1
as in wastefulness
an instance of spending money or resources without care or restraint
it seems like a waste to spend my entire paycheck on a bigger TV
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in garbage
discarded or useless material
gathered up the waste when he was finished sewing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in desert
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops
an area that was a barren waste after the strip-mining had ended
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4
as in dung
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal
a local ordinance requiring dog owners to properly dispose of their pet's waste
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5
as in expansion
a wide space or area
a legendary mariner doomed to sail the watery wastes of the world until Judgment Day
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6
as in erosion
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction
the slow waste of the once broad beach by the relentless tide
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to spend
to use up carelessly
he wasted his lottery winnings on booze-soaked nights with gold diggers
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2
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
one country attempting to waste another
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3
as in to weaken
to diminish the physical strength of
endless months of inactivity wasted him
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in barren
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
waste acreage that was not fit for anything
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waste
Sarah Moreno
updated February 19, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
Barefoot also simplifies the kitchen, deleting the dual-burner stove to shorten the main block, which now houses just the Dometic bowl sink piped to fresh and waste water tanks, an open worktop, and under-counter drawers and cabinets.
—New Atlas, 19 Feb. 2026
Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
According to Phoebe, her twenty-year-old granddaughter, Jeanne’s house wasted energy.
—Allegra Goodman, Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2021
For many of them, working at a high-growth company with a feel-good, anti-waste mission had felt like the pinnacle of their working lives.
—Lauren Weber, WSJ, 17 May 2021
See All Example Sentences for waste
Noun
Havana’s streets and all provincial cities are full of trash and waste dumps are overflowing due to the fuel crisis to the point that residents have begun to burn them.
—Sarah Moreno
updated February 19, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
Barefoot also simplifies the kitchen, deleting the dual-burner stove to shorten the main block, which now houses just the Dometic bowl sink piped to fresh and waste water tanks, an open worktop, and under-counter drawers and cabinets.
—New Atlas, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
This method uses directional drilling technology to place waste hundreds of meters underground within stable geological formations rather than excavating large tunnels in a mine.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
According to Phoebe, her twenty-year-old granddaughter, Jeanne’s house wasted energy.
—Allegra Goodman, Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
But for sheer novelty in this post-waste world, few companies may top Extract Energy.
—Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2021
For many of them, working at a high-growth company with a feel-good, anti-waste mission had felt like the pinnacle of their working lives.
—Lauren Weber, WSJ, 17 May 2021
See All Example Sentences for waste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waste
Noun
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Gabriel also acknowledged lawmakers’ responsibility to oversee state spending seriously as well, and would be scrutinizing government programs for wastefulness.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
13 Jan. 2026
-
While an eight-game winning run saw Cherki, Foden and Haaland hit their devastating best, three frustrating draws against Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion were characterised by wastefulness in front of goal.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The study also noted that many of these companies guaranteed some news outlets would cover the press releases, and were essentially flooding the space with garbage crypto information dressed up to look like reliable news.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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If certain items can't be put in your regular garbage and recycling bins, do the right thing and run it to your local garbage disposal center instead.—
Kate McKenna,
The Spruce,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The final product is a Southwestern desert vibe with a luxe, Palm Springs twist; effortlessly blending sepia photos, raw materials, colorful decor, and contemporary comforts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The camp’s 50 safari-style tents are spread across 220 acres of desert overlooking Lake Powell.—
Megan Eaves,
Outside,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The streets are begrimed by factory smoke, fecund with horse dung and lit by lanterns.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
These rodents left 15 pieces of dung on top of the dishwasher.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Private consumption drove the modest expansion, offsetting weakness in exports and public spending, according to data from Japan’s Cabinet Office.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The agency's unilateral expansion of government power is dangerous, and not only for immigrant families.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The winds also gusted as high as 43 mph at San Diego International Airport, delaying 246 flights, and whipped up ocean waves that are expected to reach the 9- to 12-foot range this week at local beaches, potentially causing beach erosion.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
There will be higher astronomical tides Sunday and Monday, so much of the coast could be vulnerable to at least minor coastal flooding and beach erosion.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Paul has a reputation for taking collectibles to extreme levels and has spent millions to secure some of the rarest items ever produced, including NFTs - unique, verifiable digital assets traded on the blockchain.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
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Despite our diversity, each of us spent many years in private practice before the Arkansas courts before ascending to service on the state's highest court.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That was what Ilia Malinin endured on Friday night, when his disastrous free skate ruined his chances for gold.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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Steam cleaning is an effective way to sanitize and refresh your mattress, but the wrong technique can end up ruining the fabric.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waste. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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