# squander

/ˈskwɑndɝ/ (US) · /skwˈɒndɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/squander
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 3. to scatter

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

to spread out or scatter in different directions.

For teachers: to scatter or disperse; to cause to move in different directions.

- The sudden gust of wind served to squander the dry leaves across the lawn.
- The commander's primary error was to squander his forces across too wide a front, leaving the centre vulnerable to a concentrated attack.

Teaching tip: This sense is rare in modern English; students will mostly encounter it in 18th or 19th-century literature.

## Examples

- He decided to squander his inheritance on expensive cars.
- The company nearly went bankrupt because the board chose to squander their capital on unnecessary luxury projects.
- While some critics argued the artist had squandered his early promise, his later works demonstrated a profound maturity that eventually earned him international acclaim.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.