as in to spend
to use up carelessly
warned that a childhood spent hanging around indoors was a misspent youth indeed
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Recent Examples of misspend
In a lengthy essay today, Gates argues that some climate aid funding is being misspent on projects that try to cut back on emissions but make no tangible improvement in peoples’ health or livelihoods.
—
Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Every dollar misspent on luxury travel accommodations is a dollar that could remain with an airline or with a passenger.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2025
There are literally a million better ways to stop food waste than partnering with a family that has been convicted of felonies for misspending nonprofit money.
—Emily Barnes, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Auditors find $29 million at risk, among other issues
State auditors said the failure to properly monitor the activities of federal grant recipients increased the risk of misspending $29 million, or not spending the funds according to award terms, program requirements, and federal regulations.
—Sarah Lapidus, AZCentral.com, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misspend
Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Every dollar misspent on luxury travel accommodations is a dollar that could remain with an airline or with a passenger.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2025
There are literally a million better ways to stop food waste than partnering with a family that has been convicted of felonies for misspending nonprofit money.
—Emily Barnes, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Auditors find $29 million at risk, among other issues
State auditors said the failure to properly monitor the activities of federal grant recipients increased the risk of misspending $29 million, or not spending the funds according to award terms, program requirements, and federal regulations.
—Sarah Lapidus, AZCentral.com, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misspend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misspend
Verb
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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
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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
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The Republican primary field also includes Brown, Michele Morrow, who won a surprise 2024 primary before narrowly losing statewide, along with Margot Dupre, Richard Dansie, Elizabeth Temple, and Thomas Johnson.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Feb. 2026
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The decline in future spending commitments is projected to lead to 670,000 and 1,600,000 lives lost annually.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misspend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misspend. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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