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Glite Dictionary
squandered

squandered

5.5
Something valuable wasted because people used it carelessly
  • adjective
  • /ˈskwɒndərd/
translation icon : desperdiciado
  • After years of squandered opportunities, the town finally invested in its future.

And we've had far too much squandered valor.

Examples

  • The charity warned that squandered resources could not be recovered.

  • Many felt the squandered funds could have helped those in real need.

  • The opportunity was squandered.

  • They considered it a squandered chance.

  • The company faced serious losses due to squandered investments last year.

  • Her squandered talent as an artist left her feeling unfulfilled.

  • They regretted the squandered time spent on unproductive tasks.

Synonyms

wasted
vssquandered
1 4.2

Not producing any useful result

means a loss caused by careless or foolish actions that harm value

Antonyms

valued
1 3.7

A person or thing that people see as important because of good qualities

exploited
1 3.6

Used fully to get the most benefit

How Wasteful

squandered
5.5
wasted
1 4.2
to misspend
1 6.5

Surface Forms

squandered positive

Morphology

squandered = squander (transparent) = squander + ed

Regular past-participle/adjective formation from the verb 'squander', so the meaning 'wasted' is directly derived from the base verb.

Etymology

Squandered comes from an old idea of 'scattering' things, so picture money or chances being thrown about and lost. That's why something squandered is 'wasted' by carelessness.