SPEND Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

spend

verb

ˈspend

Definition of spend

as in to pay

to hand over or use up in payment I always end up spending too much money at the mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to consume

to make complete use of the town has already spent its budget for snow removal, and it's only January

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to waste

to use up carelessly spent all his energy on impractical schemes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 spend The friends haven’t seen each other in some time, though Frankie spends many an evening parked outside the hospice in his car, summoning the gumption to visit. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026 William James Middle is part of Fort Worth ISD’s new Elevate Network instructional model, which emphasizes a consistent routine to maximize time students spend learning, district officials have said. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Aug. 2026 Polk County investigators spent tens of thousands of hours working to pursue a conviction in the Weldon case, Judd said. — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 Homero Calderón used to spend his days training at the gym and on the soccer pitch. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spend

Verb

The settlement will be paid by Hyundai Mobis, Kia and local staffing and recruitment agencies that helped find and bring the immigrant workers to Georgia on temporary visas.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
The records involve consulting work, paid for with public funds.

— Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of pay

Verb

However, consuming large amounts—such as those used in studies where up to 1/2 cup was consumed daily—can start to weaken and damage tooth enamel.

— MD Published, Verywell Health, 10 Aug. 2026
The Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey fire in Hartford, Connecticut consumed the big top in just eight minutes.

— Dr. Marianne Parshley, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of consume

Verb

Given audiences’ enthusiasm for the film, Erwin did not waste any time revealing his next steps for the story of Washington.

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
The Rays wasted a prime opportunity at the start of the game, as their first three hitters — Diaz, Jonathan Aranda and Simpson — all singled off Emerson Hancock.

— Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of waste

Verb

The Arts District is a short rideshare away and gives you all the indie bars and restaurants and vintage shopping.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
Karlie Lema’s pressure gave Bay FC (5-10-4) a lead in the sixth minute, but Moriya responded a minute later to tie it and Utah (11-6-3) took the lead in the 22nd minute on Narumi’s shot from outside the box.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of give

Verb

Your table is ready, the waiter said, and Rebecca drained her glass and stood.

— Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026
Most of the region’s sewers were engineered generations ago to drain well under 2 inches of rain per hour, and a cloudburst can deliver double that amount.

— Ravi S. Bhalla, New York Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of drain

Verb

For Margarita Wray, the possibility of losing her son has turned the criminal case into an intensely personal fight for justice.

— Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Shakira Austin had 29 points and eight rebounds and Sonia Citron added 17 points and eight assists for Washington (19-14), which has lost two straight following a seven-game winning streak.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of lose

Verb

The ruling involves 16 men's basketball players who sued the NCAA in Cobb County Superior Court in July after exhausting four seasons of college eligibility.

— Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Cinema has lately exhausted the emotional mileage of the Ukraine–EU border, but one wittily choreographed setpiece involving the couple’s border crossing finds in transition an ingenious point of convergence between gender and geography.

— Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of exhaust

Browse Nearby Words

spences

spend

spender

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Cite this Entry

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“Spend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spend. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of spend

verb

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