waste 1 of 3

1
2
3
as in desert
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops an area that was a barren waste after the strip-mining had ended

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in dung
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal a local ordinance requiring dog owners to properly dispose of their pet's waste

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6
as in erosion
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction the slow waste of the once broad beach by the relentless tide

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

waste

2 of 3

verb

1
2
3

waste

3 of 3

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb waste contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of waste are despoil, devastate, pillage, ravage, and sack. While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

When would despoil be a good substitute for waste?

In some situations, the words despoil and waste are roughly equivalent. However, despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

When is it sensible to use devastate instead of waste?

Although the words devastate and waste have much in common, devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

How are the words pillage and sack related as synonyms of waste?

Pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

When is ravage a more appropriate choice than waste?

The words ravage and waste are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

In what contexts can sack take the place of waste?

The synonyms sack and waste are sometimes interchangeable, but sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of waste
Noun
Finding this amino acid in water indicates the presence of fecal coliform bacteria from animal and human waste, which is hard to detect by itself. Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025 But isn’t any season without a title with Jokic a waste? Troy Renck, Denver Post, 22 May 2025
Verb
The Guardians have wasted a lot of quality starting pitching lately. Zack Meisel, New York Times, 22 May 2025 For his part, Kendrick wasted no opportunity to double down on the stage presence and masterful camera work that captivated the live audience and at-home viewers of 2024’s Juneteenth concert, Ken & Friends – the Pop Out as well as the Superbowl in New Orleans earlier this year. Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025
Adjective
The new anti-waste law aims to encourage buyers to repair their devices rather than replace them with new products. Chris Smith, BGR, 26 Feb. 2021 To boost that percentage, France passed an anti-waste bill last year mandating that electronics manufacturers make a repairability index visible on their products. Maddie Stone, Wired, 20 Feb. 2021 See All Example Sentences for waste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waste
Noun
  • Duluth, Minnesota, has installed effective and unobtrusive signs at each beach entrance next to a garbage receptacle.
    John Michael Pierobon, Sun Sentinel, 25 May 2025
  • Allegiance The Resistance, led by General Leia Organa, regroups on the garbage planet Anoat, while Finn and Poe go on a secret mission to retrieve a weapons cache to increase their dwindling arsenal.
    Nick Romano, EW.com, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • Marvel at one of Africa’s most compelling regions with 7 Wonders in 7 Days at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, an intimate, seven-night journey to the Namib, the world’s oldest living desert.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 30 May 2025
  • On Friday, temperatures in Southern California are expected to range from eight to 16 degrees above normal, with highs in the 90s to just above 100 degrees across the valleys, lower mountains and deserts, according to the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • But be careful not to hit any of the rodents or the rodent dung.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The dung heap is being dismantled by a scrum of hermit crabs.
    Kevin Gepford, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • When scaling disbursed teams, considerations include attracting and retaining the best talent to drive expansion.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • The series, produced by BBC Studios India Productions in collaboration with All3Media International, represents Prime Video India’s expansion into high-profile reality programming.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • In 1950, the wall was reconstructed to control erosion and create artificial beaches.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 May 2025
  • Concrete sea walls, like the one proposed for a 257-foot stretch in Half Moon Bay, have been proposed to prevent further erosion along the coast, though the proposals have faced local opposition from residents.
    Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Officials spent countless hours consulting with community members, in part, because one of the city’s busiest bus routes runs through the square.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • About $230,000 of that has been spent so far on planning and design, said Gary Barberio, deputy city manager for community services.
    Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
  • Thessaloniki, Greece Greece is an iconic travel destination with ancient history, ruins steeped in lore, and picture-perfect Mediterranean beaches.
    Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • In Colorado, for example, several AI companies recently lobbied to delay and weaken the state’s landmark AI accountability legislation — a preview of what unchecked industry influence could look like under a regulatory freeze.
    Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • Their backing from the youngest voters weakened in 2024 (Catalist).
    Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Waste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waste. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on waste

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!