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
Rudy Gobert had 22 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks and Naz Reid added 21 points for the Timberwolves, who squandered a 17-point first-half lead before Edwards took over down the stretch.
—
CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026
Nakai, too, squandered roughly six points for downgrading a planned triple lutz-triple toe loop combination.
—Bora Erden, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Haiti’s Superior Court of Auditors has said the funds, intended to rebuild the country after the 2010 earthquake, were squandered during the administration of former President Michel Martelly.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
In its campaign over the past year, the MAGA movement has squandered what might have been a reasonable position.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
The Kings had squandered talent, particularly in the 2023 offseason, before losing players in free agency and due to trade requests.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026
Peter Duesberg squandered his scientific reputation by advancing a debunked theory about AIDS, but his influence on anti-vaccine activists lives on, writes columnist Michael Hiltzik.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Atlanta still entered halftime with a comfortable 60-46 lead, however, after Boston squandered a chance to draw closer by botching the final possession of the half.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Forget the fact that the milk spiller was equally devastated to have squandered his treat all over his sister’s sweater.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2026
CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026
Nakai, too, squandered roughly six points for downgrading a planned triple lutz-triple toe loop combination.
—Bora Erden, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Haiti’s Superior Court of Auditors has said the funds, intended to rebuild the country after the 2010 earthquake, were squandered during the administration of former President Michel Martelly.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
In its campaign over the past year, the MAGA movement has squandered what might have been a reasonable position.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
The Kings had squandered talent, particularly in the 2023 offseason, before losing players in free agency and due to trade requests.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026
Peter Duesberg squandered his scientific reputation by advancing a debunked theory about AIDS, but his influence on anti-vaccine activists lives on, writes columnist Michael Hiltzik.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Atlanta still entered halftime with a comfortable 60-46 lead, however, after Boston squandered a chance to draw closer by botching the final possession of the half.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Forget the fact that the milk spiller was equally devastated to have squandered his treat all over his sister’s sweater.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squandered
Verb
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The family is covering the basic cost of testing materials, but the time spent analyzing the soil has been offered in kind.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
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Attorneys for Brown, Raygoza and Samane spent the week arguing that the government’s case was blown out of proportion.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Chunks of cheddar cheese, dispersed throughout the dish, create surprise cheesy pockets.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
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The crowd dispersed on its own after law enforcement arrived.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Ohio State has since lost at Minnesota and to Maryland and Michigan at home.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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The film picked up two Academy Award nominations, for Wiig and Mumolo's screenplay, and for McCarthy's supporting performance, but lost in both categories.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga wasted zero time in finding a way to impact his new team’s effort to pick up a second consecutive win.—
Lauren Williams,
AJC.com,
25 Feb. 2026
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Flavor Flav’s Offer Flavor Flav, 66, wasted little time after learning the women’s hockey team would not be attending the State of the Union.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squandered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squandered. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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