WASTEFULNESS Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

wastefulness

noun

as in generosity

the quality or fact of being free or wasteful in the expenditure of money considering he has a family, his wastefulness is downright irresponsible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 wastefulness Your hard truth is less likely to change her mind than to start an argument about the wastefulness of taking two cars. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026 For all his wastefulness, those games have still brought 54 goals, a one-in-three ratio. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 July 2026 The humanitarian consequences of this wastefulness were well documented before last Wednesday. — Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 Gabriel also acknowledged lawmakers’ responsibility to oversee state spending seriously as well, and would be scrutinizing government programs for wastefulness. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026 She’s also previously called out wastefulness in the music industry specifically. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2025 Núñez, despite his occasional wastefulness in front of goal, was a very useful option in the position and brought great energy and dynamism to the team. — James Nalton, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wastefulness

Noun

Flowers’ voice also carries some of Waylon’s wry, bear-hug generosity, that warmth that always makes his music feel like good company.

— Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 25 Aug. 2026
The Dream Ride Experience has grown into an extraordinary celebration of community, generosity, and inclusion.

— Mark Maglio, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of generosity

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
The two names below Fernandez, though, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Antony, are perhaps the biggest examples of Premier League transfer extravagance.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of extravagance

Noun

Bezos and Sánchez Bezos received backlash for the event’s lavishness during global hardships.

— Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
The Vanity Fair of today embodies a certain sort of lavishness—an often unironic appreciation of and yearning for rich people things.

— Naomi Skwarna, hazlitt.net, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of lavishness

Browse Nearby Words

wastefully

wastefulness

wasteland

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Wastefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wastefulness. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of wastefulness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes