waster
/ˈweɪstə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈestɚ] /ˈweɪstər/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈestɚ] /ˈwā-stər How to pronounce waster (audio)/ (ame, mw)
waster — noun
- wastersingular
- wastersplural
1. someone who uses more time, money, or resources than is sensible, with little co
someone who uses more time, money, or resources than is sensible, with little concern about the loss
Romi's old washing machine was a real water waster, using huge amounts for every single load.
compound noun: [resource] waster
Piotr felt guilty about being a food waster, so he started planning his weekly meals more carefully.
That broken heater in the basement is an energy waster — you ought to replace it with a modern model.
Nala was shocked when her teacher called her a waster for leaving the tap running all through break.
The old printer in the office was such a paper waster that the manager finally threw it away.
- wasteful person
more neutral, less insulting; describes behaviour rather than identity
- squanderer
more formal and literary; emphasises deliberate misuse of resources like money or opportunity
- profligate
very formal; suggests moral disapproval of wasteful spending
- saver
someone who carefully keeps resources rather than using them up
- conservationist
someone who actively protects resources from being wasted
文法句型
waster of [resource]
[resource] waster (compound noun)
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' plus the resource being wasted (e.g., a waster of water, a waster of money). The compound form — resource noun + waster — is also very common (e.g., a food waster, an energy waster).
常見錯誤
2. a person who makes no effort to do anything useful or meaningful with their life
a person who makes no effort to do anything useful or meaningful with their life, choosing to ignore their talents and opportunities
Trang dropped out of school and refused to look for a job, so her uncle called her a lazy waster.
Daichi spent his days playing video games, and his friends worried that he was becoming a complete waster.
modifier: complete / total waster
The local teenagers were seen as wasters by older residents who never saw them study or hold a job.
Anna had so much natural talent, but she never used it — everyone agreed she had turned into a waster.
Asher's mother told him he was a waster for spending all his savings on concert tickets instead of rent.
- good-for-nothing
stronger, more openly insulting; common in both British and American English
- slacker
less harsh; emphasises avoidance of effort or work, common in American English
- layabout
British; a lazy person who avoids work, often used humorously
- idler
more neutral; someone who spends time doing nothing, not necessarily negative
文法句型
a [adjective] waster
a bit of a waster
用法筆記
Commonly used as a mild insult in informal British English, especially in phrases like 'a bit of a waster' or 'a complete waster.' Less common in American English, where terms like 'bum' or 'slacker' are preferred. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 emphasises wasteful use of resources, while sense 2 emphasises a lazy or unproductive lifestyle.
常見錯誤
3. a person, army, or natural force that ruins or destroys land, property, or other
a person, army, or natural force that ruins or destroys land, property, or other things completely
The invading army was a merciless waster of villages, burning and looting everything in their path.
waster of + plural concrete noun (villages)
Environmental groups called the mining company a waster of precious forest land that had stood for centuries.
A swarm of locusts can be a terrible waster of crops, destroying a whole season's harvest within days.
Locals saw the new highway project as a waster of their beautiful countryside, but officials refused to stop.
- destroyer
the direct synonym; more common in everyday language for anyone or anything that destroys
- devastator
more intense; suggests widespread and severe destruction
- ravager
literary; emphasises violent, plundering destruction
文法句型
a waster of [land/village/crops]
用法筆記
Literary or formal register. Typically followed by 'of' and a concrete noun describing what is destroyed (e.g., a waster of farmland, a waster of historic buildings). This sense is much rarer than senses 1 and 2 and appears mostly in written, descriptive, or historical contexts.