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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wasting
to use up carelessly
spent all his energy on impractical schemes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spending
Utilities are spending billions of dollars upgrading their aging infrastructure, while data centers are prompting a surge in demand for electricity.
—
Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 12 Feb. 2026
Wagner Moura Basking in the sun outside The Times newsroom ahead of his digital cover shoot last month, Wagner Moura seemed exceptionally relaxed about spending his Tuesday afternoon in El Segundo with a bunch of journalists.
—Matt Brennan
editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
After spending the last three years focused on paying down debt, CCL has entered a new phase, centered on expanding profit margins and shareholder returns.
—Tony Zhang, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Instead of spending hundreds of dollars, get the look for less with a style like this Amazon satin scarf that even falls in line with the equestrian theme—and costs just $10.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2026
One key player who did get his visa and will be available Friday is Argentine winger Tadeo Allende, who signed a long-term contract in the off-season after spending last season on loan from Spanish club Celta de Vigo.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Many of these money-spending traditions can be traced back to the Middle Ages.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Heller embarked on his own epic journey while visiting the movie set outside Rome, spending time with most of the cast and crew.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Jacquet’s signing this month follows Liverpool spending more than £400m on new players last summer, a feat only Chelsea had previously managed in a single window.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 12 Feb. 2026
Wagner Moura Basking in the sun outside The Times newsroom ahead of his digital cover shoot last month, Wagner Moura seemed exceptionally relaxed about spending his Tuesday afternoon in El Segundo with a bunch of journalists.
—Matt Brennan
editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
After spending the last three years focused on paying down debt, CCL has entered a new phase, centered on expanding profit margins and shareholder returns.
—Tony Zhang, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Instead of spending hundreds of dollars, get the look for less with a style like this Amazon satin scarf that even falls in line with the equestrian theme—and costs just $10.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2026
One key player who did get his visa and will be available Friday is Argentine winger Tadeo Allende, who signed a long-term contract in the off-season after spending last season on loan from Spanish club Celta de Vigo.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Many of these money-spending traditions can be traced back to the Middle Ages.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Heller embarked on his own epic journey while visiting the movie set outside Rome, spending time with most of the cast and crew.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Jacquet’s signing this month follows Liverpool spending more than £400m on new players last summer, a feat only Chelsea had previously managed in a single window.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spending
Verb
-
In most of the cases, State Farm denied policyholders who had no connection to the company beyond paying their premiums.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
-
For rural counties with limited money, not paying the attorneys on the juvenile docket allows the court to pay for jurors, attorneys on other dockets, courthouse improvements and more, Fransein said.—
Raynee Howell,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Osteoporosis can also be caused by certain unhealthy habits, such as being sedentary, consuming excessive alcohol and using tobacco.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Because of its lingering ripening period, some gardeners wait until the fruit drops before consuming it.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This low-budget-looking spot was way more successful than the company's previous 2000 Super Bowl ad, the one that bragged about wasting 2 million bucks while showing a monkey dancing on a bucket.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
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When Ali Ansari was 12, living with his family in a single room at his aunt’s house in Woodland Hills, his immigrant mother told him to stop wasting time staring at his phone and try making money with it.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This research marks the first time scientists have identified the specific amino acids — arginine and tyrosine — that act as molecular glue, giving spider silk its legendary properties.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
There are also giant granite boulders dotting the shore, giving it a decidedly remote, rugged feel.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But the storks suffered when developers and agriculture operations began the ditching and draining that eventually compromised some 35% of South Florida's wetlands, where the majority of the birds nested.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Use a rich, well-draining, loamy soil mix rich in organic matter.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At 70 years old, Mahesh Chamadia had almost given up on the idea of losing weight.—
Ayushi Shah,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Bell-Johnson is known as One Leg and uses a prosthetic limb after losing his leg as a child in a train accident.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated February 6,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Still, investors in tech giants are growing nervous because these firms are essentially exhausting their available capital to fund the infrastructure buildout, according to Luria.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
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But some districts are hitting their ninth snow day of the year, exhausting the stockpile.—
Brooke Muckerman,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The system responded within milliseconds, fast enough to support real-time reactions such as pulling away from harmful contact or reducing applied force during interaction.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Republicans argued the bill would accomplish little in the way of reducing rates and would demonize utility executives.—
Christine Condon,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spending. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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