WASTING Synonyms: 304 Similar and Opposite Words

wasting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of wasting

as in wasteful

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Dissimilar Words

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

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 wasting

Verb

This is a crucial insight to have before wasting time and money. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026 This allows massive electrical currents to flow through small coils without wasting energy as heat. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026 Even after 25 years, Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro’s series about an anthropomorphic milkshake, french fry container, and a wad of meat wasting their days in suburban New Jersey remains one of Adult Swim’s most recognizable properties. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026 Arnd Wiegmann | Reuters Novartis shares tanked on Tuesday after the pharmaceutical giant said its del-desiran drug for muscle-wasting disorder failed in a late-stage trial. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026 At 83, and contending with myosotis, a muscle-wasting condition that kept him from his own Telluride premiere, Leigh has said this is most likely his last film. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 Pests and diseases destroy up to 40 percent of global crop production each year, pushing down rural incomes, driving up consumer prices, and wasting natural resources. — Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026 Save the Last Dance star Julia Stiles and pro dancer Ezra Sosa aren’t wasting any time ahead of their ballroom debut. — Sarah Hearon, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2026 As Mars and Saturn clash, avoid wasting your energy trying to fight FOMO! — Usa Today, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wasting

Adjective

But Fazio, a state senator from Greenwich, also says Lamont and legislators have not done enough to cut wasteful spending, which then could have been redirected toward social services.

— Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026
Officials frequently approved reimbursement after travel had already happened, and failed to require consultants to provide documentation like receipts, violating contract rules around wasteful spending.

— Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of wasteful

Verb

The BofA analysis found big growth in per-person video-game spending across age groups in the 12 months to August, with even Gen Z, the generation with the smallest increase, spending 20% more.

— Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026
Sure, like in the Ohio Senate race, just on the reservations for media that are on the books now, Republicans are spending a hundred plus million dollars, Sherrod Brown spending $55 million.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of spending

Verb

Fox attorneys also accused executives at both Dominion and Smartmatic of destroying evidence in their respective cases, and sought sanctions.

— Maddy Lauria, NPR, 20 Sep. 2026
Because both sides can persistently generate concentrated effects without concentrating forces, destroying the enemy’s ability to keep fighting becomes harder.

— NADIA SCHADLOW, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of destroying

Verb

Already, many import-dependent countries face shortages, fiscal pressure, and in some cases a difficult choice between cutting fuel subsidies and risking unrest or maintaining them and further weakening public finances.

— RICHARD HAASS, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026
Long-range seasonal guidance analyzed by Severe Weather Europe shows the stratospheric circulation potentially weakening during January and February.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of weakening

Adjective

Bournemouth were profligate, despite scoring through Marcus Tavernier and forcing a Malick Thiaw own goal, with multiple first-half chances wasted.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
This shift occasioned the profligate production that would mark her oeuvre, with Kusama going on to make hundreds of paintings in which forests of lines and dots cradled variously floral and phallic figures.

— News Desk, Artforum, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of profligate

Verb

The returning group, which also includes Jacob Ross, is still feeling the sting of losing to Michigan in the national championship game more than five months ago.

— Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
The Mets allowed four earned runs in an exceptionally sloppy third inning, losing a 3-2 lead.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of losing

Verb

Seaver also allegedly threatened to start a podcast dedicated to ruining Parton’s image unless he was paid.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 28 Sep. 2026
Even if your appliance feels cool to the touch, warm air rises and can make the top slightly warmer, slowly cooking the wine and ruining the flavor.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of ruining

Verb

The women supposedly work more in caretaker jobs like teaching and healthcare, softening their views toward the least of us.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Creamy sandalwood is the star here, with cinnamon adding warmth and ylang-ylang softening things up.

— Amanda Le, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026