squandering
Throwing resources away
Squandering is wasting something valuable—money, time, opportunity, talent—through carelessness or foolish spending.
The word implies having something worth preserving and letting it slip away: He's squandering his inheritance on gambling, She squandered her early lead in the race.
Unlike merely spending, squandering suggests regrettable loss.
Wasting gradually, carelessly
- dissipationGradual loss or scattering
- misuseImproper application
- depletionReduction of supply
- drainChannel for wastewater
exhaustion · consumption · wastage · overuse · spoilage · erosion · attrition · diminishment
Excessive consumption or enjoyment
- extravaganceExcessive, wasteful spending
- overconsumptionExcessive use of resources
- gluttonyGreedy excess in consumption
- intemperanceHabitual lack of restraint
immoderation · splurging · binge · spree · decadence · self-indulgence · hedonism · profusion
Recklessly extravagant or dissolute
- wastefulUsing resources carelessly
- extravagantExceeding sensible bounds
- lavishAbundant beyond necessity
- improvidentLacking foresight, especially financially
unthrifty · dissipater · big spender · loose-handed · thriftless
Lacking careful forethought
- irresponsibleLacking sense of duty
- carelessInattentive, prone to mistakes
- heedlessCareless of consequences
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
thoughtless · negligent · foolhardy · improvident · shortsighted · unwise · feckless · incautious
Legal status when insolvent
- insolvencyInability to pay debts
- deficitAmount still owed
- shortfallFailure to reach quota
- debtMoney owed another
impoverishment · devaluation · depreciation · shrinkage · forfeiture · ruin · downfall · penury
frittering
Wasting gradually, carelessly
- dissipationGradual loss or scattering
- misuseImproper application
- depletionReduction of supply
drain · exhaustion · consumption · wastage · overuse · spoilage · erosion · attrition · diminishment · neglect
overindulgence
Excessive consumption or enjoyment
- extravaganceExcessive, wasteful spending
- overconsumptionExcessive use of resources
- gluttonyGreedy excess in consumption
intemperance · immoderation · splurging · binge · spree · decadence · self-indulgence · hedonism · profusion · exorbitance
profligate
Recklessly extravagant or dissolute
- wastefulUsing resources carelessly
- extravagantExceeding sensible bounds
- lavishAbundant beyond necessity
improvident · unthrifty · dissipater · big spender · loose-handed · thriftless
imprudent
Lacking careful forethought
- irresponsibleLacking sense of duty
- carelessInattentive, prone to mistakes
- heedlessCareless of consequences
rash · thoughtless · negligent · foolhardy · improvident · shortsighted · unwise · feckless · incautious · reckless
bankruptcy
Legal status when insolvent
- insolvencyInability to pay debts
- deficitAmount still owed
- shortfallFailure to reach quota
debt · impoverishment · devaluation · depreciation · shrinkage · forfeiture · ruin · downfall · penury · beggary
- excessexcess, too much, excessive, excessiveness, overabundance
- resource useconsumption, recycling, conservation, waste, efficiency
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- wastefulnesswaste, extravagance, profligacy, dissipation, overspending
- mismanagementmishandling, dysfunction, misuse, incompetence, inefficiency
- overuseoveruse, overconsumption, overexploitation, excess, waste
squanderingsaving
Reserving for future use
conserving · preserving · hoarding · economizing · husbanding
squanderingmaximizing
Increasing to fullest extent
leveraging · utilizing · cultivating · exploiting · optimizing