wasteful

adjective

waste·​ful ˈwāst-fəl 

: given to or marked by waste : lavish, prodigal

wastefully

ˈwāst-fə-lē 

adverb

wastefulness noun

Synonyms of wasteful

• extravagant
• profligate
• generous
• spendthrift
• unthrifty
• prodigal
• reckless
• careless
• liberal

Examples of wasteful in a Sentence

a wasteful use of natural resources

a careless and wasteful person

We must eliminate wasteful expenditures.

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s no doubt that there are wasteful contracts and bloated salaries to be cut, but not even the strictest economizing could absorb that much without serious danger to public health and safety. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2026

Proposition 41, which trailed slightly Tuesday evening, is framed as an effort to cut wasteful government spending and require audits of new special taxes. — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Her campaign focused on curtailing immigration, confronting China and cutting wasteful government spending. — Maham Javaid, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026

Rúa had been making videos on Instagram and TikTok for five years anonymously under the name Elefante blanco, or the White Elephant, a reference to the unfinished and wasteful infrastructure projects that Rúa exposes. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for wasteful

• distasteful
• tasteful

Kids Definition

wasteful

adjective

waste·​ful ˈwāst-fəl 

: given to or marked by waste : prodigal

a wasteful use of our natural resources

wastefully

-fə-lē 

adverb

wastefulness noun