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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squander
Trapping individuals in endless cycles of exclusion and financial hardship squanders potential, reduces tax revenue and widens disparities.
—
Brian Fabes, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Fitzpatrick squandered a 5 up lead to Bryson DeChambeau to finish all square.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Power a car with a gallon of gas, and some of that energy is squandered heating the engine block rather than spinning the wheels.
—Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026
In 2005 his team failed to add a second Champions League title after squandering a 3–0 lead versus Liverpool FC to lose on penalties in one of the most dramatic finals in the competition’s history.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for squander
Brian Fabes, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Fitzpatrick squandered a 5 up lead to Bryson DeChambeau to finish all square.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Power a car with a gallon of gas, and some of that energy is squandered heating the engine block rather than spinning the wheels.
—Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026
In 2005 his team failed to add a second Champions League title after squandering a 3–0 lead versus Liverpool FC to lose on penalties in one of the most dramatic finals in the competition’s history.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for squander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squander
Verb
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Roony has spent the season in Yamal’s shadow, making just eight starts.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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And its matches total state dollars spent at the time on Medicaid, Goodman noted.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The many attending assistants around her eventually disperse — a little hesitantly because Sam is in the middle of preparing a new show — and the two withdraw to Sam’s cavernous studio.—
Jake Coyle,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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The soft brown fabric is pleated to disperse the light into a cozy glow.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Educators were fired for making insensitive comments about him on their personal social-media accounts; a firefighter in Toledo lost his job for posting a derisive eulogy on Facebook; various airline employees were suspended for disparaging Kirk online.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
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Gray added that both players agreed to lose the game in exchange for $10,000 to $15,000 in payments each.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When the Broncos cut Greenlaw, the 49ers wasted no time in bringing him back to pair with middle linebacker Fred Warner in hopes of reviving one of the NFL’s top linebacker tandems.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Cucurella’s red card was the seventh of their nine so far in 2025-26, and the two games featured chances wasted in front of goal and moments where the defence got easily exposed by direct play.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squander. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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