wastes 1 of 2

plural of waste
1
2
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in erosions
a gradual weakening, loss, or destruction the slow waste of the once broad beach by the relentless tide

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wastes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of waste
1
2
as in destroys
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of one country attempting to waste another

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wastes
Noun
  • In simple terms, during times of economic duress, shoppers feel the need to spend their money on small luxuries like lipstick and perfume as a means of indulgence.
    Elizabeth Grace Coyne, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Some content creators have made the humor an entry point to share budget-friendly alternatives for everyday luxuries that may have to go if wallets are stretched.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • These wide expanses of dense maritime forest are largely left alone.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2025
  • The eastern portion of the country was heavily forested, while the Great Plains and western regions contained vast expanses of grasslands and shrubs.
    Martha McHardy, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Rivals Fox News Channel and CNN are seen experiencing similar erosions in that period.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025
  • This has played out most dramatically in Europe, where real and perceived erosions of sovereignty, above all concerning immigration, played a major role in the British vote to leave the EU.
    Fred Hu, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2017
Verb
  • Now, the YouTuber has broken his silence — in a 21-minute video uploaded to his side channel with 272,000 subscribers that only spends around two minutes explaining his recent absence from the internet.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Dec. 2024
  • While in the Heber Valley, Thomas spends the majority of his time in Midway, Utah, a town on the Eastern flank of the Wasatch Mountains, about an hour away from Salt Lake City and a stone’s throw from Park City.
    The Editors, Outside Online, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Development not only disturbs or destroys the soil, but wipes out habitat.
    Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025
  • First, allowing utilities to own generation destroys the competitive market.
    Mary Beth Tung, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • An easy monetary policy typically weakens a country’s currency, making exports cheaper and potentially supports growth in the face of tariffs.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Doing so weakens your home's heating system and is a fire hazard.
    Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Second, states often make Medicaid expansions and then file amendments retroactively.
    Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Shulman’s Miami firm is noted for designing numerous renovations and expansions of historic buildings on the Beach and mainland Miami, and is overseeing design of the replacement Deauville.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The care the wizard takes in cooking the simple breakfast, even making sure the fire is literally fed, instantly softens Sophie and the audience to the illusive character.
    Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 21 Dec. 2024
  • Managing resources according to seasonality softens how demand fluctuations impact your cash flow and operations.
    Achraf Golli, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Wastes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wastes. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

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