indiscriminate spending

USAGE SUMMARY

"indiscriminate spending" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to spending without considering consequences, such as when someone spends money without considering their budget. For example, "He was not wise with his finances and engaged in indiscriminate spending."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

G.M.'s shareholders forced Durant out in 1910, because of his indiscriminate spending and borrowing.

The New Yorker

The sequester, the widely reviled law requiring indiscriminate spending cuts starting in January, may actually be working as intended: As a spur to action.

The New York Times

The cuts imposed by the sequester, a package of indiscriminate spending reductions designed to force both sides to do a deal in 2011, have been eased a bit.

The Economist

Some of the T-shirts shot into the crowd from cannons even had cash inside, perhaps sending the wrong message about a league known for indiscriminate spending.

The New York Times - Sports

The budget cuts, known as a sequester, "will require indiscriminate spending reductions," Mr. LaHood said in a letter Feb. 11 to Barbara Mikulski, the chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The New York Times

Senate Democrats, saying they want to avoid indiscriminate spending cuts but still achieve the same amount of deficit reduction, have proposed swapping the cuts mandated by the sequester for a package of cuts to farm-subsidy programs and tax increases.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

His calls began after indiscriminate government spending cuts — known as sequestration — took effect on Saturday because Republican leaders and Mr. Obama could not agree on alternative measures.

The New York Times

As much as half of U.S. economic growth this year has been slashed due to tax increases and indiscriminate federal spending cuts known as sequestration, according to a sobering new forecast by the International Monetary Fund, which urged lawmakers to repeal the cuts.

Huffington Post

The pastor, the Rev. Robert J. Verrigni, had been under fire for months from members of the parish who accused him of wasteful spending, indiscriminate firing of employees and dictatorial management.

The New York Times

All Britain's ills – a " bloated, high-taxing, welfare heavy nation" – were rooted in a state that had grown too large because of an indiscriminate willingness to spend money that was not its own.

The Guardian - Opinion

And let's not forget the consistent undermining of capital investment through over-zealous, indiscriminate control of public spending growth.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial responsibility, use "indiscriminate spending" to highlight a lack of thoughtful decision-making in resource allocation.

Common error

Avoid using "indiscriminate spending" when you actually mean economical or frugal spending; the former denotes a lack of discernment, while the latter implies careful management of resources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indiscriminate spending" functions as a noun phrase, where "indiscriminate" modifies the noun "spending". Ludwig AI confirms that is used to describe a type of spending that lacks careful judgment or planning.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "indiscriminate spending" refers to spending habits characterized by a lack of judgment, planning, or careful consideration. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and primarily used in news and media, formal business contexts, and academic discussions to express disapproval or concern. Alternatives such as "reckless expenditure" and "wasteful spending" can be used to convey similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. When using this phrase, it's important to distinguish it from merely "excessive" or, conversely, "frugal" spending, as "indiscriminate spending" specifically highlights the lack of discernment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reckless expenditure

Replaces "spending" with "expenditure" for a more formal tone, while "reckless" emphasizes the risk involved.

uncontrolled spending

Focuses on the lack of control, implying a lack of management or oversight.

excessive expenditure

Similar to "reckless expenditure" but replaces "reckless" with "excessive" to highlight the amount of spending.

wasteful spending

Emphasizes the lack of value or benefit derived from the spending.

profligate spending

Uses a more literary term, "profligate", to describe spending that is recklessly extravagant.

unrestrained expenditure

Highlights the lack of limits or boundaries on the spending.

imprudent spending habits

Shifts the focus to the "habits" of spending, implying a pattern of poor financial decisions.

arbitrary allocation of funds

Focuses on the allocation process rather than the act of spending itself and replace spending for allocation.

undisciplined fiscal management

Shifts the focus to the broader concept of fiscal management, highlighting a lack of discipline.

irresponsible budgetary practices

Emphasizes the irresponsibility of the practices related to budgeting and spending.

FAQs

How can I use "indiscriminate spending" in a sentence?

You might say, "The company's "indiscriminate spending" led to significant financial losses" or "His "indiscriminate spending" habits made it impossible for him to save money".

What are some alternatives to "indiscriminate spending"?

You can use alternatives like "reckless expenditure", "wasteful spending", or "uncontrolled spending" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "indiscriminate spending" and "excessive spending"?

"Indiscriminate spending" suggests a lack of thought or planning in spending habits, while "excessive spending" simply refers to spending too much, regardless of the reason.

Is "indiscriminate spending" always negative?

Yes, the term generally carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of responsibility or wisdom in financial decisions. It's rarely used in a positive or neutral sense.