squander

verb

ˈskwän-dər How to pronounce squander (audio)
Definition of squandernext
1
as in to spend
to use up carelessly squandered all her money gambling in casinos

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to disperse
to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart a single blast of the shotgun squandered the herd of deer

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 squander Messi delivers the dagger Despite thoroughly controlling most of the match, the result was still in doubt late in the second half as Argentina squandered a few opportunities to increase its lead. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026 Kudos to Scott Maxwell for taking on Orange County Major Jerry Demings over plans to yet again squander a small fortune of local tax dollars on boondoggle tourism projects. — Mike Thomas, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026 Still, Twain squandered his own fortune and Livy’s inheritance on developing Paige’s invention, even as the Mergenthaler Linotype became the industry standard, rendering Paige’s machine worthless. — Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 The Phillies squandered an early 3-0 lead and fell behind 4-3 before Schwarber hit a 408-foot drive to center field off Kodai Senga (0-7), who was making the first regular-season relief appearance of his big league career. — Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for squander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squander
  1. spend
  2. disperse
  3. lose
  4. waste
Verb
  • During our time away, our neighbors visited with us at the hospital, looked after our house and came over daily to feed and spend time with our cat.
    — Dawn M. Turner, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • American doctors are so conspicuously well-paid that a group of economic researchers spent years trying to figure out why.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of spend
Verb
  • On the solstice, the first goal was to clear trash that had found its way onto the orchard, then form makeshift berms out of rocks dispersed around the space.
    — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • The San Jose Police Department has declared an unlawful assembly and in the name of the People of the State of California, order all those assembled at Santa Clara St and Almaden Ave to immediately disperse, which means to break up this assembly.
    — Tim Fang, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of disperse
Verb
  • The Padres, meanwhile, have lost six straight and given up 66 runs over the last six days, the most in such a span in franchise history.
    — Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • But water also carries the potential for danger, and parents who have lost a child to drowning are begging families to use caution.
    — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of lose
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

Browse Nearby Words

squamous
squander
squandered
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Cite this Entry

“Squander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squander. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on squander

Nglish: Translation of squander for Spanish Speakers

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