SPENDABLE Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

spend

verb

ˈspend

Definition of spend

as in to pay

to hand over or use up in payment I always end up spending too much money at the mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to consume

to make complete use of the town has already spent its budget for snow removal, and it's only January

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to waste

to use up carelessly spent all his energy on impractical schemes

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 spend Transformed into flying emissions laboratory Gulfstream’s engineering and flight test teams spent months preparing for the campaign. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 11 July 2026 Local prosecutors were not invited into the investigation by federal officials but have spent the past three days in the Houston neighborhood looking for surveillance footage and talking to witnesses, said Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare. — Arkansas Online, 11 July 2026 In May 2023, I was invited to spend time with the staff during their preparation for Wimbledon. — Nick Pachelli, Time, 11 July 2026 The Miami native spent one season at USF after transferring there last summer from Division 2 Nova Southeastern University. — Hunter Delauder, AJC.com, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for spend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spend

Verb

Lucas said each year the City Council allocates more than 25% of its annual operating revenue to fund the Police Department, yet the agency struggles each year with paying legal settlements.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
But if your paperwork is approved and your interview is completed, and your fees are paid, congratulations!

— Josie Fischels, NPR, 14 July 2026

Definition of pay

Verb

Every one of those calls consumes tokens and touches a system with its own permissions.

— Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Public health data has taught us that alcohol, which can be fine when consumed in moderation, can be harmful to individual and societal health in excessive amounts.

— Adam Hoffer, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026

Definition of consume

Verb

Once again, no one is here for the play-acting, the time-wasting, the cheating.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Rather than simply reducing power use across the board, the system attempts to identify exactly when machinery is wasting energy and proposes operational changes that can reduce consumption without disrupting productivity.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 July 2026

Definition of waste

Verb

Because of that, the resolution called on the Legislature to give counties more oversight.

— Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2026
The most fascinating quarter-final tie for me, given that Switzerland denied us an all-South American affair between Argentina and Colombia.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of give

Verb

Conwell drained a three on his first shot but then missed six in a row, before hitting another three late in the third quarter.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
The promotion dropped on Monday, June 29 and almost immediately, the original $150,000 budget allocated to the promotion was drained —covering some 25,000 pulls.

— Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of drain

Verb

The Department of Homeland Security spokesperson previously told The Times that a child attached to a parent’s immigration case does not lose the claim upon turning 18, but said that a pending asylum application doesn’t confer legal status.

— Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
After rallying from a five-run deficit in the seventh inning to tie the score, the Angels ended up losing anyway, falling to the Texas Rangers, 7-6, when right-hander Kirby Yates gave up a run in the bottom of the ninth on Thursday night.

— Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 10 July 2026

Definition of lose

Verb

About half of Florida's 242 death row inmates have exhausted their appeals and could see their death warrant issued at any time.

— CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Norton was deeply moved by audience members who spoke to him after, but he was also exhausted by the emotional and physical strain of the show.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 July 2026

Definition of exhaust

Verb

The Hill Country is especially prone to flooding issues because its steep slopes, shallow soils and exposed bedrock repel heavy rain instead of absorbing it.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Publishers have argued that the companies also benefit from distributing and displaying links to journalism while absorbing advertising revenue that once supported newsrooms.

— Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 15 July 2026

Definition of absorb

Browse Nearby Words

spences

spend

spender

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Style

“Spend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spend. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of spend

verb

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