as in extravagant
given to spending money freely or foolishly
my one wasteful child always seemed to run out of money by midweek
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wasteful
Under the previous administration, SSA promoted radical and wasteful DEI and gender ideology while employees worked from home.
—
Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
As such, Louisiana's proposal includes over $400 million dollars in wasteful and unnecessary taxpayer spending.
—Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 19 Aug. 2025
For companies, this is another significant financial investment in education and training — a totally wasteful one because there is no predictable ROI.
—Anand Rao, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2025
Hilton contends Democrats’ backing of the strategy is preventing homeless people from getting treatment and leading to wasteful spending on affordable housing projects, which can cost as much as $1 million a door in expensive parts of the state like the Bay Area.
—Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wasteful
Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
As such, Louisiana's proposal includes over $400 million dollars in wasteful and unnecessary taxpayer spending.
—Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 19 Aug. 2025
For companies, this is another significant financial investment in education and training — a totally wasteful one because there is no predictable ROI.
—Anand Rao, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2025
Hilton contends Democrats’ backing of the strategy is preventing homeless people from getting treatment and leading to wasteful spending on affordable housing projects, which can cost as much as $1 million a door in expensive parts of the state like the Bay Area.
—Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wasteful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wasteful
Adjective
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During the Edwardian period and early 20th century, luxury fur coats, full-length wraps, stoles, and extravagant collars were at the height of fashion—as much a symbol of wealth as any jewel.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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The spread is a rare offering in the Gopher State, where such extravagant homes don’t hit the market all that often.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Of course, the same folks who said Trump’s tariffs would cause runaway inflation also said Biden’s profligate spending wouldn’t cause inflation.—
E.J. Antoni,
Boston Herald,
13 July 2025
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Dembele, once a creative, two-footed but profligate winger who Luis Enrique coached into a prolific striker, has not started any of the five Club World Cup games.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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That Golden Quartet The chemistry between the four leads was undeniable — especially during those late-night kitchen table conversations, always over a generous slice of cheesecake.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Hot Cheesy Crab Dip There’s no quicker way to please a crowd than with Grandma’s cheese dip, and this recipe happens to include a generous helping of crab meat.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Thanks to money-hungry special interests and spendthrift leaders, Californians pay among the highest corporate, sales, gas and income taxes in the nation.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
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Galle’s father worked for Marie Antoinette, but the French Revolution unsurprisingly had a major impact on the aristocratic market for spendthrift furnishings like this.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2024
Adjective
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In his own way, prodigal Harry has always been a more easy-going son than William.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
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Boston’s prodigal sons will cash in on their decades-long friendship as Miami police officers who seize millions of dollars from a stash house in their latest collaboration, Joe Carnahan’s upcoming Netflix thriller The Rip.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This lopsided risk-reward structure encourages bold, sometimes reckless decisions.—
Jim Vinoski,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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All of them, vehicles and passengers, were initially left stranded, victims of a reckless decision.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Nobody ever did find out who was so stupid and careless enough to drop an animal trap right in front of somebody’s gate.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
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Agbadou has appeared sluggish and careless at the heart of defence, while Andre has lacked his customary composure in midfield.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For many on the Right, Carr is a welcome protector of conservative views on broadcast networks that Republicans say have long been dominated by liberal positions.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
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Conservatives have accused liberal justices of injecting politics into rulings.—
Allan J. Lichtman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wasteful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wasteful. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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