squander

1 of 2

verb

squan·​der ˈskwän-dər How to pronounce squander (audio)
squandered; squandering ˈskwän-d(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce squander (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to spend extravagantly or foolishly : dissipate, waste
squandered a fortune
2
: to cause to disperse : scatter
3
: to lose (something, such as an advantage or opportunity) through negligence or inaction
squanderer noun

squander

2 of 2

noun

: an act of squandering

Examples of squander in a Sentence

Verb He vowed not to squander this opportunity. squandered all her money gambling in casinos
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Instead, Russia has paid a staggering price for Putin’s imperial folly, with hundreds of thousands of Russian casualties since February 2022 and more than $200 billion squandered. Lloyd J. Austin Iii, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2024 Put a savings plan in place instead of squandering your cash. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
Veterans Jamison Crowder and Byron Pringle, second-year player Mitchell Tinsley and 2023 practice squanders Brycen Tremayne and Kazmeir Allen are other candidates if the Commanders keep at least six receivers on the Week 1 roster. Ben Standig, The Athletic, 13 Aug. 2024 This vicious cycle squanders taxpayer dollars and enables politicians to reap gains without actually benefiting constituents. Ge Bai, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for squander 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1536, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1709, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of squander was in 1536

Dictionary Entries Near squander

Cite this Entry

“Squander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squander. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

squander

verb
squan·​der
ˈskwän-dər
squandered; squandering
-d(ə-)riŋ
: to spend foolishly or wastefully
squandered all her money on video games
squanderer
-dər-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on squander

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!