squander

4 definitions • 7 examples

to waste money or supplies, or to waste opportunities by not using them to your advantage:

They'll quite happily squander a whole year's savings on two weeks in the sun.

Ireland squandered several chances, including a penalty that cost them the game.

to waste money, or to use something valuable that you have a limited amount of in a bad or foolish way:

Government should not squander the taxpayers’ money.

Don’t squander your opportunities when you are young.

to waste large amounts of money or other resources:

Fifty-five percent of likely voters are convinced that much of the state's tax money is being squandered.

squander sth on sth Politicians are accused of squandering more than $1 billion on misguided and futile programs aimed at stimulating the economy.

to fail to use a chance to become successful or to achieve something:

According to one member of the board of directors: "We have squandered the opportunity to become a major player in the industry".