squander

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈskwɒndər/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈskwɑndɚ/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(skwon′dər)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
squan•der /ˈskwɑndɚ/USA pronunciation   v. [~ + object]
  1. to spend or use wastefully or foolishly:He had squandered the family fortune on gambling.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
squan•der  (skwon′dər),USA pronunciation v.t. 
  1. to spend or use (money, time, etc.) extravagantly or wastefully (often fol. by away).
  2. to scatter.

n. 
  1. extravagant or wasteful expenditure.
  • origin, originally uncertain 1585–95
squan′der•er, n. 
squan′der•ing•ly, adv. 
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged waste, dissipate, lavish. See spend. 
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged save.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
squander / ˈskwɒndə/ (transitive)
  1. to spend wastefully or extravagantly; dissipate
  2. an obsolete word for scatter
Etymology: 16th Century: of unknown originˈsquanderer
'squander' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
blow - blue - burn - cast - consume - dilapidate - dissipate - ducks and drakes - exhaust - fool - fritter - gamble - game - grass - lavish - misspend - piss - prodigal - re-serve - run - run through - spend - sport - substance - throw - wanton - waste - wasteful
Collocations: squander [money, resources, millions], squandered (away) all of his money (on), squander the [chance, opportunity] (to), more...

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