squander

/ˈskwɑndər/

/ˈskwɒndə/

Other forms: squandered; squandering; squanders

To squander means to spend extravagantly, thoughtlessly, or wastefully. If you need to save for college, don't squander your income on nightly sushi dinners.

Squander used to mean scatter, and the way we use it now implies throwing something (like money) all over the place. You can squander time as well as money. If you have a big deadline but you are chatting away or looking at social networking sites, you are squandering your time. If you have an opportunity to play for a major league baseball team but show up late to tryouts and criticize the coach, you have probably squandered your chance.

Definitions of squander

1. verb

   spend thoughtlessly; throw away
   “You squandered the opportunity to get an advanced degree”

   synonyms: blow, waste

   blow

   spend lavishly or wastefully on

   types:

   burn

   spend (significant amounts of money)

   type of:

   expend, use

   use up or consume fully
2. verb

   spend extravagantly
   synonyms: consume, ware, waste

   types:

   dissipate, fool, fool away, fritter, fritter away, frivol away, shoot

   spend frivolously and unwisely

   luxuriate, wanton

   become extravagant; indulge (oneself) luxuriously

   lavish, shower

   expend profusely; also used with abstract nouns

   overspend

   spend at a high rate

   fling, splurge

   indulge oneself

   type of:

   drop, expend, spend

   pay out