wasting

[wey-sting]

adjective

1. gradually reducing the fullness and strength of the body.

   a wasting disease.

2. laying waste; devastating; despoiling.

   the ravages of a wasting war.

noun

1. Geology.,  mass wasting.

wasting

/ ˈweɪstɪŋ /

adjective

1. (prenominal) reducing the vitality, strength, or robustness of the body

   a wasting disease

Other Word Forms

• wastingly adverb
• wastingness noun
• nonwasting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wasting¹

1200–50; Middle English; waste, -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Dad was very big on not wasting things.

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But if she hired one, she would be wasting her money.

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I have a bit of muscle wasting in the hand and the shoulder.

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But when wasting disease in effect wiped out their main predator, the sea urchins exploded in number, decimating kelp forests and transforming once-lush underwater habitats into so-called urchin barrens.

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Everton have played on the front foot in wins against Brighton and Wolves this season, while they were unfortunate to draw with Aston Villa last weekend after wasting a host of golden chances.

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Related Words

• blight 
• corrosion 
• decomposition 
• degeneration 
• deterioration 
• disintegration 
• disrepair 
• extinction 
• impairment 
• rot