1
as in wastefulness
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 garbage
discarded or useless material
gathered up the waste when he was finished sewing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in desert
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops
an area that was a barren waste after the strip-mining had ended
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4
as in dung
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal
a local ordinance requiring dog owners to properly dispose of their pet's waste
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in expansion
a wide space or area
a legendary mariner doomed to sail the watery wastes of the world until Judgment Day
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6
as in erosion
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 to spend
to use up carelessly
he wasted his lottery winnings on booze-soaked nights with gold diggers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to ruin
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 to weaken
to diminish the physical strength of
endless months of inactivity wasted him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in barren
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
waste acreage that was not fit for anything
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waste
Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 23 July 2025
Representatives for the property’s management agreed in the decree to remediate the property, including demolishing vacant mobile homes, relocating squatters, keeping the property buildings secure and maintaining waste disposal and lawn maintenance.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025
EW.com, 23 July 2025
The feud ends, at least temporarily, when the police arrived at the Osbournes' home and advised the family to call them next time instead of wasting good food.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 July 2025
Chris Smith, BGR, 26 Feb. 2021
To boost that percentage, France passed an anti-waste bill last year mandating that electronics manufacturers make a repairability index visible on their products.
—Maddie Stone, Wired, 20 Feb. 2021
See All Example Sentences for waste
Noun
And that doesn’t even extend to the waste from crews.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 23 July 2025
Representatives for the property’s management agreed in the decree to remediate the property, including demolishing vacant mobile homes, relocating squatters, keeping the property buildings secure and maintaining waste disposal and lawn maintenance.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025
Verb
After kicking off Wednesday's edition of Live With Kelly & Mark with a joyous on-air celebration of their longtime announcer Déjà Vu's birthday, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos wasted absolutely no time transitioning into a conversation about humidity, moisture, and butts.
—EW.com, 23 July 2025
The feud ends, at least temporarily, when the police arrived at the Osbournes' home and advised the family to call them next time instead of wasting good food.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 July 2025
Adjective
The new anti-waste law aims to encourage buyers to repair their devices rather than replace them with new products.
—Chris Smith, BGR, 26 Feb. 2021
To boost that percentage, France passed an anti-waste bill last year mandating that electronics manufacturers make a repairability index visible on their products.
—Maddie Stone, Wired, 20 Feb. 2021
See All Example Sentences for waste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waste
Noun
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In cities, they are often seen soaring above garbage dumps, marketplaces and riverbanks, scavenging for scraps and small prey.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
27 July 2025
-
Jorge was seen dropping off a black garbage bag near the building’s boiler room after the victim was discovered, neighbors said.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
27 July 2025
Noun
-
The athletic brand revealed the new design in October 2023 with a video in which Bernie marches across desert terrain in a cowboy outfit while Bad Bunny narrates in Spanish.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
29 July 2025
-
Earthy textures, handwoven textiles, and outdoor lounges pay homage to Atacama’s desert soul.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
Access to clean cooking equipment in sub-Saharan Africa continues to lag behind other regions, with four in five people using wood, charcoal, or dung as fuel over open fires or using basic stoves, according to an International Energy Agency report.—
Paige Bruton,
semafor.com,
23 July 2025
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When not elbow-deep in dino dung or outrunning raptors, Laura Dern's heartfelt performance in Jurassic Park shows why women really deserve to inherit the Earth — and all of the acting awards.—
Huntley Woods,
EW.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
That foundation of family support has fueled its expansion into year-round programming, including automotive education, STEM experiences, scholarship awards and multiple car shows.—
Melissa Noel,
Essence,
2 Aug. 2025
-
The company expects to have around 500 employees and contractors at the center by the end of 2025. Microsoft Corp. has begun hiring employees for its $3.3 billion data center opening in Mount Pleasant in early 2026, and is proceeding with expansion plans at the 1,900 acre-site.—
Rick Barrett,
jsonline.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This has been primarily due to the wall’s waterspouts (installed during the British Raj), which caused a discharge of monsoon rainwater, resulting in deep erosion and damage.—
Sonya Rehman,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
In cases of severe erosion and decay, crowns can help preserve teeth and maintain function for many years.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
Soliman spent about four years at Cincinnati Children's, first arriving in the United States in 2014 after being persecuted in his native Egypt for work in support of freelance journalists.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
The Enquirer,
25 July 2025
-
Pyne spent 15 seasons there as a firefighter, some of them living in an old cabin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.—
Tom Zoellner,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
1 Aug. 2025
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Meanwhile in Trier, Germany’s oldest city, Roman ruins, such as the Porta Nigra and imperial baths, blend seamlessly with baroque palaces and centuries-old scholarly libraries.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Verb
-
Also in the Pacific, Tropical Depression Iona, over 1,400 miles west of Honolulu, continued weakening as it was expected to cross the International Date Line on Saturday, according to a hurricane center advisory.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
2 Aug. 2025
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Alcohol also weakens the valve that keeps stomach acid in place, leading to reflux and heartburn.—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waste. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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