wasteful

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled waseful

US /ˈweɪstfəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #25396

Meanings

1

adj
Using more money, time, or resources than is necessary.

Leaving the tap running while you brush your teeth is wasteful.
2

adj
Not making good use of time, effort, or materials.

The old machine used a slow and wasteful process.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · using more money, time, or... extravagant improvident lavish prodigal profligate uneconomical

2 adj · not making good use of... uneconomical

Word family

Derived forms wastefullywastefulness

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

wasteful duplication
Unnecessary repetition that uses time, effort, or resources without sufficient benefit.

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English wastful; equivalent to waste + -ful.

wastful Middle English

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Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

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