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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of squandered
The Giants had an opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth when Matt Chapman reached on an error and Rafael Devers followed with a single, but squandered the opportunity.
—
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026
What should be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods is being squandered.
—Juan Sebastian Arias, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
The Sabres squandered two one-goal leads in the second period with Hryckowian tying it at 3 by firing a shot through Ellis' legs with four minutes left in the frame.
—CBS News, 16 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
Still, elite universities have had more than two years since those findings were published to act on them; the Yale committee’s report suggests most of that window was squandered.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
Julian, the character that Ian McKellen plays, was a major painter who squandered his talent after becoming a reality show judge.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
The Padres squandered Gavin Sheets’ leadoff double in the second inning.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
The Giants squandered a fantastic seven-inning start by Logan Webb.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026
What should be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods is being squandered.
—Juan Sebastian Arias, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
The Sabres squandered two one-goal leads in the second period with Hryckowian tying it at 3 by firing a shot through Ellis' legs with four minutes left in the frame.
—CBS News, 16 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
Still, elite universities have had more than two years since those findings were published to act on them; the Yale committee’s report suggests most of that window was squandered.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
Julian, the character that Ian McKellen plays, was a major painter who squandered his talent after becoming a reality show judge.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
The Padres squandered Gavin Sheets’ leadoff double in the second inning.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
The Giants squandered a fantastic seven-inning start by Logan Webb.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squandered
Verb
-
Gould spent the next two days in a coma in the intensive care unit, on a ventilator.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Amenities and experiences Most of my afternoons were spent idling at the heated infinity pool, glass of African wine in hand, overlooking the crater.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
City officials placed some residents in permanent housing, but others were given vouchers and dispersed throughout San Jose.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Without a bullhorn or any sort of amplification, Bovino informed the crowd that they were being dispersed.—
A.C. Thompson,
ProPublica,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Magic went 0-4 on the road in a 2024 seven-game series against Cleveland and then lost three away games against the Celtics last postseason.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Some experts say the animal may have lost its way while swimming after a shoal of herring or during migration.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her Republican challenger this fall, Bruce Blakeman, wasted little time in turning the proposal into a familiar attack.—
Anthony Izaguirre,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Pirro, at a press conference in March, denied that politics played any role in her probe of Powell and the focus was whether public money has been wasted as a result of the Fed's renovations, and potential false statements to Congress by Powell about the operations.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squandered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squandered. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
