wastes 1 of 2

Definition of wastesnext
plural of waste
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2
as in deserts
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

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4
as in erosions
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction the slow waste of the once broad beach by the relentless tide

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wastes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of waste
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2
as in destroys
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

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 wastes
Noun
Netflix‘s latest action extravaganza wastes zero time in getting to the good stuff, so this review won’t either. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026 Placental Mammals Placental mammal, (infraclass Eutheria), any member of the mammalian group characterized by the presence of a placenta, which facilitates exchange of nutrients and wastes between the blood of the mother and that of the fetus. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026 This digital commute creates heat and wastes power. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Mar. 2026 Other medications act like poison, killing kidney tubule cells, which help to filter wastes and reabsorb nutrients. Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026 Watering between 10 am and 4 pm wastes water; most of it evaporates before reaching roots. Kate McKenna, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026 If economic rationality alone served as the driving reason for enclosure, then privatizing wastes, land considered no good for farming, would have made no sense. Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026 Each unsuccessful treatment takes, and wastes, precious time. Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 18 Feb. 2026 The structure of geopolymers can also be designed to act as adsorbents, attracting toxic metals in wastewater and capturing and storing radioactive wastes. Alcina Johnson Sudagar, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
Verb
Why do Californians, most of whom also believe the state wastes taxpayer money anyway, support the BWT? Robertas Bakula, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026 Watering for too long, at the wrong time of day, or incorrectly costs money and wastes a precious resource. Lauren David, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026 War wastes innocent lives, trillions of dollars and time better spent on, for example, global climate change and the necessary global cooperation needed to address it. Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2026 Traditional manufacturing of refractory metals wastes up to 95% of the raw material through machining – removing unwanted material to create the precise shape – but 3D printing can bring that figure close to zero. Vitor Rielli, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026 Fife, the civil rights attorney, said counties’ failures to release people wastes taxpayer dollars but also robs people of their jobs, families and health care. Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026 Compared to many other countries, Texas wastes an extraordinary amount of water through outdated infrastructure, inefficient consumption, and lack of innovation. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026 Puffing also wastes fuel and risks damaging the engine if done repeatedly — another reason drivers shouldn’t make a habit out of it. Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026 Pekau responded to the decision with a blog post maintaining the lawsuit is politically motivated and wastes taxpayer money. Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wastes
Noun
  • Other luxuries include a movie theater, a full spa with separate facilities for men and women, an indoor pool, a hammam, cold and hot plunges, dedicated massage suites, a gym, a Pilates studio, and a beauty salon.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Mundo Maya is a region filled with natural wonders, historic remnants, architectural and archaeological beauty, and modern-day luxuries.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Banks says part of Cadence OTC’s goal is to serve health care deserts by placing its contraceptive and UTI relief products in convenience stores, such as 7-Elevens, rather than pharmacies where these products already exist.
    Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Sheila cruised through stunning mountain ranges and vast deserts — where surely no Reliant Robin has gone before.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In these plans, recalled Douglas Vakoch, president of Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI) International in San Francisco, huge diagrams would be etched on large expanses of land here on Earth.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Large expanses of glass keep the outdoors in constant view, so the house shifts with the light throughout the day.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • He’s known for building intentional cracks and erosions into his works, which often reveal an interior geology of materials like crystals or gears, and more recently, labyrinth staircases populated with small figures, not unlike a surreal antique dollhouse.
    Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 11 Mar. 2026
  • These erosions leak into other areas of law.
    Emily Galvin Almanza, Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • His aversion to seeing the deficit widen further on the back of a bigger military bill highlights a phenomenon observed by historian Niall Ferguson, who has said any great power that spends more on debt servicing than on defense risks ceasing to be a great power.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 2 May 2026
  • Apart from these rare public appearances, the young girl spends her days at Lambrook private school.
    Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • Sprinkle dill over your food after cooking, as heat destroys its flavor.
    Merve Ceylan, Health, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Cody Rhodes destroys ‘outside forces’ in scathing promo Cody Rhodes’ promos in the midst of Pat McAfee’s insertion into his WrestleMania feud with Randy Orton blurred the line on what was real and what was kayfabe.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That inconsistency weakens the institution, erodes public trust, and leaves voters increasingly frustrated with both parties.
    Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
  • The anti-diversity law weakens community expression.
    Jon Harris Maurer, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Noun
  • And as in those days, extravagances like butler service and delicacies like caviar, lobster, and seafood towers are at the ready.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Still, Stroheim’s spending was out of control—literally so, insofar as attempting to rein him in seemed to provoke new extravagances.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wastes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wastes. Accessed 9 May. 2026.

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