had been squandered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been squandered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something, typically resources or opportunities, was wasted in the past. Example: "All the time and effort had been squandered on a project that ultimately failed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Already, many opportunities had been squandered.

The New York Times - Sports

Another strong pitching performance from Johan Santana had been squandered.

The New York Times - Sports

Public finances had been squandered on expensive foreign wars against Napoleon.

The Guardian

Money had been squandered by the junta on expensive vanity projects or simply siphoned-off into offshore bank accounts.

The New York Times

The Republican claim to competence had been squandered during the Bush years, along with its rationale of limited government.

The New Yorker

But Mr. Rehn also suggested that opportunities had been squandered to find a less painful way out of the crisis.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

According to popular rumors, Bogdan-Pitești fell out of favor with the occupiers, who eventually discovered that he had been squandering their grants.

Wikipedia

The story goes that a manager of a rich man's property had been squandering the property; Therefore, the rich man fired him.

Huffington Post

If loans have been squandered, then as money becomes tighter, the squanderers face the risk of exposure, with serious personal consequences.

BBC

Valuable resources have been squandered.

The New York Times

It has been squandered.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been squandered", ensure the subject clearly indicates what resource, opportunity, or asset was wasted to provide context and clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "had been squandered" when the situation only involves a minor inconvenience or a temporary setback. This phrase implies a significant and often irreversible loss.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been squandered" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that something was wasted or misused before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI shows that this phrase is used to express regret, criticism, or analysis of past actions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sports

16%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Opinion

8%

Books

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been squandered" is a past perfect passive phrase that indicates something was wasted or misused before a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct, used commonly in news, sports and opinion pieces, and is best used to highlight missed opportunities or criticize past actions. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about what exactly was wasted. Consider alternatives such as "had been wasted" or "had been misspent" based on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been wasted

Replaces "squandered" with a more general term for wasting something.

had been misused

Highlights the improper or incorrect use of something.

had been misspent

Focuses on the incorrect or inappropriate spending of resources.

had been frittered away

Suggests a gradual and careless wasting of resources.

had been dissipated

Implies a scattering or dissolving of resources, often energy or opportunities.

had been recklessly used

Highlights the lack of care and consideration in the usage of something.

had been thrown away

Emphasizes the complete loss and disregard for what was wasted.

had been depleted

Emphasizes the reduction and emptying of a resource.

had been exhausted

Focuses on the complete consumption and depletion of resources.

had been lost

A simple expression of loss with no implication on how something was lost.

FAQs

How can I use "had been squandered" in a sentence?

Use "had been squandered" to indicate that something valuable was wasted or used foolishly. For example, "The opportunity "had been squandered" due to poor planning".

What's a synonym for "had been squandered"?

Alternatives include "had been wasted", "had been misspent", or "had been frittered away", each carrying slightly different nuances of wasted potential or resources.

Is it correct to say "has been squandered" instead of "had been squandered"?

The choice depends on the context. "Has been squandered" refers to something wasted recently or with present relevance, while ""had been squandered"" refers to something wasted in the past before another point in time.

What is the difference between "had been squandered" and "was squandered"?

"Had been squandered" indicates a past perfect passive construction, emphasizing the completion of the squandering before another past action or time. "Was squandered" simply indicates that something was wasted in the past without necessarily relating it to another event.