ability to waste

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ability to waste" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's capacity or tendency to squander resources, time, or opportunities. Example: "His ability to waste time on trivial matters often frustrates his colleagues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

His ability to waste money was spectacular.

The Economist

But I do have an ability to waste energy on not-crucial things".

The Guardian

Spurs should worry about all these chances-once-removed, though Sunderland's ability to waste them must be reassuring.

The Guardian - Sport

But it was more Louis van Gaal's side's ability to waste both possession and the chances they did create.

Independent

And whether you're talking the Yukon XL or Lincoln Navigator, pegging hostility against them on some sort of unique ability to waste resources is similarly misguided, especially in a county where even those who never cook have six-figure kitchens designed with all the subtlety of Versailles.

The New York Times

The hypothesis states that animals with carotenoid-depended sexual signals are demonstrating their ability to "waste" carotenoids on sexual signals at the expense of their immune system.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials and has the ability to consume industrial wastes in high volume.

Case Studies in Construction Materials

When the Tories tear themselves apart and offer Corbyn open goal after open goal, the incompetent Leader of the Opposition can be relied upon, with almost extraordinarily consistent ability, to totally waste each opportunity.

Huffington Post

The measure would have greatly bolstered Washington's ability to recoup wasted multimillions by encouraging government workers to alert superiors to how bad things really are and guaranteeing that they won't be punished for doing the right thing.

The New York Times

"The efforts should be on how we make sure that intelligence services, the police, investigative judges, and the Crown Prosecution Services have the means and the ability to stop wasting resources and focus on those who are really dangerous.

Vice

As little as 0.1 0.4 mg of the GHRH therapeutic plasmid (equivalent to 11 13 μg/kg) delivered under the proper EP conditions in a single injection has an important biological impact by physiologically increasing IGF-I levels, that stabilizes or improves kidney function and anemia, has the ability to reverse wasting, and extend life in ailing feline or canine subjects.

BMC Biotechnology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ability to waste", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being wasted (e.g., time, resources, opportunities) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the 'ability' aspect when the action is unintentional or negative. Instead of "He had an incredible ability to waste money", consider "He frequently wasted money" if it was a habit rather than a skill.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ability to waste" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes a person's or entity's capacity or potential for squandering resources. This is reflected in Ludwig's examples where it describes a person's or group's capacity for wasting resources, energy, or opportunities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

13%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ability to waste" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes the capacity or tendency to squander resources. Ludwig's examples reveal that it often appears in news and media contexts. While the phrase is generally acceptable, ensure the context is clear and that you aren't overstating the 'ability' aspect if the action is unintentional. Alternative expressions like "capacity for wastefulness" or "tendency to squander" may be more appropriate depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity for wastefulness

Replaces 'ability' with 'capacity' and 'to waste' with the noun form 'wastefulness'.

tendency to squander

Substitutes 'ability' with 'tendency' and 'waste' with 'squander', focusing on the inclination to misuse.

proclivity for extravagance

Replaces 'ability' with 'proclivity', highlighting a leaning towards excessive spending or consumption.

knack for mismanaging

Replaces "ability to waste" focusing on mismanagement aspect.

talent for dissipation

Emphasizes the skillful nature of 'ability' while replacing 'waste' with 'dissipation', suggesting a gradual decline or squandering.

predisposition to deplete

Highlights an inherent inclination to reduce or exhaust resources.

skill in frittering away

Uses 'skill' instead of 'ability' and replaces 'waste' with 'frittering away', emphasizing the act of carelessly spending or losing something.

penchant for blowing

Replaces 'ability' with 'penchant', suggesting a strong liking or inclination, and 'waste' with 'blowing', indicating rapid consumption.

aptitude for squandering

Uses aptitude instead of ability to emphasize on being naturally good at squandering.

inclination to misuse

Replaces "ability to waste" with a more neutral alternative phrase using inclination to misuse.

FAQs

How can I use "ability to waste" in a sentence?

You can use "ability to waste" to describe someone's capacity or tendency to squander resources, time, or opportunities. For example, "His "ability to waste time" on trivial matters often frustrates his colleagues".

What are some alternatives to "ability to waste"?

Some alternatives include "capacity for wastefulness", "tendency to squander", or "proclivity for extravagance" depending on the context.

Is it always negative to have an "ability to waste"?

Generally, "ability to waste" has negative connotations. However, in some contexts, it might be used ironically or to highlight a character's extravagance as a deliberate choice.

What's the difference between "ability to waste" and "tendency to waste"?

"Ability to waste" implies a capacity or skill, even if unwanted, while "tendency to waste" suggests an inclination or habit. The former may imply a potential, whereas the latter indicates a realized behavior.