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Squandered vs Misused - What's the difference?

squandered | misused | Related terms |

Squandered is a related term of misused.


As verbs the difference between squandered and misused

is that squandered is (squander) while misused is (misuse).

As an adjective misused is

used in an incorrect or inappropriate manner.

squandered

English

Verb

(head)
  • (squander)

  • squander

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To waste, lavish, splurge; to spend lavishly or profusely; to dissipate.
  • * 1746 , Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanac Agribusiness Management
  • Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=September 24 , author=David Ornstein , title=Arsenal 3 - 0 Bolton , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=As the game opened up, Bolton squandered a fine opportunity to equalise - Chris Eagles shooting straight at Szczesny - but then back came Arsenal.}}
  • (obsolete) To scatter; to disperse.
  • * Dryden
  • Our squandered troops he rallies.
  • To wander at random; to scatter.
  • * Shakespeare
  • The wise man's folly is anatomized / Even by squandering glances of the fool.

    Usage notes

    Squander implies starting with many resources, such as great wealth, and then wasting them (using them up to little purpose or little effect), often ending with little. Particularly used in phrases such as “squander an opportunity” or “squander an inheritance”. It may be used even if one starts with little, though usually in some construction such as “squander what little he had”.

    Synonyms

    * waste, splurge * ducks and drakes * throw away

    References

    misused

    English

    Adjective

    (head)
  • Used in an incorrect or inappropriate manner.
  • The oft misused word didn't mean what he thought it meant, but everyone else misunderstood it too.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (misuse)