expendable

/ɪkˈspendəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈspendəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈspen-də-bəl/ (ame, mw)

expendable — adjective

  • expendablepositive
  • more expendablecomparative
  • most expendablesuperlative

1. able to be given up, replaced, or lost because people do not see it as important

1.形容詞C1
釋義

able to be given up, replaced, or lost because people do not see it as important enough to keep or protect

例句

The company treated its oldest factory workers as expendable during the layoffs.

treat someone as expendable

In the film, the captain refuses to act as if any pilot is expendable.

be expendable

同義詞
  • replaceable

    focuses on how easily something can be swapped for another one, without the stronger idea of being treated as unimportant

  • disposable

    usually means intended for single use, rather than morally acceptable to lose

  • sacrificial

    suggests something is deliberately offered up for a larger goal

反義詞
  • essential

    needed for a plan, system, or group to work properly

  • indispensable

    stronger than essential; emphasizes that losing it would cause serious harm

文法句型

be expendable

consider someone expendable

treat something as expendable

用法筆記

Often follows verbs like consider, treat, or see when someone in power decides that a person, group, or thing is not worth protecting. The word usually carries criticism.

常見錯誤

❌The paper cups are expendable, so wash them after use.
✅The paper cups are disposable, so throw them away after use.
💡expendable is about being judged unimportant or replaceable, not simply meant for one use.

expendable — noun