wasteful
Americanadjective
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given to or characterized by useless consumption or expenditure.
wasteful methods; a wasteful way of life.
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grossly extravagant; prodigal.
a wasteful party.
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devastating or destructive.
wasteful war.
adjective
-
tending to waste or squander; extravagant
-
causing waste, destruction, or devastation
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of wasteful
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at waste, -ful
Explanation
Someone who's wasteful uses and disposes of things carelessly. A wasteful child might eat two bites of yogurt and then throw the rest of the container away. You can be wasteful with your money, spending too much of it on unimportant things. Some people are wasteful with food, ordering too much at a restaurant and leaving most of it on the plate. It's possible to be wasteful with almost anything that you squander without thinking about, including electricity or heat or even your own creative energy. The Latin root of waste is vastus, "empty or desolate."
Vocabulary lists containing wasteful
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Supporters say the measure aims to cut wasteful government spending by requiring audits for new state special taxes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
A cadre of gifted, creative and patriotic thinkers can uncover wasteful spending and reduce federal debt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
England were sometimes wasteful - Dan Lawrence ran himself out and Harry Brook was bowled driving - and sometimes unlucky - Emilio Gay was caught down the leg side.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
Frustrated with an industry they viewed as wasteful, exclusionary and obsessed with consumption, the pair wanted a name that reflected their criticism of it.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026
The journey around Indianapolis cost about seven dollars in gas, and I knew it was wasteful, but I felt so much better after circling the city.
From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
