wastes 1 of 2

plural of waste
1
2
as in deserts
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

3
4
as in erosions
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction the slow waste of the once broad beach by the relentless tide

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wastes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of waste
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2
as in destroys
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of one country attempting to waste another

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

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 wastes
Noun
What never stops, though, is the eternal leak of CO2 from the necks of volcanoes poking above the frozen wastes. Peter Brannen august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025 In addition to the impending shipments of elevated radioactivity wastes from New York, Wayne Disposal, off I-94 near the Willow Run Airport in Wayne County's Van Buren Township, was receiving elevated-radioactivity wastes from another FUSRAP site, a long-shuttered beryllium plant in Luckey, Ohio. Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
This reveals how enthusiasm without integration discipline wastes time and capital. Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025 This overload wastes storage, overwhelms engineering teams, clutters observability tools and slows investigations when something actually goes wrong. Bill Hineline, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 The fact that any remaining mutual admiration is fueled by mutual animosity is thus introduced right up front, and the movie wastes zero time setting out the rules of engagement for what will soon become take-no-prisoners warfare between the Roses. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025 This approach also wastes public resources by paying groups to throw away people’s belongings instead of investing that money into actual housing solutions, like creating more affordable housing options. Stephen Przybylinski, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2025 That’ll have a much greater ROI for Californians than much of what Sacramento wastes our money on. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wastes
Noun
  • From there, the Cadillac Escalade IQL adds layers of luxuries that Cadillac buyers are used to, from a rear seat entertainment system with wireless AKG headphones to powered seats, a spacious third row and retractable running boards to assist every passenger climbing into the cabin.
    Scotty Reiss, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Spending grew faster than incomes, eating into savings, and much of it came from necessities rather than luxuries.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Disparities in Maternal Care OB deserts can affect all pregnant people within that area but some communities are hit hardest.
    Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs, Parents, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The device doesn’t produce a huge amount of water from the bone-dry air — around two-thirds of a cup a day — but the ultimate aim is to supply a household with drinking water even in arid deserts, said Xuanhe Zhao, a mechanical engineering professor at MIT.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Backcountry exploration When people seek a break from the pace of modern life and the demands of being digitally connected, national parks contain expanses of backcountry, where signs of civilization are sparse, and where profound natural beauty, adventure and solitude are still available.
    Jeffrey C. Hallo, The Conversation, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Much of the rest of the hike was dry and traversed gentle gravel bars or smooth limestone expanses, skirting the edges of grassy bluffs and rocky cliffs.
    Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Rivals Fox News Channel and CNN are seen experiencing similar erosions in that period.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025
  • Erosive gastritis develops when inflammation damages the stomach lining, leading to ulcers (open sores) and shallow breaks (erosions).
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • As evidenced by his Instagram, Schwarzenegger spends a lot of time with his famous family, and Champion does too.
    Arielle Tschinkel, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Start with the processes that are already broken—those high-volume, repetitive tasks where your team spends hours on work that adds little strategic value.
    David Zwick, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Liposuction surgically removes fat cells, while cryolipolysis freezes and destroys them.
    Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 29 Aug. 2025
  • But the loving couple’s equilibrium hits a major bump when a freak coastal storm destroys Theo’s new building before its inauguration and viral videos compound his humiliation.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Any delay in release weakens hatchlings and affects their survival rates.
    M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Beyond 100 people, culture often fragments, communication distorts and the founder’s vision weakens.
    Jonathan Low, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Even in economic uncertainty, people appreciate little extravagances; something extra that shows businesses still value them.
    Dan Gingiss, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wastes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wastes. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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