squander

IPA/ˈskwɒndə(r)/
KK[skwˈɑndɚ]IPA/ˈskwɑːndər/

squander — verb

  • squanderpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • squandershe / she / it
  • squanderedpast simple
  • squandering-ing form

1. to use money, time, a skill, or an opportunity in a way that produces nothing us

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to use money, time, a skill, or an opportunity in a way that produces nothing useful, especially by spending it on things that are not worthwhile

Example

The minister was accused of squandering public money on luxury hotel stays.

squander + money + on + [something]

Chinara squandered her chance to join the national team by arriving late to every practice.

squander + opportunity + by + [doing]

Common collocations
  • squander money on
  • squander an opportunity
  • squander time
  • squander a fortune
  • squander resources
  • squander one's talent
Synonyms
  • waste

    more common and less dramatic; can describe any inefficient use without strong moral judgement

  • fritter away

    suggests wasting small amounts gradually rather than all at once

  • blow

    informal, mainly for money spent quickly and foolishly

  • dissipate

    more formal; suggests wasting something gradually until it disappears

Antonyms
  • save

    to keep money or resources for future use

  • invest

    to put money or time into something that will bring returns

Grammar Patterns

squander + noun phrase

squander + noun phrase + on + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often used with 'on' to specify what the money or time was spent on, and with 'by + -ing' to explain how an opportunity was wasted. The passive form ('be squandered') is common when the focus is on the resource itself rather than the person who wasted it.

Common Mistakes

I squandered my time at the gym.' (when meaning 'I spent time there enjoyably')
I squandered my time playing video games instead of studying.
Squander implies the time was used on something unproductive, not simply spent on any activity.

squander — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe using resources in an unproductive way, but they differ in tone and scope. 'Waste' is the most general and carries the least emotional weight — you can waste time, food, or money in any scenario. 'Squander' adds a sharper sense of foolishness or carelessness, often with a moral judgement: someone had something valuable and threw it away through bad choices. 'Fritter away' suggests small, gradual losses — spending a little here and a little there until nothing remains. 'Blow' is informal and mostly about money: 'He blew his whole paycheck on a night out.' 'Dissipate' is formal and can suggest that the resource gradually disappears through indulgence. Use 'squander' when the waste feels like a betrayal of an opportunity, talent, or inheritance; use 'waste' for everyday inefficient use.

waste ↗fritter awayblow ↗dissipate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Prepositions

Etymology

ScandinavianEnglish

The first recorded use of 'squander' in English was around the early 1500s during the Tudor period. Its origin is uncertain, but it may come from a Scandinavian or northern English dialect word meaning 'to scatter' or 'to disperse' (compare with the dialect word 'squander' meaning 'to wander about aimlessly'). The modern meaning of wasteful spending became established by the 1600s.