What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
fritter
Example
He frittered away his entire afternoon playing video games. [frittered: past tense verb]
Example
She frittered away her inheritance on luxury vacations and expensive shopping sprees. [frittered: past participle verb]
Example
The chef instructed me to fritter the vegetables before frying them. [fritter: verb]
squander
Example
He squandered his entire inheritance on gambling and risky investments. [squandered: past tense verb]
Example
She has been squandering her talents by not pursuing her dreams. [squandering: present participle verb]
Example
The company squandered its profits on lavish parties and unnecessary expenses. [squandered: past participle verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Squander is more commonly used than fritter in everyday language, especially in the context of money or valuable resources. Fritter is less common and tends to be used in more specific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between fritter and squander?
Both fritter and squander are relatively informal words that can be used in casual or formal contexts, depending on the situation and tone of the speaker or writer.
