Synonyms of misspending

misspending

verb

present participle of misspend

as in spending

to use up carelessly

warned that a childhood spent hanging around indoors was a misspent youth indeed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spending
• losing
• wasting
• squandering
• lavishing
• running through
• dissipating
• throwing away
• blowing
• trifling (away)
• overspending
• frittering (away)
• fiddling away
• playing ducks and drakes with
• depleting
• consuming
• splurging
• indulging
• impoverishing
• disbursing
• exhausting
• expending
• overindulging
• laying out
• shooting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conserving
• protecting
• saving
• economizing
• preserving
• skimping
• scrimping
• hoarding
• laying up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of misspending

Glen Gilzean, who left his Orange County post accused of misspending millions in taxpayer dollars, has been tapped as the new CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County. — Alexa Coultoff, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026

Another is the surprising fact that no Florida law specifically prohibits public officials from misspending public funds on political advertising. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026

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