance
Noun (1)
Verb
Examples of fritter in a Sentence
Noun (1)
she loves eating corn fritters with maple syrup
Verb
quit frittering away the afternoon playing video games and get some housework done!
Recent Examples on the Web
Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026
Fry, gently agitating fritters to ensure even browning until golden brown, puffed, and cooked through (a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean), 3 to 4 minutes.
—Emily Teel, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2026
Tim Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
The game followed the same script in the opening minutes as all the others in the series, with the Spurs taking a double-digit lead in the first quarter and then frittering most of it away in the second.
—Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fritter
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Sample dishes like West Indian conch fritters, Yellowfin tuna tartare, Kentucky fried green tomatoes, and a signature Kentucky Hot Brown.
—Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026
Fry, gently agitating fritters to ensure even browning until golden brown, puffed, and cooked through (a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean), 3 to 4 minutes.
—Emily Teel, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2026
Verb
The game followed the same script as all the others in the series, with the Spurs taking a double-digit lead in the first quarter and then frittering most of it away in the second quarter.
—Tim Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
The game followed the same script in the opening minutes as all the others in the series, with the Spurs taking a double-digit lead in the first quarter and then frittering most of it away in the second.
—Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fritter
Cite this Entry
“Fritter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fritter. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
