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Definition of "squander" [squan•der]

  • To spend wastefully or extravagantly; dissipate. See Synonyms at waste. (verb-transitive)
  • To fail to take advantage of; lose a chance for: squandered an opportunity to go to college. (verb-transitive)
  • Obsolete To scatter. (verb-transitive)
  • Extravagant expenditure; prodigality. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "squander" in a sentence
  • "Will we see Brown bite the bullet and push for this referendum, or will we see him once again squander the chance for proper reform, reform that the Liberal Democrat’s have been calling for well before the expense scandal?"
  • "I was already sketching mental notes for my optimistic space exploration trilogy, so I didn't want to "squander" ideas for the novel by shoehorning them into a shorter piece."
  • "To DW-S's mind, the economy is turning around, and now we have to worry that the new House majority will "squander" it."