1
as in spending
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 consuming
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of expending
Because what the Knicks are seeing right now is a player expending so much on one end that there may not be enough left on the other — and a coaching staff still searching for ways to pull him out of it before the games start to matter more.
—
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
With one missile – particularly one outfitted with cluster munitions – Iran can send millions of Israelis into bomb shelters and cause Israel and the US to continue expending a finite supply of costly missile interceptors.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
Exercise positively impacts sleep by expending energy and making your more tired.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Mar. 2026
Macron said France is expending diplomatic capital to ensure a return to calm and to allow for the Lebanese armed forces to assert themselves as Israel pounds Hezbollah positions.
—Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Still, Rayburn said expending too many munitions in the conflict with Iran could prove problematic for America’s future preparedness.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 4 Mar. 2026
Thankfully, after expending serious overtime up front, the design crew lightened its hand over the rest of the truck, which remains a stout, sturdy pickup without the over-accentuation that characterizes the new US-market Tundra and Tacoma.
—New Atlas, 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
Some argue that instead of expending resources and effort to knock its adversaries off balance, the United States should invest in itself and its distinct advantages, including existing and new relationships with allies, friends, and partners.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
With one missile – particularly one outfitted with cluster munitions – Iran can send millions of Israelis into bomb shelters and cause Israel and the US to continue expending a finite supply of costly missile interceptors.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
Exercise positively impacts sleep by expending energy and making your more tired.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Mar. 2026
Macron said France is expending diplomatic capital to ensure a return to calm and to allow for the Lebanese armed forces to assert themselves as Israel pounds Hezbollah positions.
—Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Still, Rayburn said expending too many munitions in the conflict with Iran could prove problematic for America’s future preparedness.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 4 Mar. 2026
Thankfully, after expending serious overtime up front, the design crew lightened its hand over the rest of the truck, which remains a stout, sturdy pickup without the over-accentuation that characterizes the new US-market Tundra and Tacoma.
—New Atlas, 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
Some argue that instead of expending resources and effort to knock its adversaries off balance, the United States should invest in itself and its distinct advantages, including existing and new relationships with allies, friends, and partners.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expending
Verb
-
The airline was also trying to bring in higher-spending customers with bigger seats and bundled fares to compete with rival airlines.—
Bri Buckley,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
On Wednesday, Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius announced that the Netherlands was spending 248 million euros ($292 million) on drones for the Ukrainian military.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What mattered was the relationship between the people creating the content and the audience consuming it.—
Jonathan Hunt,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
With the new Iran war consuming international attention and Israel escalating strikes in Lebanon, diplomatic pressure for meaningful progress in Gaza has dramatically weakened.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Alan’s brother, Merrill Osmond, 72, was among those paying tribute.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Wrestlers operated as independent contractors, and this allowed the McMahons to avoid paying benefits.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East is actively draining the American wallet.—
Katica Roy,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The perfusionist questioned the decision to stop disinfecting the units, saying his concern with draining was that if the tanks weren’t completely dry and still contained moisture, bacteria could form.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In some ways, the Wolfpack were already destined for a reset, with veterans like Tre Holloman, Darrion Williams, Quadir Copeland and Ven-Allen Lubin all exhausting their eligibility.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Instead, America seems to be exhausting itself and its arsenals in the Middle East.—
Andreas Kluth,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sahai echoed the concern, noting that outside the Middle East, exporters were absorbing much of the increase in freight costs, with only part of it passed on to importers.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Each character has totally justified and totally unjustified reasons for resenting one another, and the sensation of absorbing those contrasting opinions is like being in a stuck bumper car, barraged and battered from all sides.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The station initially bridged the sudden budget gap last year by reaching out to donors directly and reducing costs to bring down overhead.—
Savannah Sicurella,
AJC.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The ship suffered substantial damage, and the Reagan administration retaliated by damaging or sinking three Iranian warships and three oil platforms, drastically reducing Tehran’s ability to engage in the gulf.—
Dalia Abdelwahab,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Even depleting small amounts of water can be a problem, said co-author Laura Condon, a University of Arizona hydrologist.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Yes, a consolidation of the motion picture studios from five down to four would mean fewer jobs, less choices for moviegoers, higher tickets prices, increased leveraged rental terms on cinemas by studios, potential multiplex closings and depleting ticket sales.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expending. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
