throw·away
ˈthrō-ə-ˌwā 
1
: designed to be thrown away : disposable
throwaway containers
2
: written or spoken (as in a play) in a low-key or unemphatic manner
throwaway lines
3
: nonchalant, casual
4
: marked by a tendency to discard things : overly wasteful
a throwaway society
1
: one that is or is designed to be thrown away: such as
a
: a free handbill or circular
b
: a line of dialogue (as in a play) de-emphasized by casual delivery
especially
: a joke or witticism delivered casually
2
: something made or done without care or interest
3
: a child who has been forced to leave home or who has run away from indifferent or hostile parents
threw away; thrown away; throwing away; throws away
1
a
: to get rid of as worthless or unnecessary
b
2
3
: to make (something, such as a line in a play) unemphatic by casual delivery
Examples of throwaway in a Sentence
Verb
I should throw away that torn shirt.
if you buy a high-end computer, you'll just be throwing away money on a bunch of features you'll never use
Recent Examples on the Web
EW.com, 6 May 2025
That alone should set the alarm bells ringing as PayPal would obviously not be sending you a critical security notification using a throwaway Gmail address.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Nick Nuttall, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
An archive of throwaways gets new life when presented as a natural history composed of cultural artifacts.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
Kristina Becvar, Twin Cities, 25 June 2025
The problem is worst in affluent countries like the U.S., where more than two hundred pounds of food per person get thrown away each year.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for throwaway
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Valak, the demon that manifests as this Satanic holy woman who originated as a potentially throwaway character.
—EW.com, 6 May 2025
That alone should set the alarm bells ringing as PayPal would obviously not be sending you a critical security notification using a throwaway Gmail address.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
The backbone of the current system is committed community and green groups, a small but growing suite or repair shops and customers who feel uncomfortable with the throwaway society.
—Nick Nuttall, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
An archive of throwaways gets new life when presented as a natural history composed of cultural artifacts.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
Verb
Most Americans, even many who support Trump, do not want to throw away the guardrails of our constitutional system.
—Kristina Becvar, Twin Cities, 25 June 2025
The problem is worst in affluent countries like the U.S., where more than two hundred pounds of food per person get thrown away each year.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for throwaway
Cite this Entry
“Throwaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throwaway. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
throwaway
1 of 3 noun
throw·away
ˈthrō-ə-ˌwā
: something that is or is designed to be thrown away especially after one use
throwaway
2 of 3 adjective
throw·away
ˌthrō-ə-ˌwā
: designed to be thrown away : disposable
throwaway cans and bottles
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