1
as in spent
to use up carelessly
squandered all her money gambling in casinos
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dispersed
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
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Recent Examples of squandered
This wasn’t like Orlando or Phoenix – the back-to-back losses to help close February where the Lakers squandered double-digit leads and missed open looks for buzzer beaters.
—
Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
The Magic squandered a 19-point lead in the second half, allowed Washington to score 42 points across the final 12 minutes of regulation and required late-game heroics from Jalen Suggs to escape at home against the Southeast Division opponent.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
Many Angelenos believe the city’s leaders have squandered billions in funds meant to alleviate the homelessness crisis and allowed unhoused people to take over public space.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Though still fuming from his team’s baffling loss to the Bulls – the Warriors squandered an eight-point lead with 91 seconds remaining – Kerr found his composure long enough to crack a joke.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
In the year since then, FAU has become less safe, its reputation has suffered, and its resources have been squandered.
—Karen J. Leader, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
Without question, the Longhorn men have squandered a comfortable spot in the NCAA Tournament and have made their path to the postseason much more difficult with a painful 88-85 overtime loss to ascending Oklahoma Saturday night.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 8 Mar. 2026
But, across the next seven frames, Team USA squandered so many chances to run-rule a Brazil team that featured only one player in its lineup with any major-league experience.
—Maria Torres, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Had Hezbollah squandered the last of its political capital?
—Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
The Magic squandered a 19-point lead in the second half, allowed Washington to score 42 points across the final 12 minutes of regulation and required late-game heroics from Jalen Suggs to escape at home against the Southeast Division opponent.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
Many Angelenos believe the city’s leaders have squandered billions in funds meant to alleviate the homelessness crisis and allowed unhoused people to take over public space.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Though still fuming from his team’s baffling loss to the Bulls – the Warriors squandered an eight-point lead with 91 seconds remaining – Kerr found his composure long enough to crack a joke.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
In the year since then, FAU has become less safe, its reputation has suffered, and its resources have been squandered.
—Karen J. Leader, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
Without question, the Longhorn men have squandered a comfortable spot in the NCAA Tournament and have made their path to the postseason much more difficult with a painful 88-85 overtime loss to ascending Oklahoma Saturday night.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 8 Mar. 2026
But, across the next seven frames, Team USA squandered so many chances to run-rule a Brazil team that featured only one player in its lineup with any major-league experience.
—Maria Torres, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Had Hezbollah squandered the last of its political capital?
—Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squandered
Verb
-
Nick Ramsden, a farmer from Pretoria, South Africa, spent a long Thursday in July driving an eighteen-wheeler along a three-mile loop at the Nelson-King Farms, in rural Mississippi.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The charges come a day after the attack by Jalloh, who had previously spent eight years in prison for attempting to aid the Islamic State group.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The disaster led to an extensive decontamination effort to clean up nuclear material dispersed when conventional explosives in the hydrogen bombs detonated after hitting the ground.—
Kim Tong-Hyung,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
It usually gets dispersed by late winter and early spring.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tottenham Hotspur have lost six games in a row for the first time in their 144-year history.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The Timberwolves have lost three in a row after winning five straight.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That would be wasted money and time.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Gunther and Tig are two billionaire failsons who have wasted countless opportunities and cash chasing the stupidest ideas and who get rewarded over and over again for their idiocy.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squandered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squandered. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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