squander
/ˈskwɒndə
/verb [with object]
1Waste (something, especially money or time) in a reckless and foolish manner: £100m of taxpayers' money has been squandered on administering the tax...
- The British public is tired of billions of pounds of taxpayers' money being squandered on schemes that are scrapped after only a few years.
- He should understand that hard-working British taxpayers do not want him squandering our tax money overseas when it could be used to help British people.
- There's so much to do in Vegas that squandering your money at the tables seems like a waste.
Synonyms
waste, misspend, misuse, throw away, dissipate, fritter away, run through, lose, lavish, spend recklessly, spend unwisely, make poor use of, be prodigal with, spend money like water
informal blow, splurge, pour/throw money down the drain, spend money as if it grows on trees, spend money as if there were no tomorrow, spend money as if it were going out of style
British informal blue, splash out
1.1Allow (an opportunity) to pass or be lost: the team squandered several good scoring chances...
- During his time as governor, the enemies were student protesters who, Reagan argued, were squandering the opportunities hard-working taxpayers so kindly provided.
- Mr Yeo warned the whole event was in danger of becoming bogged down in costly bureaucracy, and that the Government was in danger of squandering a valuable opportunity to promote Britain.
- Last night, he said it had betrayed millions of people by squandering its opportunity to become a major political party.
Derivatives
squanderer
- But the fact that your son is a squanderer and spendthrift does not prevent his inheritance from you.
- I know I am stern with her, but I do not want her to be a squanderer.
- As a squanderer of chances he would not have been out of place as a Rangers player yesterday.
Origin
Late 16th century: of unknown origin.