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
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
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
In response, Professor Kotohiro Nomura and his team at Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a highly efficient method to selectively depolymerize PET from bottles and textile wastes.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 Nov. 2025
In addition to unnecessary engine wear, the Environmental Protection Agency says letting your car idle causes air pollution and wastes fuel.
—Jalen Williams, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Other younger-generation consumers say there’s really no advantage to using cash and complain that getting some wastes time.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2025
Facilities owned by companies with positive net income, according to their income statements obtained from PitchBook, a company that collects data on corporations, released an average of 40% of their toxic-chemical-containing wastes to the environment.
—Jennifer Brodmann, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2025
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
These batteries often lose efficiency because long-chain polysulfides move through the cell and eventually form lithium sulfide, an insulating compound that wastes active material.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
In response, Professor Kotohiro Nomura and his team at Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a highly efficient method to selectively depolymerize PET from bottles and textile wastes.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 Nov. 2025
In addition to unnecessary engine wear, the Environmental Protection Agency says letting your car idle causes air pollution and wastes fuel.
—Jalen Williams, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Other younger-generation consumers say there’s really no advantage to using cash and complain that getting some wastes time.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2025
Facilities owned by companies with positive net income, according to their income statements obtained from PitchBook, a company that collects data on corporations, released an average of 40% of their toxic-chemical-containing wastes to the environment.
—Jennifer Brodmann, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
These batteries often lose efficiency because long-chain polysulfides move through the cell and eventually form lithium sulfide, an insulating compound that wastes active material.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wastes
Noun
-
Any luxuries that can’t be purchased in Indonesia must be invented.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Any extra luxuries of note, big or small?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
As a result, a new breed of data center, designed from the ground up for AI workloads, is cropping up across the country, from the wilds of Wyoming to the deserts of Arizona.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The story centers on a skilled mercenary named Biao Ren navigating the harsh deserts of the Western Regions who becomes entangled in a perilous scheme while completing what initially appears to be a simple escort assignment.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Large expanses of seats were unused during the third-bottom home side’s 2-1 defeat to Forest, who are in 17th place, on Tuesday.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Trudging across six lanes of highway, and expanses of parking lot, to reach Soldier Field never had many fans, but there is zero romance in this new spot.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Rivals Fox News Channel and CNN are seen experiencing similar erosions in that period.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
-
Erosive gastritis develops when inflammation damages the stomach lining, leading to ulcers (open sores) and shallow breaks (erosions).—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
22 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Once called ''the funniest woman on TV,'' Catherine O'Hara spends much of her time these days bellying up against a snooker table at the Squeeze Club, a Toronto juice bar and pool hall.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Jacquelyne Devine, a content creator from Pennsylvania who posts under the handle @costcojacque, spends a lot of her time investigating Costco offers.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
If the infection is not contained by the body’s immune response, the bacteria destroys lung tissue which can trigger chest pain and coughing up of mucus or blood.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
For individual cellular damage, your body either repairs it or destroys the cell and replaces it.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When CEOs treat financial advice as a substitute for judgment, leadership starts to erode, decisions slow down, and conviction weakens.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Trump’s focus on the Western Hemisphere — as a show of might that weakens China’s geostrategic influence, Nikkei wrote.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
26 Jan. 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 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
