squandered

Thân thiện

He squandered his entire allowance on a single, useless gadget.

Definition

Adjective: 1. Spent or used wastefully or extravagantly; not used to good advantage: Describes resources, time, or opportunities that have been used in a foolish, careless, or inefficient way, resulting in loss or lack of benefit. 2. Wasted; lost: Emphasizes the finality and lack of productive return from the expenditure.

Usage

The adjective "squandered" is used to describe a noun, indicating that the thing it modifies has been misspent or lost due to poor judgment or carelessness. It often carries a tone of criticism or regret for the lost potential.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The investigation revealed squandered public funds on unnecessary projects. (Public money was spent wastefully.)
  • He regretted his squandered youth, spent in idleness rather than study. (His youth was wasted.)
  • The team's early lead was a squandered opportunity to secure the championship. (The opportunity was lost due to poor use.)

Advanced Usage

• "Squandered potential": A common collocation describing talent, ability, or promise that was not developed or used effectively.
  • Many critics saw the artist's later work as a case of squandered potential.
• "Squandered away": While "squander" as a verb is often used with "away," the adjective "squandered" typically stands alone. The phrase "squandered away" is less common and can be considered redundant.

Variants and Related Words

• Squander (verb): To waste (something, especially money or time) in a reckless or foolish manner.
  • He squandered his inheritance on luxury cars.
• Squanderer (noun): A person who squanders.

Synonyms

• Wasted: Used to no purpose or for an inadequate result.
• Misspent: Spent foolishly or wrongly.
• Dissipated: Wasted or frittered away, often on pleasure.
• Frittered away: Wasted gradually or on trivial things.
• Thrown away: Discarded or wasted carelessly.

Antonyms

• Saved: Kept for future use.
• Conserved: Protected from loss or waste; used carefully.
• Invested: Used (money or time) with the expectation of a future return or benefit.
• Utilized: Made practical and effective use of.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. not used to good advantage
   • squandered money cannot be replaced
   • a wasted effort

Từ đồng nghĩa

• wasted