1
as in to pay
to hand over or use up in payment I always end up spending too much money at the mall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to consume
to make complete use of the town has already spent its budget for snow removal, and it's only January
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to waste
to use up carelessly spent all his energy on impractical schemes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spend To highlight class differences, Ashley experiences a medical emergency further exacerbated by not having health insurance and facing an extended wait time, the latter of which was drawn from real events, as Lee once spent over 10 hours in the ER with his wife. —
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 19 Apr. 2026 Earth Day on the 22nd is a wonderful anchor for habits around sustainability like planting something, spending more intentional time outside, or cutting back on single-use plastics. —Cheryl Russell, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026 During her college years, Sophie spent her summers working and gaining experience in television and journalism. —Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026 His wife at the time stayed in the Bay Area for work while Taylor spent the winters—and one full year—at Sugar Bowl with the kids. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spend
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 19 Apr. 2026 Earth Day on the 22nd is a wonderful anchor for habits around sustainability like planting something, spending more intentional time outside, or cutting back on single-use plastics. —Cheryl Russell, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026 During her college years, Sophie spent her summers working and gaining experience in television and journalism. —Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026 His wife at the time stayed in the Bay Area for work while Taylor spent the winters—and one full year—at Sugar Bowl with the kids. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spend
Verb
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In 2025, the department spent about thirty million dollars paying people not to work.— Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
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In fact, many retailers find themselves in a similar quandary because tariff refunds will go to whoever paid the actual customs bill.— Alina Selyukh, NPR, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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What mattered was the relationship between the people creating the content and the audience consuming it.— Jonathan Hunt, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
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Other users invited her to connect on platforms like TikTok or private chats on Discord, and Seitz thinks Audree consumed this kind of content off and on until her death.— Meena Duerson, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jorge Ruvalcaba scored for the Red Bulls (3-2-2), who have one win in their last five matches but rallied to get a point out of this one after wasting an early 1-0 lead.— CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
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That there’s no such thing as wasted creative time.— Brent Lang, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Suzuki’s long ball was part of a three-run seventh, which helped give the Cubs a five-run cushion.— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
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Korean gochujang paste gives the dish fiery, funky heat.— Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Your 12th House of Silence hosts ambitious Mars, who’s cheering on Pluto in your 10th House of Audiences, turning private prep into public credibility without draining you.— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
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This elegant plant thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, requiring minimal care.— SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bambaataa denied all the allegations but lost the civil case after refusing to appear in court.— The Week US, TheWeek, 21 Apr. 2026
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The hosts talk about why the Padres, who play in one of the league’s smaller markets and recently lost their local TV partner to bankruptcy, are worth so much.— Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Gophers’ top centers, Sophie Hart and Finau Tonga, were graduate players last season and have exhausted their eligibility.— John Shipley, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2026
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Americans are exhausted from the pandemic, the 2022 inflation surge, tariffs.— Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When chemicals from oil dissolve into the water column, water-breathing animals such as fish absorb them through their gills and corals absorb them directly through their tissues.— Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
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Devotees love how the aluminum walls and constant but surprisingly not-too-loud ventilation keep the air inside fresh, as does a charcoal filter designed to absorb airborne impurities that can creep into bottles through their corks or caps.— Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/spend. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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