squan·der
ˈskwän-dər 
squandered; squandering
ˈskwän-d(ə-)riŋ
2
: to cause to disperse : scatter
3
: to lose (something, such as an advantage or opportunity) through negligence or inaction
: an act of squandering
Synonyms
Examples of squander in a Sentence
Verb
He vowed not to squander this opportunity.
squandered all her money gambling in casinos
Recent Examples on the Web
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
But some experts worry that these powerful shots are being squandered.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024
After attempts to restart the match were temporarily squandered by the presence of yet more bees, play eventually got underway after a one hour and 48 minute delay, with Alcaraz eventually winning 6-3 6-1.
—Ben Church, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024
The Senate failed to convict Johnson by one vote, but the proceedings squandered any hopes the president harbored of securing re-election.
—Vanessa Armstrong, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024
But the broader point is that a unique opportunity to permanently diminish Hamas, not only as an army but also as a political movement, is being squandered because Netanyahu refuses to encourage any prospect, however long term, of building toward a two-state solution.
—Thomas L. Friedman, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
Tuesday marked the second time in three games the Panthers have squandered a lead in the third period, also doing so in their shootout loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Despite their adventures, most of their money is squandered on vices or lost to others.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 25 Mar. 2024
Rain falling on urban expanses is channeled into drainage conduits, squandered.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 8 Feb. 2021
These were strong words, backed by statistics and set against the backdrop of a feeble first swipe at long COVID by the National Institutes of Health that has been widely viewed as a disastrous squander of time and money.
—Carolyn Barber, Fortune, 24 Jan. 2024
And that failing to do so squanders huge amounts of human capital.
—Kelly Field, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Jan. 2024
Meanwhile, the movie squanders Antonio Banderas in a tiny role and under-utilizes Mads Mikkelsen in a bigger one: Voller, Indy’s Nazi rival for the disc.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 30 June 2023
The Sox mounted an even more formidable threat – with an even more monumental squander – in the bottom of the first.
—Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2023
Those on hand saw the A’s squander an early 6-2 lead then force extra innings in dramatic fashion.
—Matt Kawahara, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2023
And in Atlanta, the Falcons’ squander of a 16-point lead to the Saints in the fourth quarter could have been saved by kicker Younghoe Koo, but his last-second try from 63 yards — well beyond his career long — was blocked.
—BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2022
For the second game in a row, the Red Sox got off to promising start, only to see the bullpen squander it.
—BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2021
Verb
The Heat squandered a chance to remain sixth in the East and further distance itself from No. 8 Philadelphia.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
But some experts worry that these powerful shots are being squandered.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024
After attempts to restart the match were temporarily squandered by the presence of yet more bees, play eventually got underway after a one hour and 48 minute delay, with Alcaraz eventually winning 6-3 6-1.
—Ben Church, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024
The Senate failed to convict Johnson by one vote, but the proceedings squandered any hopes the president harbored of securing re-election.
—Vanessa Armstrong, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024
But the broader point is that a unique opportunity to permanently diminish Hamas, not only as an army but also as a political movement, is being squandered because Netanyahu refuses to encourage any prospect, however long term, of building toward a two-state solution.
—Thomas L. Friedman, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
Tuesday marked the second time in three games the Panthers have squandered a lead in the third period, also doing so in their shootout loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Despite their adventures, most of their money is squandered on vices or lost to others.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 25 Mar. 2024
Rain falling on urban expanses is channeled into drainage conduits, squandered.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Noun
Whatever the credit that comes from deploying diplomatic capital against impossible causes, that approach also generates unrealistic expectations, squanders valuable time and energy, risks eventual disengagement, and crowds out efforts to make more modest progress.
—Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 8 Feb. 2021
These were strong words, backed by statistics and set against the backdrop of a feeble first swipe at long COVID by the National Institutes of Health that has been widely viewed as a disastrous squander of time and money.
—Carolyn Barber, Fortune, 24 Jan. 2024
And that failing to do so squanders huge amounts of human capital.
—Kelly Field, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Jan. 2024
Meanwhile, the movie squanders Antonio Banderas in a tiny role and under-utilizes Mads Mikkelsen in a bigger one: Voller, Indy’s Nazi rival for the disc.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 30 June 2023
The Sox mounted an even more formidable threat – with an even more monumental squander – in the bottom of the first.
—Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2023
Those on hand saw the A’s squander an early 6-2 lead then force extra innings in dramatic fashion.
—Matt Kawahara, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2023
And in Atlanta, the Falcons’ squander of a 16-point lead to the Saints in the fourth quarter could have been saved by kicker Younghoe Koo, but his last-second try from 63 yards — well beyond his career long — was blocked.
—BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2022
For the second game in a row, the Red Sox got off to promising start, only to see the bullpen squander it.
—BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'squander.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
origin unknown
First Known Use
Verb
1536, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1709, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near squander
Cite this Entry
“Squander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squander. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
squander
verb
squan·der
ˈskwän-dər
squandered; squandering
-d(ə-)riŋ
: to spend foolishly or wastefully
squandered all her money on video games
squanderer
noun
-dər-ər
More from Merriam-Webster on squander
Nglish: Translation of squander for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of squander for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share