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
An audit report released in October found that a manager with Austin Water misspent $78,000 to pay contractors for unauthorized services.
—
Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
Remember when Massachusetts misspent about $2.5 billion in CARES Act funds (under former Gov. Charlie Baker)?
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 8 Dec. 2025
Oz said in his X post that California had misspent $1.3 billion on care for people not eligible for Medicaid, while Illinois spent $30 million, Oregon $5.4 million, Washington state $2.4 million, Washington, D.C., $2.1 million, and Colorado $1.5 million.
—Kff Health News, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 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
See All Example Sentences for misspend
Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
Remember when Massachusetts misspent about $2.5 billion in CARES Act funds (under former Gov. Charlie Baker)?
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 8 Dec. 2025
Oz said in his X post that California had misspent $1.3 billion on care for people not eligible for Medicaid, while Illinois spent $30 million, Oregon $5.4 million, Washington state $2.4 million, Washington, D.C., $2.1 million, and Colorado $1.5 million.
—Kff Health News, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 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
See All Example Sentences for misspend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misspend
Verb
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Gates is also a disciple of longtime head coach Leonard Hamilton, who spent 1990 to 2000 with Miami and led the Hurricanes to a Sweet Sixteen.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
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These rulings permit corporations, unions and independent groups to raise and spend unlimited sums, provided the spending is not coordinated with campaigns.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fine’s husband, Michael, lost an arm after a car crash in 2010, setting off her yearslong work on health care legislation.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
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This is the mayor’s second attempt at a higher office, after losing a 2018 bid for governor against Pritzker.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misspend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misspend. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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