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
Playing his eighth game since returning from Achilles tendon surgery, Tatum was scoreless in the opening half when Boston squandered a 15-point lead and trailed 47-44 at halftime before putting up 13 points in the third quarter.
—
ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Less than a month ago, the Lakers squandered double-digit leads against the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic in down-to-the-wire defeats.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 19 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
ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Less than a month ago, the Lakers squandered double-digit leads against the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic in down-to-the-wire defeats.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 19 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squandered
Verb
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The complaint says Heifler spent weeks discussing the plot with the undercover law enforcement official, and at one point went to scope out Kiswani's home.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Aaron spent long hours at his computer answering queries, fixing bugs, and releasing updates to serve his growing base.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When the munitions were fired, the crowd dispersed.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The city allocated $51,000 for the program and will keep the application portal open until the money is dispersed.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The county gained 12,762 people from international migration and lost 6,978 people to domestic migration.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Some 1,270 counties lost residents in the year to July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau figures out Thursday.—
Augusta Saraiva,
Bloomberg,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last June, my family and I wasted nine miserable hours there as our flight was boarded and then delayed and then deboarded and then canceled.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
-
In this case, your sweat is wasted and actually worsens the situation by failing to cool your body and contributing to dehydration.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squandered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squandered. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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