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misspend

[mis-spend] / mɪsˈspɛnd /
VERB
squander
Synonyms
Antonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Davis pleaded guilty last month to state and federal felony charges in a conspiracy to misspend tens of millions of dollars from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 10, 2022

Eating out frequently, memberships that aren’t being used, and multiple impulse purchases are some of the ways people misspend.

From Slate ● Jun. 6, 2021

“If there was a way to misspend money, it seems DHS leadership or their grantees thought of it and tried it,” White said Monday.

From Washington Times ● May 4, 2020

Green did not respond to an email and voice mail, but in state filings she said her nonprofit helped many and did not misspend money.

From Chicago Tribune ● Jul. 14, 2014

Those that dare lose a day are dangerously prodigal, those that dare misspend it, desperate.

From Architects of Fate or, Steps to Success and Power by Orison Swett Marden

Numerous investigations and reports have determined that the city often misspends money designated for at-risk students, using it to meet regular expenses and staffing needs that the per-pupil funding should cover.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 14, 2022

In the first of the eight prints, young Tom Rakewell inherits wealth from his miserly father and misspends it for the remainder of his life in copying the lifestyle of an aristocrat.

From The Harlot's Progress, The Rake's Progress (MS., CA. 1778-1780) by Anonymous

The government expected nothing in return and had no easy way to recoup misspent money.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026

The workers’ coordinated front is going up against a school district facing leadership turmoil and suspicion of misspent funds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026

"If we want to restore fiscal responsibility, we must start by being transparent about the dollars that are spent, address the issues we find, and then hold those accountable who have misspent funds," Johnson wrote.

From BBC ● Jan. 3, 2025

But the AP found that fraudsters potentially stole more than $280 billion, while another $123 billion was wasted or misspent.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 28, 2024

“This can’t be the first time an unauthorized person misspent money.”

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

There will be clear rules to prevent misspending.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

“If we end up misspending a couple of hundred billion dollars, I think that that is going to be very unfortunate, obviously,” Zuckerberg said in a 2025 podcast.

From Barron's ● Apr. 29, 2026

Top job: California controller Biggest splash: During Yee’s tenure as controller, her agency uncovered tens of millions of dollars of local government misspending and questionable financial practices at state agencies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2024

In February, a Manhattan jury found Wayne LaPierre, the longtime leader of the N.R.A., liable for misspending $5.4 million of the organization’s money.

From New York Times ● Apr. 17, 2024

The women next door have another reproach: Maria Isabel is misspending the hard-earned money, $100 to $150 a month, that Enrique diligently sends his daughter.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario




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