as in extravagant
given to spending money freely or foolishly
my one wasteful child always seemed to run out of money by midweek
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Recent Examples of wasteful
Management of the city of Chicago’s sprawling government always has been a challenge, and the opportunities for patronage, favoritism and simple wasteful spending are vast.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
While many edicts are necessary to protect public safety, many more are redundant, wasteful and anti-competitive, piling on unnecessary costs and stymieing innovation.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
So while driving Indy cars 177 miles in a circle may seem wasteful during a gas crunch, Sunday’s race will have a negligible affect on the price and availability of fuel at service stations.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
In 2004, after years of incompetent, wasteful and corrupt agencies obstructing basic and legal public records requests, the California Assembly and Senate voted unanimously to put Proposition 59 before voters.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wasteful
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
While many edicts are necessary to protect public safety, many more are redundant, wasteful and anti-competitive, piling on unnecessary costs and stymieing innovation.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
So while driving Indy cars 177 miles in a circle may seem wasteful during a gas crunch, Sunday’s race will have a negligible affect on the price and availability of fuel at service stations.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
In 2004, after years of incompetent, wasteful and corrupt agencies obstructing basic and legal public records requests, the California Assembly and Senate voted unanimously to put Proposition 59 before voters.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wasteful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wasteful
Adjective
-
While the crowd left with free T-shirts, the Spurs received more extravagant clothing from Kelly Olynyk, who celebrated his 35th birthday Sunday by handing out gifts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
What was your most extravagant impulse purchase?—
Avery Newmark,
AJC.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But profligate spending wasn’t the only way inflation weighed on bonds.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
20 Mar. 2026
-
This season on the road, Newcastle have been particularly profligate in possession.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Other publishers offered writers more generous rates, and Gernsback's reputation for occasionally stiffing his creditors became an advantage for his competitors.—
Chris Klimek,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2026
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There’s space to spread out, too, with notably generous layouts and extra-large bathroom vanities.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In many states, including Maryland, debtors may exempt substantial assets from bankruptcy, including retirement accounts, spendthrift trusts and substantial equity in real estate (unlimited in Texas).—
George Liebmann,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Apr. 2026
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That is all the more reason the state must get a better handle on its spendthrift ways.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Author Ins Choi, who once played the role of the prodigal son, has matured into the part of Appa, the patriarch who left Korea with his wife, Umma (Esther Chung), to start a new life in Canada.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
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For my money, that beautifully acted chamber piece following a famous auteur’s prodigal return was one of the sweet spots of 2025.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Feeling restless and reckless, Michael (LJ Benet) is drawn to a hard-rocking local band that is secretly a quartet of young vampires that is literally sucking the life out of the community.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
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The vast majority of drivers stop speeding after one or two camera violations, but a small and extremely reckless group of super speeders flagrantly endanger themselves and everyone around them.—
Mike Flynn,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Bain was cited for careless driving at the time, but the charge was later dropped before Betts’ death.—
Rick Stroud,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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In May 2024, Kansas City Chiefs team doctor Michael Monaco pleaded guilty to misdemeanor careless driving after fatally striking a man who had gotten out of his car to help the driver of a Chevrolet Equinox that had flipped over in November 2023.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The three liberal-leaning justices are not in attendance.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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By late October 2018, at age 25, she was being feted as the new ambassador for the Children’s Tumor Foundation, and was mere weeks away from earning a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Arizona State University (having transferred from UNC Charlotte).—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wasteful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wasteful. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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