ex·pend·able
ik-ˈspen-də-bəl 
: that may be expended: such as
a
: normally used up or consumed in service
expendable supplies like pencils and paper
b
: more easily or economically replaced than rescued, salvaged, or protected
: one that is expendable
—usually used in plural
Examples of expendable in a Sentence
Adjective
employees whose jobs are considered expendable
Recent Examples on the Web
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
In the tropical Pacific Ocean, La Niña and El Niño are detected by many methods, including satellites, moored buoys, drifting buoys, sea level analysis and expendable buoys, according to NOAA.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
So by the time Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, and a pair of Jedi expendables turn up to arrest the Chancellor (aka Darth Sidious) for orchestrating the entire Clone War, the damage has already been done.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expendable
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.
Adjective
While talking about his upcoming big-screen role in Marty Supreme, O’Leary disparaged background actors as expendable to the artistic process.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
In the tropical Pacific Ocean, La Niña and El Niño are detected by many methods, including satellites, moored buoys, drifting buoys, sea level analysis and expendable buoys, according to NOAA.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
Back then, there were two key expendables and two gifts to offer up; now this system is practically a crafting and management sim all on its own.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
So by the time Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, and a pair of Jedi expendables turn up to arrest the Chancellor (aka Darth Sidious) for orchestrating the entire Clone War, the damage has already been done.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expendable
Cite this Entry
“Expendable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expendable. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share