1
as in to spend
to hand over or use up in payment
redecoration will have to wait, since we've just expended our last dollar in buying the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to consume
to make complete use of
settlers had to be sure not to expend their supply of firewood before the end of the long winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of expend
Freescape did not expend all its creativity designing the patented inflatable roof, saving plenty for the flexible lower floor plan.
—
New Atlas, 24 Jan. 2026
To see why, simply consider the $20 billion expended to make the purchases that presently have the FTC so up in arms.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Of course, this process can be taxing, and people only have so much effort and attention to expend.
—Jt Torres, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
And if this energy is used or leaks away, cells can replenish it by expending more of their chemical energy.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expend
New Atlas, 24 Jan. 2026
To see why, simply consider the $20 billion expended to make the purchases that presently have the FTC so up in arms.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Of course, this process can be taxing, and people only have so much effort and attention to expend.
—Jt Torres, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
And if this energy is used or leaks away, cells can replenish it by expending more of their chemical energy.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expend
Verb
-
Conservative talk radio has long dominated the commutes of California Republicans, many of whom once spent their mornings reading local newspaper opinion pages that leaned right.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
2 Feb. 2026
-
But the Rabelaisian playwright and novelist developed a deep interest in French literature, nourished by a transformative period spent living in post-war Paris.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Next, consumed by stress, Howell had a heart attack.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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The Liquor Commission voted to amend Heinen’s Class G2 liquor license to allow customers to consume alcoholic beverages on its patio space, which is connected to the market’s cafe area through sliding doors.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In this Gothic fantasy debut, Leena Al-Sayer bargains her ability to see the dead in order to pay for the expensive medicine her brother Rami needs to live.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the legislature should act on the report’s recommendations with actions to strengthen reporting, enforce existing laws, prevent further abandonment of wells and ensure polluters pay for cleanup.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Drain and reserve about 1/2 cup cooking water, and drain pasta.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The Bulldogs drew up a play for Jake Heidbreder, who calmly drained an open 18-footer on the left baseline at the buzzer and was mobbed by students spilling out of the Save Mart Center stands.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At some point, those fuel sources will be exhausted, no further energy will be naturally extracted from what remains within them, and those once-brilliant objects will fade away into darkness.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
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On Wednesday, more than 200 repair crews were at work in Kyiv to restore power, according to the Ukrainian Energy Ministry, which said that staff were exhausted and would be rotated.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The steel frame included in the renovation absorbs impacts, and the bridge cover has remained largely unharmed.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
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For instance, it's sometimes used to bind to certain poisons before your body absorbs them.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expend. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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