waste 1 of 3

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as in desert
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops an area that was a barren waste after the strip-mining had ended

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in dung
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal a local ordinance requiring dog owners to properly dispose of their pet's waste

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in erosion
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction the slow waste of the once broad beach by the relentless tide

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

waste

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verb

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waste

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb waste contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of waste are despoil, devastate, pillage, ravage, and sack. While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

When would despoil be a good substitute for waste?

In some situations, the words despoil and waste are roughly equivalent. However, despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

When is it sensible to use devastate instead of waste?

Although the words devastate and waste have much in common, devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

How are the words pillage and sack related as synonyms of waste?

Pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

When is ravage a more appropriate choice than waste?

The words ravage and waste are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

In what contexts can sack take the place of waste?

The synonyms sack and waste are sometimes interchangeable, but sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of waste
Noun
Food and landscape waste is composted. Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025 The production also made substantial strides in reducing waste, including minimizing single-use plastics and recycling 180 metric tons of steel from its sets. Thr Staff, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
The Dolphins forced two fumbles in the first half didn’t waste any time in the second forcing the Jets to put the ball on the ground again. David Wilson, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025 Washington Post slams Kamala Harris book tour, says Dems don't 'have time to waste' on former VP. FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
For many of them, working at a high-growth company with a feel-good, anti-waste mission had felt like the pinnacle of their working lives. Lauren Weber, WSJ, 17 May 2021 The new anti-waste law aims to encourage buyers to repair their devices rather than replace them with new products. Chris Smith, BGR, 26 Feb. 2021 See All Example Sentences for waste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waste
Noun
  • Núñez, despite his occasional wastefulness in front of goal, was a very useful option in the position and brought great energy and dynamism to the team.
    James Nalton, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Arsenal’s wastefulness on the break was evident nine minutes into the game.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Near my hotel, a few blocks from the Torre K23, there were several dumpsters overflowing with garbage.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • There's a different take on a post apocalyptic universe where the world is made of plastic and not garbage.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In 2025, Thomas Detry made history in the desert, capturing his first career PGA TOUR win and becoming the first Belgian champion on the PGA TOUR.
    Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Many thrillers end with shoot-outs and chases—in this case, a mighty three-car affair, brilliantly staged over a rolling desert highway.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And like the wildebeest, bison dung packs a nutritional punch when deposited across the landscape.
    Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Decades before Colorado’s best singers, dancers and actors graced the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in downtown Denver, workers pushed brooms across the stage to clean up elephant dung, rodeo sawdust, and blood spatters from boxing matches.
    John Wenzel, Denver Post, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The transaction marks another milestone in KKR’s expansion in the region.
    Emma Graham, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Madrid Content City has already become one of the largest audiovisual hubs in Europe and is now entering phase IV of its expansion, expected to be completed by 2026.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Farley described a revelation about the erosion of what blue-collar work used to represent—stability, pride, and a single income that could support a family.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The driftwood trees help to blunt the effects of hurricanes—and, thus, slow down erosion—on the remaining woods and uplands.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That year, the board hired Pat Gelsinger, an engineer who had spent 30 years at Intel before leaving it for other companies and eventually running VMware.
    Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Elordi spent up to 10 hours per session in the makeup chair and worked 18-hour days in full prosthetics.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The jerky in particular has ruined me for all other beef jerky—so be forewarned the same might happen to you.
    Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Waste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waste. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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