WASTES Synonyms: 307 Similar and Opposite Words

wastes 1 of 2

noun

plural of waste

as in luxuries

an instance of spending money or resources without care or restraint it seems like a waste to spend my entire paycheck on a bigger TV

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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

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as in expanses

a wide space or area a legendary mariner doomed to sail the watery wastes of the world until Judgment Day

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as in erosions

a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction the slow waste of the once broad beach by the relentless tide

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wastes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of waste

as in spends

to use up carelessly he wasted his lottery winnings on booze-soaked nights with gold diggers

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as in destroys

to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of one country attempting to waste another

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in weakens

to diminish the physical strength of endless months of inactivity wasted him

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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

Biology feeds on wastes and transforms it into something new. — John Werner, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 According to the International Maritime Organization, biofouling wastes about 10% of all fuel used by the world's shipping fleets. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026 There are numerous federal regulations from different agencies around discharges of radium to the environment, but many do not directly apply to oil and gas wastes. — Nathaniel Warner, The Conversation, 24 July 2026 But watering the lawn in summer wastes water, which can be expensive. — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 20 July 2026 In 2015, a battery recycling plant that had been operating in Vernon for decades had to close down and pay $50 million toward cleaning up its hazardous wastes such as lead dust, cadmium and arsenic. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026 Sending spent batteries to landfills wastes valuable materials and years of remaining electrochemical life. — IEEE Spectrum, 2 July 2026 Being under 5-foot-4 can make clothes shopping tough—pants drag, dresses hang long, and constant tailoring wastes time and money. — Melony Forcier, InStyle, 24 June 2026 Nolan and the cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, wielding heavy IMAX cameras, shot their picture across the Mediterranean and beyond, in caves, castles, beaches, black-sand wastes, and open water. — David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026

Verb

This combination matters because a transistor that survives high voltage but wastes large amounts of energy through resistance would still be of limited use. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026 Lanterns wastes little time explaining this backstory ad nauseam and instead creates an immediately inviting dynamic between him and Hal, who comes to him demanding information on Manhunters. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026 Hathaway reunited with Nolan for the heady space drama Interstellar, and once again, the director wastes none of her talents. — Chris Bellamy, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026 Nailing it down too early just wastes time because your vision's granular details will evolve throughout the journey anyway. — Chris Strouthopoulos, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Donating unsuitable items wastes time and resources, so focus on clean, usable pieces. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 28 July 2026 Indeed, Congress periodically engages in a debt ceiling charade, which wastes a lot of time and energy and limits nothing. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 15 July 2026 Beth wastes no time shutting down the conversation. — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026 Instead, Greenbaum, who did far better and smarter work with many of the same people in Too Funny to Fail and Will & Harper, wastes time on a voiceover device that’s too cutesy to be worth the effort and a three-act structure that’s more for the benefit of his editors than the audience. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wastes

Noun

In November 2025, the sibling owners decided to close the hotel and embark on a significant five-star transformation, adding contemporary luxuries and cutting-edge technology.

— Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Placing emphasis on affordable luxuries, such as matcha lattes, lip gloss, or birthday cake, is a way for Jenner to remain relatable to her audience, who are far more likely to be victims of the effects of economic uncertainty.

— Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of luxuries

Noun

Arizona also boasts diverse landscapes and a variety of ecosystems, from alpine forests to deserts, all of which different kinds of bats have fashioned a home.

— Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
They can also be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, scrub brush, swamps and deserts.

— Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of deserts

Noun

The umbral shadow will first appear as a small semicircle of shadow close to the dark expanses of Oceanus Procellarum (the Ocean of Storms) and Mare Humorum on the moon's southwestern edge, before swiftly spreading to swallow the nearby moonscape.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Security Meets Style Expect larger expanses of glass, slimmer frames, and design that blurs the line between indoors and out.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of expanses

Noun

That lack of feeling safe starts to lead to these erosions of society.

— Joel Feder, The Drive, 29 July 2026
He’s known for building intentional cracks and erosions into his works, which often reveal an interior geology of materials like crystals or gears, and more recently, labyrinth staircases populated with small figures, not unlike a surreal antique dollhouse.

— Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 11 Mar. 2026

Definition of erosions

Verb

Gray is central to the investment calls Blackstone makes, and spends his weekends reading memos on potential deals in preparation for his weekly investment committee meetings.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Our roads get a D+ by the American Society of Civil Engineers, which found Colorado spends 35% more on car repairs than the national average.

— Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of spends

Verb

T cells, a type of immune cell that detects and destroys infected or abnormal cells, normally perform this inspection.

— William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
The white dwarf emits radiation and produces a giant gas bubble—the lion’s face—that destroys dust in its path.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of destroys

Verb

Siegel noted that measles weakens the immune system and increases the risk of pneumonia, which can stem from measles itself or from a secondary bacterial infection.

— Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Employment has been a mostly resilient area of the economy even as stubborn inflation continues to squeeze businesses and households, while consumer confidence weakens.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of weakens

Noun

Plus, this figure is the minimum needed—not counting any extra life extravagances like the annual family holiday, private school, or a bigger home.

— Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
In the wealthiest state in the wealthiest country in history, these are not extravagances.

— Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2026

Definition of extravagances

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wasters

wastes

wastes (away)

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“Wastes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wastes. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of wastes

noun

verb

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