1
as in spent
to use up carelessly
squandered all her money gambling in casinos
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Then the Giants almost as quickly squandered it as Chapman struck out, Arraez flied to shallow center and Schmitt took strike three.
—
Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2026
The Loons squandered James Rodriguez’s great display of playmaking and set-piece taking in his first MLS start by failing to convert on the opportunities the Colombian superstar provided on silver platters.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
There’s a parallel universe where possibly one of the greatest songs of all time, and definitely the best song ever written about the boys being back in town, was squandered off into the abyss of record-store crates and never given a chance to shine.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 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
The offense squandered a quality start from Seth Lugo, who didn’t allow a run across seven innings.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026
Kaneland squandered a 5-1 lead and suddenly trailed 9-5 when Baxley came up in that sixth.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Dillon Dingler launched a two-run homer and Greene finished with three hits for the Tigers, who squandered a five-run lead but recovered to win their sixth straight following a five-game skid.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2026
The Loons squandered James Rodriguez’s great display of playmaking and set-piece taking in his first MLS start by failing to convert on the opportunities the Colombian superstar provided on silver platters.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
There’s a parallel universe where possibly one of the greatest songs of all time, and definitely the best song ever written about the boys being back in town, was squandered off into the abyss of record-store crates and never given a chance to shine.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 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
The offense squandered a quality start from Seth Lugo, who didn’t allow a run across seven innings.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026
Kaneland squandered a 5-1 lead and suddenly trailed 9-5 when Baxley came up in that sixth.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Dillon Dingler launched a two-run homer and Greene finished with three hits for the Tigers, who squandered a five-run lead but recovered to win their sixth straight following a five-game skid.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squandered
Verb
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Idaho lawmakers spent hours debating a surge in rodents menacing Boise-area gardens and kitchens and threatening agriculture and public health.—
Karin Brulliard,
Washington Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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Rodriguez, who hails from the blue collar city of Wichita Falls, Texas, and spent the past four years in the hardworking city of Lubbock, Texas, finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the State Department, former officials said, Iran specialists at the counterterrorism bureau were dispersed to regional offices where counterterrorism is one of many priorities.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The crowd finally dispersed, but protests continued for five more days.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sad memories of last year — when Wooten lost a tiebreaker in her state championship singles match to hand Palmetto the title — are all but erased.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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The Thompsons lost their mother to a heart attack in January 2023, according to TMZ.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Yankees third baseman Amed Rosario wasted no time bringing them home, crushing a three-run home run clear over the Green Monster to put New York up 3-0.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
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And yet, such old-fashioned Hollywood muscle is wasted on a movie that spends the vast majority of its runtime flexing directly into the lens.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squandered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squandered. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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