squander
SKWON-der
/ˈskwɒndər/
To waste (money, time, or resources) in a reckless and foolish manner.
Implies a careless, often irresponsible, dissipation of valuable resources, suggesting a lack of foresight or appreciation for what is being lost.
The story behind the word. The origin of 'squander' in the mid-16th century is a bit of a mystery! Some linguists suggest it might be related to a dialectal word meaning 'to scatter,' which makes sense if you imagine scattering your money carelessly to the winds. The idea is that you're not just spending, but actually throwing away valuable resources without thought.
Word relationships
- fritter: To waste time, money, or energy on trivial matters, often in small amounts over time.
- dissipate: To cause to disappear or to waste in a foolish or extravagant manner, often referring to energy or resources.
- waste: A more general term for using something ineffectively or carelessly.
- conserve: To protect something from harm or destruction, especially something environmental.
- hoard: To accumulate a large amount of something for future use.
- save: To keep money or resources for future use.
Commonly confused with
- spend: 'Spend' is neutral; 'squander' implies spending wastefully and foolishly.
Word family
- squanderer (noun): A person who squanders.
Collocations
- squander money
- squander an opportunity
- squander resources
- squander time
Example sentences
- "Many young lottery winners squander their fortunes within a few years due to poor financial planning." A warning against poor financial management.
- "He deeply regretted how he had squandered his talent and potential by not pursuing his education." Reflecting on missed opportunities.
Memory hook
Don't 'SQUANDER' your money and 'WANDER' aimlessly through life without it. Wander and waste
When not to use
Do not use 'squander' for careful, planned spending, even if it's on luxuries. It specifically denotes wasteful and foolish use.
Fun facts
- The word 'squander' can be applied to intangible things like opportunities or talent, not just money.
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