1
as in luxuries
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 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
3
as in expanses
a wide space or area
a legendary mariner doomed to sail the watery wastes of the world until Judgment Day
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
1
as in spends
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 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
as in weakens
to diminish the physical strength of
endless months of inactivity wasted him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wastes
Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Pouring the herbicide wastes it and prevents it from remaining on the stump.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 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
Acute wastes are those that could kill, permanently incapacitate or otherwise seriously harm people through even small exposures.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The test measures the wastes and toxins in your blood.
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 13 Jan. 2026
Waste is retrieved from aging tanks, contamination plumes are treated, and the vitrification plant has begun immobilizing certain high-level radioactive wastes in glass, a milestone that reshapes the future of the site but doesn’t soften its complexity.
—New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2025
Cutting off funding mid-trial wastes research dollars and puts patients at risk.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
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
When the worker on the ground has to sweep them up manually, that wastes time and effort.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Attempting to pursue an offer without meeting these requirements wastes time and money while interest and penalties continue to accrue.
—Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
That costs the producer money and wastes the water, land and feed used to make these cuts.
—Sara Place, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
Every team wastes time now, takes long throws.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
The trailer wastes little time establishing its pressure-cooker premise, quickly barricading five teenagers inside their high school as their hometown collapses into chaos.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
Pouring the herbicide wastes it and prevents it from remaining on the stump.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 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
Acute wastes are those that could kill, permanently incapacitate or otherwise seriously harm people through even small exposures.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The test measures the wastes and toxins in your blood.
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 13 Jan. 2026
Waste is retrieved from aging tanks, contamination plumes are treated, and the vitrification plant has begun immobilizing certain high-level radioactive wastes in glass, a milestone that reshapes the future of the site but doesn’t soften its complexity.
—New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2025
Cutting off funding mid-trial wastes research dollars and puts patients at risk.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
Verb
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
When the worker on the ground has to sweep them up manually, that wastes time and effort.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Attempting to pursue an offer without meeting these requirements wastes time and money while interest and penalties continue to accrue.
—Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
That costs the producer money and wastes the water, land and feed used to make these cuts.
—Sara Place, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
Every team wastes time now, takes long throws.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
The trailer wastes little time establishing its pressure-cooker premise, quickly barricading five teenagers inside their high school as their hometown collapses into chaos.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wastes
Noun
-
Scottsdale constantly has activities going on in the community, pulling in tourism that funds the city, maintaining its luxuries and aesthetics.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
While names like Louis Vuitton and Gucci have struggled to capture the interest of young shoppers, brands like Prada have capitalized on Gen Z’s love of little treats and desire for bite-size luxuries that are more experience-based, according to Ramírez.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
California’s beaches, mountains, deserts, and vineyards attract hundreds of millions of visitors each year, leading many vacationers to dream of spending their golden years in the Golden State.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Helmed by Óliver Laxe and set against the backdrop of a fast-brewing global conflict, SIRĀT follows a father (Sergi López) and his young son in search of his missing daughter alongside a group of ravers in the deserts of southern Morocco.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Under her latest alias, Angel Marcloid offers a beguiling collection of modular synth experiments that cycle between harsh textures and monochromatic expanses.—
Maxie Younger,
Pitchfork,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Nature lovers seeking fresh air and green open spaces will delight in the city’s location directly by the lake, in its abundant expanses of forest and parkland, and in its very own mountain, the Uetliberg.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These erosions leak into other areas of law.—
Emily Galvin Almanza,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Rivals Fox News Channel and CNN are seen experiencing similar erosions in that period.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
WalletHub estimates the average person spends about $200 on Valentine’s Day.—
Katey Psencik,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Even a stretch of sub-zero weather like one in late January and early February won’t harm the black-legged tick, the Lyme disease-carrying species that should be familiar to anyone who spends time outdoors in Rhode Island.—
Alex Kuffner,
The Providence Journal,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And God does and kills everybody and destroys everything.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
-
His stance joins a bipartisan chorus, including GOP leaders and Governor Shapiro, warning that inciting violence against Jewish neighbors destroys the path toward peace.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Cutting the International Affairs Budget (which includes USAID) weakens our global leadership and can leave preventable crises to become a problem later on.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
That pattern weakens the polar vortex’s grip on cold air, allowing Arctic air to spill into the central and southern United States.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Houston Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
The more exciting news for everyone who can’t afford such extravagances is that Malone is promising new music by then.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
4 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wastes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wastes. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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