wastrel Definition
a person who wastes their money, time, or resources and does nothing useful or valuable.
Using wastrel: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "wastrel" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He was a wastrel who squandered his inheritance on gambling and drinking.
Example
She accused him of being a wastrel who never did anything productive.
Example
The town's wastrels spent their days lounging in the park and causing trouble.
Example
The novel's protagonist is a wastrel who must learn to take responsibility for his actions.
wastrel Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for wastrel
Antonyms for wastrel
Idioms Using wastrel
Example
Watching TV all day is a wastrel of time; you should be doing something more productive.
Example
That old couch is just a wastrel of space; we should get rid of it.
a person or activity that uses up a lot of energy without producing any meaningful results
Example
Arguing with him is a wastrel of energy; he'll never change his mind.
Phrases with wastrel
Example
Despite his parents' best efforts, he remained a born wastrel, never able to hold down a job or save any money.
a person who has recognized their wasteful behavior and is actively working to change it
Example
After years of living as a recovering wastrel, he finally managed to get his life back on track and start a successful business.
a person who is wasteful and unproductive but still manages to be likable or attractive
Example
Despite his flaws, she found herself drawn to the charming wastrel and couldn't resist his advances.
Origins of wastrel
from 'waste' + '-rel', meaning 'one who'
Summary: wastrel in Brief
The term 'wastrel' [ˈweɪstrəl] refers to a person who wastes their resources, time, or money and does nothing useful or valuable. It can describe someone who is unproductive and squanders their inheritance, like 'He was a wastrel who squandered his inheritance on gambling and drinking,' or someone who is likable despite their wastefulness, like 'Despite his flaws, she found herself drawn to the charming wastrel.' The phrase 'a wastrel of time' describes an activity or person that is a complete waste of time.