he is squandered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he is squandered" is not correct and usable in written English. It suggests a misuse of the verb "squander," which typically requires an object. An example could be: "He squandered his opportunities." Alternative expressions could be "he is wasted" or "he is lost."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If Bonds meets the predictions of Silver, he will improve any team without a starting-caliber left fielder by about five wins (or four and a half if he is squandered as a full-time designated hitter).

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

To his opponents, he is squandering a bonanza on to perpetuate his power.

The Guardian

"You know, it is such a crying shame that this person is squandering his life, and causing others pain, but it is a crying shame that he is squandering his life because his life matters".

The Guardian - Books

Far from laying the basis for lasting growth in Venezuela, he is repeating many of the mistakes that have impoverished his country over the past 30 years: instead of trying to diversify away from oil, he is squandering much of the windfall income from high oil prices.

The Economist

WASHINGTON — In deciding to deploy up to 1,200 National Guard troops to bolster security at the Mexican border, President Obama has stepped into one of the thorniest issues facing American presidents — illegal immigration — and has confounded allies who say he is squandering his chance to address it in a comprehensive way.

The New York Times

But the delays frustrate some of Obama's most reliable allies, who fear he is squandering what little time he has left to act on their biggest policy priorities.

Los Angeles Times

He's squandered the electorate's trust, with broken promises and harsh policies not mentioned before the election.

The Guardian

Chowder's in a self-recriminating mood because he feels he's squandered his girlfriend's good will and support and now she's gone.

The New Yorker

But he's squandered that advantage on his Edinburgh return, with a weak sketch show co-presented with Humphrey Ker and Stuart Murphy.

The Guardian

He was squandering his father's fortune.

The New York Times - Books

Powell, who had begun directing in 1931, felt he was squandering his talents making "quota quickies," cheap movies that supplied British theaters with the requisite domestic product.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using the active voice to clarify who is doing the wasting, as in "the manager is squandering his talent".

Common error

Do not use "he is squandered" when you actually mean the person is currently wasting their own time or money. In that case, use the active voice "he is squandering".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he is squandered" functions as a passive voice construction where the subject 'he' is the entity being wasted. According to Ludwig, this is less common than the active form because the verb 'squander' typically requires an inanimate object. In the few instances it appears in the corpus, it describes a person's utility or talent being lost due to external mismanagement.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "he is squandered" is a technically valid but rare passive construction. While Ludwig AI notes that it may be perceived as incorrect because 'squander' usually acts on inanimate resources, reputable sources like The New York Times occasionally use it to describe the mismanagement of people in specific roles. To ensure clarity in your writing, it is generally better to use alternatives like he is being wasted or specify the attribute being lost, such as "his talent is squandered". Avoid using this phrase when you mean the person is currently performing the act of wasting, as that requires the active form "he is squandering".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he is being wasted

More natural passive expression for someone not used to their potential

his talent is squandered

Focuses on the attribute being wasted rather than the person directly

his life is being squandered

Uses a common object for the verb squander to add clarity

he is underutilized

Professional term for not using someone effectively

he is being misused

Suggests the person is used in the wrong way or position

his potential is being thrown away

Emphasizes the loss of future value

he is poorly deployed

Common in sports and organizational contexts regarding positioning

he is neglected

Implies a lack of attention or proper deployment

he is thrown away

A very direct, informal way of saying someone is wasted

he is being cast aside

Focuses on the act of discarding someone's value

FAQs

How do I use "he is squandered" in a sentence?

It is rarely used but appears in contexts where a person is the object of waste, for example: "If used as a bench warmer, "he is squandered" as a player".

What is a better way to say "he is squandered"?

You can use more natural phrases like "he is being wasted" or "he is underutilized".

Is "he is squandered" grammatically correct?

Technically, yes, it is a passive construction. However, as noted by Ludwig, it is often flagged as awkward because squander usually applies to resources like time or money, not people.

What is the difference between "he is squandered" and "he is squandering"?

The first is passive, meaning someone else is wasting him; the second is active, meaning he is wasting something else, like his own "he is squandering his potential".