squander

[skwon-der]

verb (used with object)

1. to spend or use (money, time, etc.) extravagantly or wastefully (often followed byaway ).

   Synonyms: lavish, dissipate, waste
   Antonyms: save

2. to scatter.

noun

1. extravagant or wasteful expenditure.

squander

/ ˈskwɒndə /

verb

1. to spend wastefully or extravagantly; dissipate

2. an obsolete word for scatter

noun

1. rare,  extravagance or dissipation

Other Word Forms

• squanderer noun
• squanderingly adverb
• resquander verb (used with object)
• unsquandered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of squander¹

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of squander¹

C16: of unknown origin

Synonym Study

See spend.

Example Sentences

"Of course we are sad but the league is not over tonight. There are still many months to go," De Zerbi said after seeing his side squander a golden opportunity to take first place.

Read more on Barron's

The defeat was a second straight for Philadelphia, who were coming off an agonizing loss to NFC East rivals Dallas in which they squandered a 21-0 lead.

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A democratic restoration cannot restore Athens’s squandered power or forestall its eventual surrender.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I did. But only because I know you intended to squander the Widow Ashton’s fortune on your ill-conceived business plans.”

Read more on Literature

Alison Holmes, the director of the Fleming Initiative, said antibiotics were "one of the greatest health resources that has been squandered" and we should all think of how much we owe to antibiotics.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• blow 
• expend 
• lavish 
• misuse 
• waste