waste 1 of 3

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as in desert
land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops an area that was a barren waste after the strip-mining had ended

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in dung
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal a local ordinance requiring dog owners to properly dispose of their pet's waste

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

waste

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verb

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waste

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb waste contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of waste are despoil, devastate, pillage, ravage, and sack. While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

When would despoil be a good substitute for waste?

In some situations, the words despoil and waste are roughly equivalent. However, despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

When is it sensible to use devastate instead of waste?

Although the words devastate and waste have much in common, devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

How are the words pillage and sack related as synonyms of waste?

Pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

When is ravage a more appropriate choice than waste?

The words ravage and waste are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

In what contexts can sack take the place of waste?

The synonyms sack and waste are sometimes interchangeable, but sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

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 waste
Noun
And that doesn’t even extend to the waste from crews. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 23 July 2025 Representatives for the property’s management agreed in the decree to remediate the property, including demolishing vacant mobile homes, relocating squatters, keeping the property buildings secure and maintaining waste disposal and lawn maintenance. Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025
Verb
After kicking off Wednesday's edition of Live With Kelly & Mark with a joyous on-air celebration of their longtime announcer Déjà Vu's birthday, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos wasted absolutely no time transitioning into a conversation about humidity, moisture, and butts. EW.com, 23 July 2025 The feud ends, at least temporarily, when the police arrived at the Osbournes' home and advised the family to call them next time instead of wasting good food. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 July 2025
Adjective
The new anti-waste law aims to encourage buyers to repair their devices rather than replace them with new products. Chris Smith, BGR, 26 Feb. 2021 To boost that percentage, France passed an anti-waste bill last year mandating that electronics manufacturers make a repairability index visible on their products. Maddie Stone, Wired, 20 Feb. 2021 See All Example Sentences for waste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waste
Noun
  • Another item that is often forgotten is garbage bags for collecting waste along the way, especially when passing through remote areas without public bins.
    Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
  • The Bureau of Rodent Control has been increasing collaboration with the Bureau of Sanitation to replace faulty garbage carts, which rats can exploit to obtain more food.
    William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • Cuyama Badlands, Santa Barbara, California With four RV/tent sites, two dedicated RV spots and two tent-only sites, this desert moonscape is perfect for stargazers.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Matthew Tostevin What To Know The Line, the most ambitious piece of Neom, was unveiled as a pair of parallel 500-meter-tall skyscrapers stretching through the desert.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Access to clean cooking equipment in sub-Saharan Africa continues to lag behind other regions, with four in five people using wood, charcoal, or dung as fuel over open fires or using basic stoves, according to an International Energy Agency report.
    Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 23 July 2025
  • When not elbow-deep in dino dung or outrunning raptors, Laura Dern's heartfelt performance in Jurassic Park shows why women really deserve to inherit the Earth — and all of the acting awards.
    Huntley Woods, EW.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • The South Korean battery maker, the largest in the country, completed expansion of its Holland, Michigan, facility last month after investing over $1.4 billion to manufacture batteries for storage systems.
    Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 22 July 2025
  • Samsung has revealed a major expansion of the licensing programme for its Tizen OS TV smart system that will see it being introduced on TVs from a host of new TV brands in multiple territories across the world.
    John Archer, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Noun
  • This has been primarily due to the wall’s waterspouts (installed during the British Raj), which caused a discharge of monsoon rainwater, resulting in deep erosion and damage.
    Sonya Rehman, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
  • In cases of severe erosion and decay, crowns can help preserve teeth and maintain function for many years.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • The low-budget indie production, which Zhou plans to direct, is scheduled to begin production in October and spend about three weeks filming.
    Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 25 July 2025
  • Pyne spent 15 seasons there as a firefighter, some of them living in an old cabin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
    Tom Zoellner, AZCentral.com, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • Nothing ruins the vibe of a beautiful backyard faster than dull, discolored patio furniture that’s more of an eyesore than an inviting lounge spot.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 July 2025
  • Some adults agreed, but others made comments about me ruining the mood.
    Nicholas Rice, People.com, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • This weakens their ability to educate, create, and grow.
    Miguel Cardona, Time, 21 July 2025
  • This could help verify recent findings from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) that suggest this strange force is actually weakening over time.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Waste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waste. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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