waste 1 of 3

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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

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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

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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

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verb

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waste

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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
No, the Beltway creatures and their friends in the echo-chamber media contend, Elon Musk and DOGE are cutting waste and fraud in all the wrong ways. Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 13 Mar. 2025 Heat is produced by burning wood waste and chips, sourced from the nearby forests. Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
While wasting Tegan Andrews’ 9-under-par, sixth-place finish. Brian Robin, Orange County Register, 13 Mar. 2025 This film skillfully blends horror and humor and does so without wasting a second. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 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
  • Lira, remembering the garbage, quickly takes out the trash.
    Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Leave the garbage can open and place it in the sun to fully dry before closing it or putting a garbage bag in it.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Click here to see more photos of the one-of-a-kind homes in the Utah desert.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2025
  • In addition, strong winds over desert areas could result in briefly lowered visibilities to well under a mile at times in blowing dust or blowing sand.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacramento Bee, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Actions mattered more than words, and Nuwan’s were as repugnant as elephant dung.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Here’s some of what the inspector found: About nine pieces of rodent dung in the lobby behind the drink station counter.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The centrepiece of this involved an expansion of the East Stand, adding 8,000 seats, which would be topped by a bubble-like roof.
    Tom Burrows, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The new backstory between Peter (Alexander Molony) and Hook (Jude Law) represents the movie’s incomplete imagination, gesturing at an expansion of its source material without actually fleshing out those ideas.
    Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • All of this investment is ramping up as the TV ratings continue to grow—this despite the ongoing erosion of the nation’s pay-TV base.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The erosion of trans rights and the intensity of teenage love—what could be more American than that?
    Tiana Randall, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Two years later, Terrifier 3 had a $2 million budget, this time had a $500,000 P&A spend, and opened to almost $19 million on the way to a nearly $54 million domestic total.
    Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Plenty of celebs spend the morning of the Oscars adding a few babylights or getting their roots touched up.
    Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Institutions of higher learning, schools, churches, museums ruined.
    Askold Haywas, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • His health weakened by overwork and physical ailments, McCombs spent much of the last months of his life under medical care.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The doctor added that recovery would best continue away from the hospital, where exposure to viruses risks weakening the Holy Father's condition.
    Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Waste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waste. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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