1
as in spends
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 consumes
to make complete use of
settlers had to be sure not to expend their supply of firewood before the end of the long winter
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of expends
Targeting multiple muscle groups expends calories more efficiently.
—
Jakob Roze, Health, 5 Feb. 2026
Virtually every cell on every branch of the tree of life expends a hefty chunk of its energy budget — in some cells, more than half — on maintaining a voltage across its membrane.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
When the workload is greater than usual, your body temporarily expends more energy to fuel the digestive process, both in breaking down macronutrients and in absorbing that fuel for use later.
—Bryn Beeder, The Conversation, 17 Nov. 2025
The places facing existential climate risks—especially those in the Deep South—are mostly in states that have long been considered politically uncompetitive, where neither party expends much effort or money to gain votes.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
China’s apparent surge in missile production comes as the US expends sophisticated defense systems in Ukraine and Israel, causing some ammunition shortages and sparking debate in Washington about how and where to deploy its high-end weapons.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
Meteorologists said Erin would likely fluctuate in strength throughout the week as the storm draws strength from warm ocean waters, then expends energy through enormous wind and waves.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 17 Aug. 2025
The first machine to solve the puzzle secures the next block of transactions and earns a Bitcoin reward, while every competing rig still expends the same electricity.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025
Jakob Roze, Health, 5 Feb. 2026
Virtually every cell on every branch of the tree of life expends a hefty chunk of its energy budget — in some cells, more than half — on maintaining a voltage across its membrane.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
When the workload is greater than usual, your body temporarily expends more energy to fuel the digestive process, both in breaking down macronutrients and in absorbing that fuel for use later.
—Bryn Beeder, The Conversation, 17 Nov. 2025
The places facing existential climate risks—especially those in the Deep South—are mostly in states that have long been considered politically uncompetitive, where neither party expends much effort or money to gain votes.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
China’s apparent surge in missile production comes as the US expends sophisticated defense systems in Ukraine and Israel, causing some ammunition shortages and sparking debate in Washington about how and where to deploy its high-end weapons.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
Meteorologists said Erin would likely fluctuate in strength throughout the week as the storm draws strength from warm ocean waters, then expends energy through enormous wind and waves.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 17 Aug. 2025
The first machine to solve the puzzle secures the next block of transactions and earns a Bitcoin reward, while every competing rig still expends the same electricity.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expends
Verb
-
WalletHub estimates the average person spends about $200 on Valentine’s Day.—
Katey Psencik,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
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Even a stretch of sub-zero weather like one in late January and early February won’t harm the black-legged tick, the Lyme disease-carrying species that should be familiar to anyone who spends time outdoors in Rhode Island.—
Alex Kuffner,
The Providence Journal,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
South Dakota’s biggest data center consumes 30 megawatts, and the state has none of the vastly larger data centers that have proliferated elsewhere.—
Makenzie Huber,
States Newsroom,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Once Ali returns from his exile an absurdly wealthy man (and sporting a comically fake mustache), his brutality consumes everyone around him, and Yıldız’s hatred of him grows.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The album's eclectic throwback sound pays tribute to the singer's Boricua roots, incorporating traditional genres such as Plena, salsa and jibaro into his signature Latin urbano style.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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Another conundrum is how to model a fair system to charge for cars registered outside of the municipality that owns and pays for the parking facility.—
Harvey Levine,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Board member Nicole Gribstad also urged the committee to include an option that delays such a decision and exhausts all other financial alternatives before closing schools.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But freedom of expression is a constant pursuit, as natural as breathing, and silencing it is an imperfect practice that exhausts the oppressor and energizes the oppressed.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Keep a shallow pan or old towel handy in case any water drains during the process.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Use a good quality potting mix that drains well in the container.—
Sheryl Geerts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Baking soda naturally neutralizes odors and absorbs any moisture.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 Feb. 2026
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Their dark color also absorbs more solar heat, which can accelerate natural melting during the day.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expends. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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