Disposable vs Expendable - What's the difference?
disposable | expendable | Synonyms |
Any object that is designed to be disposed of rather than refilled or repaired.
* 2010 , Kathleen Huggins, The Expectant Parents' Companion (page 88)
That can be disposed of.
That is designed to be discarded rather than refilled or repaired.
Available to be used.
Able to be expended; not inexhaustible.
Designed for a single use; not reusable.
Not essential or mandatory in order to achieve a goal.
That which is regarded as not worth preserving or saving; able to be sacrificed.
An expendable person or object; usually used in the plural.
Expendable is a synonym of disposable.
As nouns the difference between disposable and expendable
is that disposable is any object that is designed to be disposed of rather than refilled or repaired while expendable is an expendable person or object; usually used in the plural.As adjectives the difference between disposable and expendable
is that disposable is that can be disposed of while expendable is able to be expended; not inexhaustible.disposable
English
Noun
(en noun)- Parents who use cloth diapers often use disposables for travel, nights, or both.
Adjective
(en adjective)- Rather than purchase an expensive razor he bought a packet of cheap disposable ones.
Antonyms
* non-disposable, nondisposable, undisposable, indisposableDerived terms
* disposability * disposable income * disposableness * disposablyExternal links
* (wikipedia "disposable")expendable
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- Oil and other expendable resources are frequently the subject of military disputes.
- The anti-aircraft rocket is fired from an expendable launch platform.
- The research department was deemed expendable , and its funding was not renewed.
- In the internecine rivalries of large corporations, whole departments may become expendable in the execution of one executive's power play.
Synonyms
* (not inexhaustible ): exhaustible, finite, limited * (not reusable ): dispensable, disposable, throwaway * (not essential or mandatory ): adjunct, dispensable, redundant, superfluous * (not worth saving or preserving ): collateral, inconsiderable, sacrificable, worthlessNoun
(en noun)- Private Johnson was afraid the Lieutenant considered him an expendable , since he was always picked as point man.