SQUANDERED Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

squandered

verb

past tense of squander

as in spent

to use up carelessly squandered all her money gambling in casinos

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dispersed

to cause (members of a group) to move widely apart a single blast of the shotgun squandered the herd of deer

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 squandered Still, Twain squandered his own fortune and Livy’s inheritance on developing Paige’s invention, even as the Mergenthaler Linotype became the industry standard, rendering Paige’s machine worthless. —

Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 The Phillies squandered an early 3-0 lead and fell behind 4-3 before Schwarber hit a 408-foot drive to center field off Kodai Senga (0-7), who was making the first regular-season relief appearance of his big league career. —

Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 28 June 2026 The Cubs had relatively few scoring opportunities against Woodruff and the Brewers’ bullpen, and those were quickly squandered. —

Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026 Messi delivers the dagger Despite thoroughly controlling most of the match, the result was still in doubt late in the second half as Argentina squandered a few opportunities to increase its lead. —

Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026 The first season spun its wheels, got cool, squandered the momentum with a time jump, threatened to get cool by the end, and squandered the momentum again with a gap between seasons. —

Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2026 Irrigation creates a prosperity in the Republican River Basin that should not be squandered. —

Allen Best, Denver Post, 14 June 2026 Victor Wembanyama may want one of his postgame comments back after his San Antonio Spurs squandered yet another lead in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, as the New York Knicks won their first NBA title since 1973. —

Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026 Indiana squandered a 19-point second-quarter lead, and Sky guard Skylar Diggins sent the game to OT with a last-second 3-pointer. —

James Boyd, New York Times, 12 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for squandered

Verb

As internet rumors swirled that the couple would marry that day in Rhode Island, Swift and Kelce spent the evening in New York City instead.

— Bryan West, USA Today, 3 July 2026
While much of the source material comes from elsewhere, the cumulative mood is extremely personal to an artist who has spent his life helping the greats find true expression.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

Definition of spent

Verb

Employees are increasingly dispersed nationally and internationally, with ever greater demands for flexibility.

— Rupert Lee-Browne, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
On the solstice, the first goal was to clear trash that had found its way onto the orchard, then form makeshift berms out of rocks dispersed around the space.

— Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of dispersed

Verb

Since Ecuador lost, Hincapié will serve his red-card suspension during the team’s next international match.

— Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
The research does not include, for example, drivers who may be put out of work by self-driving cars, or roles lost due to manufacturing automation, Ramp Economics Lab’s lead economist Ara Kharazian said.

— Rachel Barber, USA Today, 1 July 2026