misspent
Used on regrets
Misspent describes time, money, or effort wasted on unworthy pursuits.
A misspent youth suggests years squandered on frivolous or dissolute activities rather than productive ones.
The word carries moral judgment—what counts as misspent depends on who's evaluating: He considered his years in banking a misspent career.
Carelessly used up
- fritteredWasted in small amounts
- misusedApplied incorrectly
- misallocatedImproperly distributed or assigned
- dissipatedDispersed or morally loose
profligate · extravagant · unproductive · fruitless · ineffective · purposeless · idle · pointless
Longing for the past
- adolescenceTeenage developmental stage
- formativeInfluencing development or growth
- teenageOf youth, 13-19
- innocenceFreedom from wrongdoing
naivety · reckless · wild · carefree · rebellious · delinquent · wayward · dissolute
Guilt for wrongdoing
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
hindsight · rueful · wistful · nostalgia · bitterness · self-reproach · compunction · chagrin
Forceful toss, or tryst
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- indulgenceYielding to desire
transgression · folly · lapse · escapade · mistake · error · blunder · misadventure
Not made actual
- unfulfilledNot brought to completion
- untappedNot yet utilized
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
squandered
Carelessly used up
- fritteredWasted in small amounts
- misusedApplied incorrectly
- misallocatedImproperly distributed or assigned
dissipated · profligate · extravagant · unproductive · fruitless · ineffective · purposeless · idle · pointless · blown
nostalgia
Longing for the past
- adolescenceTeenage developmental stage
- formativeInfluencing development or growth
- teenageOf youth, 13-19
innocence · naivety · reckless · wild · carefree · rebellious · delinquent · wayward · dissolute · truancy
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
repentance · hindsight · rueful · wistful · nostalgia · bitterness · self-reproach · compunction · chagrin · lament
fling
Forceful toss, or tryst
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
indulgence · transgression · folly · lapse · escapade · mistake · error · blunder · misadventure · ill-advised
unrealized
Not made actual
- unfulfilledNot brought to completion
- untappedNot yet utilized
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
misspentinvested
Allocated funds strategically
productive · profitable · fruitful · well-used · effective