1
as in to spend
to use up carelessly
squandered all her money gambling in casinos
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to disperse
to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart
a single blast of the shotgun squandered the herd of deer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squander
In this laugh-a-minute romp, Keke Palmer and SZA star as two down-on-their-luck besties and roommates who discover (much too late) that one of their boyfriends squandered their rent money.
—
James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Failing to do so risks squandering a major strategic opportunity and could encourage India to adopt a path less aligned with, or even hostile to, American strategic and economic interests.
—Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2025
The finances also are wobbly here as all the money left behind by the Dowager Countess has been squandered.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
Those fortunes were made and squandered rapidly—Iran went from bereft during the Iran-Iraq War, to unbeatable two decades later, to resoundingly beaten a little less than two decades after that.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squander
James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Failing to do so risks squandering a major strategic opportunity and could encourage India to adopt a path less aligned with, or even hostile to, American strategic and economic interests.
—Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2025
The finances also are wobbly here as all the money left behind by the Dowager Countess has been squandered.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
Those fortunes were made and squandered rapidly—Iran went from bereft during the Iran-Iraq War, to unbeatable two decades later, to resoundingly beaten a little less than two decades after that.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squander
Verb
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Ford dropped it from the Explorer’s retail lineup, but continues to offer it in police vehicles, which benefit from its ability to power AC and other accessories without running the engine when parked, as patrol vehicles often spend lots of time doing.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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California’s legal fight to get those funds back–which hadn’t been spent–will take months if not years to resolve.—
Alan Ohnsman,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kirk is thrown backwards by the shot, which appeared to hit his neck, before the crowd disperses in panic.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
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Video taken at the event shows that, just seconds later, the sound of a gunshot was heard as Kirk appeared to be struck in the head or neck while the crowd around him dispersed in a panic.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Many journalists don’t want to lose access and are subject to coercion and intimidation that can influence their reporting.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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One side will win, and one side will lose.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The search had cost emergency services hundreds of thousands of dollars, and Phillips was soon charged with wasting police time.—
Todd Symons,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
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This reveals how enthusiasm without integration discipline wastes time and capital.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squander. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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