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waste

 
 
pronunciation:
weIst
parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb, noun, adjective
phrases:
lay waste, waste one's breath
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun), Homophone Note, Word Builder, Word Explorer
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: wastes, wasting, wasted
definition 1: to use, consume, or spend carelessly or for little or no return; squander.
synonyms:
dissipate, fritter, squander
antonyms:
conserve, save, spare
similar words:
blow, consume, drain, exhaust, lavish, misspend, wanton
definition 2: to fail to use or take full advantage of.
He wasted the chance to go to college.
synonyms:
miss
similar words:
blow, lose, squander
definition 3: to cause to become weaker; exhaust.
synonyms:
exhaust, fag, tire
similar words:
drain, enervate, enfeeble, prostrate, tucker, weaken, wear out
definition 4: to destroy; ruin; kill.
synonyms:
destroy, kill, ruin
similar words:
blast, demolish, devastate, ravage, raze, slay, spoil, wreck
phrase: lay waste, waste one's breath
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition 1: to become weak or exhausted.
synonyms:
tire, weaken
similar words:
decay, droop, fatigue, languish, wane, wilt
definition 2: to diminish or wear away gradually.
synonyms:
diminish, dwindle
similar words:
ablate, corrode, dissipate, droop, ebb, erode, rot, slip, wane, wither
definition 3: to pass gradually.
Time wastes while we wait for him to arrive.
synonyms:
pass
similar words:
elapse, fly
definition 4: to be used, consumed, or spent carelessly or for little or no return.
similar words:
deteriorate, disappear, dwindle
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: the act of wasting or state of being wasted.
synonyms:
dissipation, prodigality, squandering
similar words:
destruction, devastation, gluttony, misuse, profligacy, ruin, wreckage
definition 2: careless or needless consumption, use, or expenditure.
synonyms:
prodigality
antonyms:
thrift
similar words:
dissipation, fat, gluttony, misuse, profligacy
definition 3: an uninhabited or uncultivated area; desert; wilderness.
synonyms:
desert, wasteland, wilderness
similar words:
badlands, barrens, bush, dust bowl, outback, wilds
definition 4: a place or thing that has been devastated; ruin.
synonyms:
ruin
similar words:
remains, wreck, wreckage
definition 5: unused or unusable matter discarded during a particular process.
The factory poured its waste into the river.
synonyms:
by-product, discharge, emission
similar words:
dross, garbage, litter, pollution, residue, rubbish
definition 6: garbage; refuse.
synonyms:
garbage, refuse, rubbish
similar words:
culm, debris, detritus, dross, junk, litter, offal, residue, trash
definition 7: residual material eliminated from the body after the digestion of food; excrement.
synonyms:
excrement, feces, urine
similar words:
dung, excreta, ordure, piss, shit, soil
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: seen or rejected as useless or worthless.
synonyms:
useless, worthless
similar words:
extra, leftover, refuse, superfluous, unnecessary, unused
definition 2: not cultivated or inhabited.
synonyms:
barren, desolate, uncultivated, uninhabited, wild
similar words:
arid, bleak, desert, infertile, unproductive
definition 3: pertaining to or used for garbage or refuse.
a waste container
Homophone Note
The word waste and waist (a part of the human body) sound alike but have different meanings.
Word Builder: waste +
  • wastebasket:
    a basket or large can that you put garbage in.
Word Explorer
See
  blood, body, conservation, excrete, natural resources