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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in expansion
a wide space or area
a legendary mariner doomed to sail the watery wastes of the world until Judgment Day
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in erosion
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction
the slow waste of the once broad beach by the relentless tide
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to spend
to use up carelessly
he wasted his lottery winnings on booze-soaked nights with gold diggers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
one country attempting to waste another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to weaken
to diminish the physical strength of
endless months of inactivity wasted him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in barren
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
waste acreage that was not fit for anything
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 waste
Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 29 May 2026
The city attorney oversees legal matters involving the city, while the controller monitors spending, conducts audits, investigates fraud, waste and abuse.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 29 May 2026
Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Please stop wasting everyone’s time with these false narratives.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 28 May 2026
Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025
This anti-waste brand upcycles materials, and was founded by Kisa Sky Shiga.
—Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for waste
Noun
Physical exercise may also improve blood circulation, expedite nutrient transport, and aid waste elimination to collectively maintain an active self-healing system.
—Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 29 May 2026
The city attorney oversees legal matters involving the city, while the controller monitors spending, conducts audits, investigates fraud, waste and abuse.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 29 May 2026
Verb
This spring, however, the Brewers wasted no time.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Please stop wasting everyone’s time with these false narratives.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 28 May 2026
Adjective
In France, anti-waste laws require that most building waste is collected and processed.
—Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025
This anti-waste brand upcycles materials, and was founded by Kisa Sky Shiga.
—Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for waste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waste
Noun
-
Sure enough, Spurs’ wastefulness was punished.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
The Paris police prefecture said smaller groups caused disturbances in various locations, with some vandalizing shops and setting fires to garbage and self-service bicycles in the streets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
-
Protesters were later seen pelting ICE vehicles with kitchen towels and trash as garbage littered the ground.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Passengers are treated to rare desert vistas that aren’t visible from surrounding interstates as the train glides by vast ranches, undulating mountains, and scenic pueblos.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Photos and a video Aiello provided show bladed wire snaking around the decomposing animal’s neck and curved horns, as well as the front legs, in a desert landscape dotted with boulders.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
To help the herd accept the calf after his time away, rescuers coated him in fresh elephant dung to mask any unfamiliar scents.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
Release of dung increases soil organic carbon and helps build soil structure that improves water filtration and soil aeration.—
Paige Stein,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, many museums are in serious financial straits, reckoning with the fiscal burden of optimistic expansions and unanticipated increases in operating costs.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Much of the space created in the 2013 expansion of the top two stories was devoted to wellness facilities (including a decent-sized pool, a rarity in Geneva hotels).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Nearly half of that erosion occurred between March and April alone.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
2 June 2026
-
If the erosion is structural, the fix has to be structural too.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Robert had spent the last few years accruing credit card points—more on that below—in the hopes of planning a blowout honeymoon experience for the wanderlusting couple, who had previously traveled together to romantic destinations like Japan and the south of France.—
Kaitlin Menza,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
Grown-ups bring a ladder to climb into the enormous fruit, kids gather up their inflatable toys, someone makes a waterslide out of a piece of rind, and the whole community spends the day splashing in the juice and pulp (being careful to remove the seeds first).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Our house, ruined by the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, was rebuilt from the foundation up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
Undefeated this season on clay, the 15th-seeded Ukrainian player reached the quarterfinals at the French Open for the first time on Sunday by taking out four-time champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 and ruining her birthday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waste. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
