adjective
Common
wasted
WAYS-tihd
Wasted (adjective) means used carelessly, without gaining any real benefit; not put to good use. Example: “It felt like wasted effort to paint the wall before fixing the leak.”
adjective
1
Used carelessly, without gaining any real benefit; not put to good use.
"It felt like wasted effort to paint the wall before fixing the leak."
"Switching off the lights stops wasted energy in empty rooms."
"That was a wasted opportunity to fix things."
2
Thin and weak from illness or hunger; emaciated.
"After months of illness, her wasted limbs needed physiotherapy to regain strength."
"The photograph showed a wasted, hungry child waiting for food aid."
"The prisoner emerged with a wasted, gaunt frame."
3
(informal) Extremely drunk or high on drugs.
"He was so wasted at the party that his friends sent him home."
"Don't get wasted tonight, because you have an early train tomorrow."
"By midnight he was completely wasted."
How to use wasted
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed poorly and without benefit — or, informally, very drunk or high.
When to use it
The "very drunk/high" sense is slang, common in casual speech.
Common pairings
a wasted effort
get wasted
wasted potential
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more wasted
- Superlative
- most wasted
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It felt like _____ effort to paint the wall before fixing the leak.
Synonyms
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squandered
misspent
unused
frittered away
emaciated
gaunt
otiose
diminished
haggard
atrophied
cadaverous
pinched
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for wasted
See all rhymes for wasted →Frequently asked questions
What does “wasted” mean?
The word “wasted” means used carelessly, without gaining any real benefit; not put to good use. In plain terms, used poorly and without benefit — or, informally, very drunk or high.
How do you pronounce “wasted”?
“Wasted” is pronounced WAYS-tihd (/ˈweɪstɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “wasted” in a sentence?
Here is “wasted” used in a sentence: “That was a wasted opportunity to fix things.”
What part of speech is “wasted”?
“Wasted” is an adjective.
Is “wasted” a common word?
“Wasted” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “wasted” have?
“Wasted” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used carelessly, without gaining any real benefit; not put to good use.
What is the difference between "wasted" and "squandered"?
"Wasted" means used carelessly without gaining any real benefit, and it applies to time, money, food, or effort. "Squandered" carries a stronger sense of recklessly throwing away something valuable, so it often sounds more emphatic and judgmental than "wasted."
When should you use "wasted" to describe a person's appearance?
Use "wasted" for a person when they look thin and weak from illness or hunger, meaning emaciated. This sense describes the body being worn down, as in a wasted frame after a long illness, and differs from the everyday sense of resources not put to good use.
What are common collocations with the word "wasted"?
In its main sense, "wasted" pairs with words like "time," "money," "effort," "opportunity," and "food," as in "wasted time" or "a wasted opportunity." These phrases all express that something valuable was used carelessly without producing any benefit.
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