squander

1 of 2

verb

squan·​der ˈskwän-dər 

squandered; squandering ˈskwän-d(ə-)riŋ 

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

intransitive verb

: disperse, scatter

squanderer

ˈskwän-dər-ər 

noun

squander

2 of 2

noun

: an act of squandering

Synonyms

Verb

• blow
• dissipate
• fiddle away
• fritter (away)
• lavish
• lose
• misspend
• run through
• spend
• throw away
• trifle (away)
• waste

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

Verb

The Clippers lost to the Lakers for a second time this season, squandering chance after chance in a 106-102 defeat at Crypto.com Arena. —Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 1 Mar. 2025

But the overall record in 2024 (4-8) was still bad, and Stoops, 57, has squandered some of the credibility with the fans with past comments on their needing to pony up more name, image and likeness money. 5. —Seth Emerson, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025

Noun

This deceptive practice not only squanders job seekers' time and energy, but may also negatively impact their confidence and mental well-being. —Jack Kelly, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

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

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

Rhymes for squander

• condor
• fonder
• launder
• mandir
• maunder
• ponder
• wander
• yonder
• responder
• transponder

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