Definition

Verb: 1. To spend wastefully; to squander: To use up (resources, especially money) in a careless, extravagant, or unnecessary manner. 2. To waste time; to spend one's time idly or inefficiently: To allow time to pass without purpose or productive activity.

Usage and Examples

• Spending money or resources wastefully:

  • He wanted away his entire inheritance on frivolous luxuries within a few years.
  • The company wanted away its financial reserves on failed marketing campaigns.

• Wasting time idly:

  • She wanted away the afternoon browsing social media instead of studying.
  • Don't wanton away your youth; pursue your passions and goals.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• The phrase is separable. The object (what is being wasted) can be placed between "wanton" and "away" or after "away."
  • He wanted his fortune away. (Separated)
  • He wanted away his fortune. (Not separated)
• It carries a strong connotation of irresponsible and often self-indulgent behavior. The waste is not just accidental but is due to a lack of care or discipline.
• It is a relatively formal or literary term and is less common in everyday modern speech than synonyms like "squander" or "fritter away."

Variants and Related Words

• Wanton (adj): (Of a person or action) cruel and violent; or (especially of a woman) sexually immodest or promiscuous. (Note: This is the base adjective from which the verb phrase derives, though the modern verb usage is less common.)
• Wanton (verb, archaic): To behave in a sexually immodest or promiscuous manner. (This usage is now rare.)

Synonyms

• Squander: To waste (something, especially money or time) in a reckless or foolish manner.
• Fritter away: To waste something, especially time or money, on trifling matters.
• Dissipate: To disperse or scatter; to squander or fritter away (money, energy, or resources).
• Misspend: To spend (time or money) foolishly, wrongly, or wastefully.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Idioms

• Fritter away: Very similar in meaning and more common in contemporary usage. It often implies wasting on small, insignificant things.
  • He frittered away his savings on gadgets and takeout food.
• Throw away: To discard as useless or unwanted; can also be used figuratively for wasting opportunities.
  • Don't throw away this chance to study abroad. (Figurative, for an opportunity)

Verb

1. spend wastefully
   • wanton one's money away
2. waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently