1
as in pays
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 consumes
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 loses
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 spends
Daly's parents live in rural Illinois and her mom spends a lot of time online shopping.
—
Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
In a new piece in this week’s issue, Antonia Hitchens spends time with Loomer and those around her.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
Know someone who spends a ton of time on their feet—a teacher or a nurse, perhaps?
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 11 Nov. 2025
There will inevitably be someone who spends three or four times more than face value to attend Hayley Williams‘ upcoming solo tour.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2025
Either way, this guy, who is hoarding $482 billion and yet spends his time sharing 2016-era memes and retweeting Tommy Robinson, is easily the most embarrassing boyfriend to have ever lived.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 10 Nov. 2025
The Perks Week closes out with an offer of a free cheeseburger when a customer spends $3.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Garfield, meanwhile, is a Congressman who represents Ohio, but spends most of his time back home.
—David Bianculli, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
Ideally, if the item spends less time in the washer, the fibers stay more intact, and even less pilling occurs.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
In a new piece in this week’s issue, Antonia Hitchens spends time with Loomer and those around her.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
Know someone who spends a ton of time on their feet—a teacher or a nurse, perhaps?
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 11 Nov. 2025
There will inevitably be someone who spends three or four times more than face value to attend Hayley Williams‘ upcoming solo tour.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2025
Either way, this guy, who is hoarding $482 billion and yet spends his time sharing 2016-era memes and retweeting Tommy Robinson, is easily the most embarrassing boyfriend to have ever lived.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 10 Nov. 2025
The Perks Week closes out with an offer of a free cheeseburger when a customer spends $3.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Garfield, meanwhile, is a Congressman who represents Ohio, but spends most of his time back home.
—David Bianculli, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
Ideally, if the item spends less time in the washer, the fibers stay more intact, and even less pilling occurs.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spends
Verb
-
The Federal Election Commission requires presidential candidates to reveal who pays them.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
How much someone with insurance pays for these drugs depends on their health plan; Eli Lilly notes on its website that through private insurance, people can pay as little as $25 a month.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
However, each conversion step consumes energy, introduces delay, and loses some of the information carried by the original signal.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Light distorts, sound bends; the signal consumes the chamber, turning technology into liturgy.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
-
However, each conversion step consumes energy, introduces delay, and loses some of the information carried by the original signal.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This gives guests direct access to historic centers and cultural landmarks while allowing more time to explore.—
DeAnna Taylor,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Decisions at COPs are made by consensus, meaning countries must agree on everything — a feature which technically gives any nation a veto and can make progress very slow and fraught.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The group exhausts and irritates opposing pitchers.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Nothing, not even the slog of a miles long backcountry ski, exhausts me like chugging upward on two wheels.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Proposition 50 mocks California voters and wastes hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in the process.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
21 Oct. 2025
-
That clogs the judicial system, wastes limited resources, and delays justice for those with legitimate grievances.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Source clarity can save time and reduce the back-and-forth that drains energy during tight deadlines.—
Malana VanTyler,
Ascend Agency,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Make sure to soak the plant thoroughly so the water drains from the bottom of the pot.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This compound may affect how your body absorbs minerals like iron and zinc.—
Cynthia Sass,
Health,
5 Nov. 2025
-
While spinach is often praised for its iron content, meat may be a more effective way to boost your levels because your body absorbs it more efficiently.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spends. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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