WASTING Synonyms: 304 Similar and Opposite Words

wasting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of wasting

as in wasteful

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wasting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of waste

as in spending

to use up carelessly he wasted his lottery winnings on booze-soaked nights with gold diggers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in destroying

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

as in weakening

to diminish the physical strength of endless months of inactivity wasted him

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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 wasting

Verb

Every delay makes recovery harder and risks wasting the public investment already made. — Carole Labonne, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026 Las Vegas piled up 236 yards and scored four touchdowns after halftime, wasting the Jets’ season-high offensive output. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026 In other words, the donor material absorbed just enough energy from sunlight to free electrical charges without wasting excess energy as heat. — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026 It is often said that voting for an independent is wasting your vote. — Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026 For a time the sea stars did double duty controlling the urchins, but in recent years they have been struck down by an uncontrollable plague, worsened by the state’s warming waters, called, quite literally, sea star wasting disease. — Joseph Ogilvy, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026 Jacob Misiorowski was to start on regular four days' rest for the Brewers, who have a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series after wasting a 12th-inning lead in a 4-3 loss Tuesday. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 Local officials have never been caught wasting money on this scale. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026 The city of Milwaukee waited 46 years to see its team in the Fall Classic, and this year's Brewers wanted to stop wasting time. — Ryan Morik Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wasting

Adjective

Proposition 41, which trailed slightly Tuesday evening, is framed as an effort to cut wasteful government spending and require audits of new special taxes.

— Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Her campaign focused on curtailing immigration, confronting China and cutting wasteful government spending.

— Maham Javaid, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of wasteful

Verb

Sanders was 19 of 31 for 297 yards and two TDs in his first start this season in place of Deshaun Watson, who sat out after spending part of the past week in the NFL's concussion protocol.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026
The golf project could be included in spending legislation during the lame-duck Congressional session that begins next week.

— Rick Maese, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of spending

Verb

This is the one thing that can stop the agents from destroying us.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
Cyberattacks against supermarket refrigeration systems have disrupted grocery operations across Europe, with hackers remotely manipulating temperature controls and destroying perishable food.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of destroying

Adjective

The combination of slow growth, high inflation, profligate spending, and soaring debt has stirred a revolt in financial markets.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
Chicagoans expect Pritzker to defend us from profligate mayoral borrowing and spending, not add to it.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of profligate

Verb

Despite geopolitical uncertainty and inflation softening consumer sentiment, US shoppers are still buying beauty, especially online.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2026
The two grew closer, with Wong softening behind bars, caring more about others’ personal lives and sending Lee cards on special occasions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026