• Squander

    Pronunciation

    Origin

    Compare Danish skvætte (rare)/skvatte ("to splash") (nominalised: skvæt), Icelandic skvetta ("to squirt"), Norwegian bokmål skvette.

    Webster 1913|squander

    Full definition of squander

    Verb

    1. To waste, lavish, splurge; to spend lavishly or profusely; to dissipate.
      • 1746, Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's AlmanacAgribusiness ManagementDost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of.
      • 2011, September 24, David Ornstein, Arsenal 3 - 0 Bolton, As the game opened up, Bolton squandered a fine opportunity to equalise - Chris Eagles shooting straight at Szczesny - but then back came Arsenal.
    2. (obsolete) To scatter; to disperse.
      • DrydenOur squandered troops he rallies.
    3. To wander at random; to scatter.
      • ShakespeareThe wise man's folly is anatomized
        Even by squandering glances of the fool.

    Usage notes

    Squander implies starting with many resources, such as great wealth, and then wasting them (using them up to little purpose or little effect), often ending with little. Particularly used in phrases such as “squander an opportunity” or “squander an inheritance”. It may be used even if one starts with little, though usually in some construction such as “squander what little he had”.

    Synonyms

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