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
Relevance
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
And though that plan probably isn’t changing, New England will need to expend some resources at tight end this offseason.
—
Chad Graff, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
In addition, most of the money dedicated to well plugging is expended through contractors.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
As the black holes emit these waves, their orbits shrink because of the energy expended, drawing them closer together.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
Targeting multiple muscle groups expends calories more efficiently.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expend
Chad Graff, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
In addition, most of the money dedicated to well plugging is expended through contractors.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
As the black holes emit these waves, their orbits shrink because of the energy expended, drawing them closer together.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
Targeting multiple muscle groups expends calories more efficiently.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expend
Verb
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This has meant the show has spent more time with the very relatable Dunk and his precocious charge Egg.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Grohl said the band spent months discussing their next steps before making the decision.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But food science specialists say the coatings are safe to consume and are applied in very small amounts, according to Donald Schwan, department chair, distinguished professor, and extension specialist in food science at Rutgers University.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
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If power is lost for less than two hours, most perishable food should be safe to consume.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The reality, however, will likely prove more complicated as the administration weighs its next moves and how — or whether — to issue refunds for tariffs already paid.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm on Saturday as some 3,000 people joined a march in Lyon organized by far-right groups to pay tribute to Deranque.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, because it is adapted to arid environments and well-draining soils, avoid Russian sage in wet areas.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 Feb. 2026
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Cactus and Succulent Mix Unlike moisture-loving tropical plants, cacti and succulents have evolved to thrive in very dry conditions—meaning that the ideal soil mix for these plants will drain very quickly without holding excess moisture.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Then there’s Rick Devens, whose reputation coming off of his fourth-place finish in season 38’s Edge of Extinction is less of a coldly calculating snake than a perpetual-motion machine whose strategizing and idol-hunting has the 50 returnees already exhausted at the thought of playing with him.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
25 Feb. 2026
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Seven starters left via the portal, and another 13 exhausted their eligibility.—
Manny Navarro,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Wrap your unwashed roots in a paper towel to absorb any potential moisture, then store the carrots in a zip-top bag or airtight container in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer for up to 4 weeks.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Feb. 2026
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But what absorbs him most is the intense kinship that the San feel with the elephants, to the point where, at a bonfire dance, a kind of cross-species migration of souls seems to take place.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expend. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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