squander

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To waste money, time, or opportunities carelessly.

   He squandered his savings on things he didn't need.

2. 2
   verb

   To waste a chance by failing to use it well.

   The team squandered an early lead and lost the match.

Earliest uses (late 16th c.) "to spend recklessly or prodigiously", also "to scatter over a wide area". Of unknown origin. Perhaps a blend of scatter + wander. Compare Danish skvætte (rare)/skvatte (“to splash”) (nominalised: skvæt), Icelandic skvetta (“to squirt”), Swedish skvätta (“to splash”), Norwegian Bokmål skvette.

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