1
as in wastefulness
an instance of spending money or resources without care or restraint
it seems like a waste to spend my entire paycheck on a bigger TV
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in garbage
discarded or useless material
gathered up the waste when he was finished sewing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
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4
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
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5
as in expansion
a wide space or area
a legendary mariner doomed to sail the watery wastes of the world until Judgment Day
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6
as in erosion
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction
the slow waste of the once broad beach by the relentless tide
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1
as in to spend
to use up carelessly
he wasted his lottery winnings on booze-soaked nights with gold diggers
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2
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
one country attempting to waste another
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3
as in to weaken
to diminish the physical strength of
endless months of inactivity wasted him
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as in barren
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
waste acreage that was not fit for anything
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of waste
Bob Wojnowski,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2026
The use of industrial waste materials as a storage medium reflects a broader philosophy about how future infrastructure should be designed.
—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
26 June 2026
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
But Oregon policymakers have such loose definitions of what’s beneficial and what’s waste that, during the drought, our reporting found, only 1 of every 4 gallons COID took from the river was absorbed by crops.
—
Emily Cureton Cook,
ProPublica,
26 June 2026
Maddalena Fossati,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
Plastic’s core problem is not waste; it’s designed to be indestructible.
—
Vishal Vivek,
Forbes.com,
6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for waste
Noun
What a waste for the other defendants, and for the victims, who allegedly were held at gunpoint and pistol-whipped.
—
Bob Wojnowski,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2026
The use of industrial waste materials as a storage medium reflects a broader philosophy about how future infrastructure should be designed.
—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
26 June 2026
Verb
Bron Breakker Seth Rollins wasted no time loading up the ring with kendo sticks before Bron Breakker even made his way out.
—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
But Oregon policymakers have such loose definitions of what’s beneficial and what’s waste that, during the drought, our reporting found, only 1 of every 4 gallons COID took from the river was absorbed by crops.
—
Emily Cureton Cook,
ProPublica,
26 June 2026
Adjective
Breakfast is served in the Heritage Room, and is never too copious, in line with the hotel's anti-waste policy.
—
Maddalena Fossati,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
Plastic’s core problem is not waste; it’s designed to be indestructible.
—
Vishal Vivek,
Forbes.com,
6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for waste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waste
Noun
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The Bosnia captain got himself an assist, made a goal-line clearance, and was partly responsible for Cyle Larin’s 78th-minute equaliser, which ensured Canada’s wastefulness didn’t stop them from earning a first World Cup point.
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Gabriel also acknowledged lawmakers’ responsibility to oversee state spending seriously as well, and would be scrutinizing government programs for wastefulness.
Noun
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Since construction at the Eagle Rock site — so nicknamed after a decrepit colonnade — first stalled in 2008, the only thing that accumulated faster than the garbage and graffiti were the epithets from outraged community members.
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Relying Too Much On Garbage Disposals Though the name may be deceiving, garbage disposals aren’t actually designed to dispose of all garbage.
Noun
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Every year, about 90% of Central Oregon’s Deschutes River disappears into networks of canals and pipes traversing high desert.
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Extreme fire conditions were expected in Utah on Friday, with wind gusting up to 50 mph and low humidity across the southwest desert and central and southern mountains, including the area of the Cottonwood fire.
Noun
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When not elbow-deep in dino dung or outrunning raptors, Laura Dern's heartfelt performance in Jurassic Park shows why women really deserve to inherit the Earth — and all of the acting awards.
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The team ended up with a jar of elephant dung scent.
Noun
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The state expansion also means protection for the rare riparian forest.
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The University of Pittsburgh’s record-setting growth is reshaping both its campus and Oakland, as the university leans into a long-term expansion plan that adds student beds, new facilities and economic heft to one of Pennsylvania’s busiest urban districts.
Noun
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Sand dunes offer a natural buffer, absorbing wave energy, slowing erosion, and protecting the coastline.
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Removing trees whose roots help hold soil in place, combined with paving and creating other surfaces that don’t absorb rain and other moisture, could mean further soil erosion in the area, the board wrote.
Verb
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Nowadays, Monson de Kansky still keeps busy, whether by managing the Sierra Madre property; spending time with her four children, six grandchildren and cat, Lizzie; keeping up with current affairs and old friends; or, naturally, teaching dance.
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Workers were dispatched throughout La Guaira and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent the last few days pulling survivors and bodies from the wreckage despite a lack of heavy equipment and limited guidance from authorities.
Verb
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Porsha deflects, saying Drew ruined the mood.
-
Explosions had all but ruined my hearing.
Cite this Entry
“Waste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waste. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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