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
Far from being hungry and spending most of our resources on food, mankind has never had to work fewer hours to pay for his bread.
—
Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
Critics have said that the policy that all spending over $100,000 had to be personally approved by Noem delayed FEMA response during disasters, including during the central Texas floods in 2025.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Also, wealthier consumers have been spending more freely than the mass-market shoppers who frequent the Macy’s nameplate.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Small market teams also benefitted from spending by the richest franchises—nine teams paid $403 million in luxury tax penalties last season, led by the Dodgers at $169 million.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Rather than spending their time packing, unpacking, and setting up the tent, a family with kids can get straight to gathering around a fire or challenging each other to ever-lengthening cold plunges in the spa.
—Naomi Tomky, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
When Amodei was still a postdoc at Stanford, the two lived together in a group house that also included Dario’s sister, Daniela, spending late nights talking about physics.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Five years ago, when pro-Israel groups began spending to beat left-wing candidates, their raison d’etre didn’t really become an issue in their races.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Read more about the high-spending Senate battle.
—Marissa Martinez, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
Critics have said that the policy that all spending over $100,000 had to be personally approved by Noem delayed FEMA response during disasters, including during the central Texas floods in 2025.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Also, wealthier consumers have been spending more freely than the mass-market shoppers who frequent the Macy’s nameplate.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Small market teams also benefitted from spending by the richest franchises—nine teams paid $403 million in luxury tax penalties last season, led by the Dodgers at $169 million.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Rather than spending their time packing, unpacking, and setting up the tent, a family with kids can get straight to gathering around a fire or challenging each other to ever-lengthening cold plunges in the spa.
—Naomi Tomky, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
When Amodei was still a postdoc at Stanford, the two lived together in a group house that also included Dario’s sister, Daniela, spending late nights talking about physics.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Five years ago, when pro-Israel groups began spending to beat left-wing candidates, their raison d’etre didn’t really become an issue in their races.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Read more about the high-spending Senate battle.
—Marissa Martinez, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spending
Verb
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The purpose of an early debate is to help Californians evaluate a still-developing field, not to let academics and media sponsors freeze the race before most people start paying attention.—
Matt Klink,
Oc Register,
17 Mar. 2026
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That growth has been evident in the high-paying tech sector.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nonetheless, the emerging picture of happiness is a complex one, and while there are many factors to consider, the migration to a digital means of producing and consuming information is key.—
Jeanne Bonner,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
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To maximize protein benefits, consider consuming yogurt before bedtime, in the morning, or about 30 minutes to two hours after a workout.—
Joy Emeh,
Health,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Avoid space-wasting moves, such as storing tall bottles on the same shelf as short cocktail tumblers.—
Amy Panos,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Mar. 2026
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The tube is filled with 1 fluid ounce of cream and is capped with a small pump to get the perfect amount of serum—without losing or wasting any precious product.—
Gabriela Izquierdo,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Spring has taken hold across Texas, with blooming flowers and budding trees signaling the season’s arrival — and giving families the perfect excuse to head out in search of scenic fields.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
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The split-screen dynamic is giving Republicans an early glimpse of what could become the party’s defining 2028 divide — one that may ultimately hinge on how the war unfolds.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tatum assisted on Boston’s first two baskets — a cutting and-one layup by Neemias Queta and a White 3-pointer off a Queta steal — then scored the next two, finishing at the rim against Oso Ighodaro and draining a second-chance three.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
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Containers can dry out quickly due to quickly draining soil and exposure to warmer above-ground temperatures.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Blue Devils’ assistant coach position has served as a springboard as of late, with current Miami Hurricanes head coach Jai Lucas making the jump last season, and Evan Bradds taking the Belmont job earlier this week — marking three straight seasons of Scheyer losing at least one assistant.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Mar. 2026
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The river, which serves 40 million people, has been losing water for decades as the planet has heated and those millions have used it too much.—
Mark Gongloff,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Groups usually switch out the lead skier often to avoid exhausting one person.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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As these components segregate over generations, the gene drive becomes less functional, strategy that has been described as a means of developing self-exhausting gene drives that limit geographic distribution.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in reducing the risk of wildfires during these hazardous conditions.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
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Congress has been reducing these benefits, and there is no doubt that benefits will be reduced in the future with possible increases in taxes.—
Elliot Raphaelson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spending. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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