wasteful

[weyst-fuhl]

adjective

1. given to or characterized by useless consumption or expenditure.

   wasteful methods; a wasteful way of life.

2. grossly extravagant; prodigal.

   a wasteful party.

3. devastating or destructive.

   wasteful war.

wasteful

/ ˈweɪstfʊl /

adjective

1. tending to waste or squander; extravagant

2. causing waste, destruction, or devastation

Other Word Forms

• wastefully adverb
• wastefulness noun
• unwasteful adjective
• unwastefully adverb
• unwastefulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wasteful¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; waste, -ful

Example Sentences

Leeds were wasteful in their relentless pursuit of more tries after the break, with a Jake Connor penalty all they had to show for long periods of dominance.

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Fitful at the back, wasteful in possession, headless chickens in too many areas.

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Indeed, it comes as the SBA claims to be putting a stop to political favoritism and wasteful spending.

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But instead of facilitating this effort at greater efficiency, Coulter told Dudek to close the office, according to Dudek, claiming it was wasteful.

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Hundreds of women wearing pink and wielding broomsticks marched to parliament in Indonesia's capital on Wednesday to protest against police abuses and wasteful government spending.

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Related Words

• careless 
• destructive 
• extravagant 
• lavish 
• profligate 
• reckless