Synonyms of spending

spending

verb

present participle of spend

1

as in paying

to hand over or use up in payment

I always end up spending too much money at the mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• paying
• giving
• expending
• disbursing
• wasting
• laying out
• outlaying
• dropping
• shelling out
• forking (over, out, or up)
• lavishing
• raining
• squandering
• dissipating
• blowing
• running through
• throwing away
• frittering (away)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• saving
• making
• earning
• hoarding
• acquiring
• securing
• realizing
• procuring
• winning
• gaining
• laying up
• caching
• garnering

2

as in consuming

to make complete use of

the town has already spent its budget for snow removal, and it's only January

Synonyms & Similar Words

• consuming
• draining
• exhausting
• reducing
• absorbing
• burning
• eating
• using
• depleting
• expending
• wasting
• devouring
• decreasing
• emptying
• playing out
• drawing down
• running out of
• using up
• lowering
• diminishing
• weakening
• downsizing
• dwindling
• undermining
• bankrupting
• crippling
• impoverishing
• lessening
• sapping
• cleaning (out)
• blowing
• squandering
• debilitating
• misspending
• disabling
• abating
• lavishing
• enfeebling
• guzzling
• drying up
• dissipating
• de-escalating
• throwing away
• running through
• frittering (away)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increasing
• replacing
• renewing
• enforcing
• enlarging
• reinforcing
• strengthening
• augmenting
• repairing
• restoring
• rebuilding
• saving
• preserving
• reviving
• conserving
• bolstering
• fortifying

3

as in wasting

to use up carelessly

spent all his energy on impractical schemes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spending

In the employer market, more recent data suggest the volumes of prescriptions — which are proprietary — are driving up spending more than prices, although prices are still a factor. — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026

Born and raised in Flushing, Queens, to a Chinese family, Liu developed an early interest in beauty, recalling spending hours painting her nails after school. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

Simply liking someone, feeling close to them or spending hours together isn’t enough to create an attachment relationship. — Pascal Vrticka, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2026

Miciah Whelan of Carmichael hadn’t planned on spending his Saturday night at a rodeo. — Haley Parsley october 4, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026

After spending some time playing in a (very cool) makeshift stadium on the shores of Lake Michigan, the Northwestern Wildcats finally christened the new Ryan Field in an important Big Ten clash with Penn State. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

For years now, hotels have been spending more and more on signature fragrances to woo and hook guests. — Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

After spending much of the year in bright tomato reds and pretty, polished pinks, the actor and singer has gone several shades deeper for fall, courtesy of longtime nail artist Tom Bachik. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2026

After spending his first two seasons making his presence felt primarily on special teams, one wide receiver has turned his opportunity into a breakout season, quickly becoming one of the Panthers’ most important offensive weapons. — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026