they were wasted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were wasted" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone who is extremely intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. Example: "After the party, they were wasted and could barely walk home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Australia gave the ball away too easily and when chances were created, they were wasted.

The Guardian - Sport

Winners represent the best tech ideas of 2008, even if they were wasted on dumb products.

The New York Times

He brushed the Redrow chairman's remarks aside, suggesting they were "wasted energy as these [challenges] are unlikely to change in the near term".

The Guardian - Business

They were wasted people drunk, dried like leather, hair like cornhusks—and they circled.

Vice

But no one told me how they were wasted all day and smelled like God's taint.

Vice

Quentin B. Huff of PopMatters found that Akon contributed too few vocals to the song and that they were wasted.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

They were wasting little time.

The New York Times

"They felt like they were wasting their money".

The New York Times

Hawley seemed to think they were wasting everyone's time.

The Guardian

The participants rarely felt they were wasting their time.

Harvard Business Review

They wanted me to be wasting my time on it just like they were wasting their time on it".

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "they were wasted", ensure the context clarifies whether you mean intoxicated or squandered. Ambiguity can arise if the context isn't clear.

Common error

Avoid using "they were wasted" when referring to people in formal contexts unless you're explicitly discussing substance use or a similar state. Opt for alternatives like "they were unproductive" or "their efforts were in vain" to maintain professionalism.

Linguistic Context

"They were wasted" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically serving as a predicate adjective complementing the subject "they". Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it often describes a state of intoxication or, alternatively, the unproductive use of something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were wasted" is a descriptive phrase with two primary meanings: being heavily intoxicated or resources being used ineffectively. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, with its usage being more common in neutral to informal contexts such as news reports or casual conversations. When writing, consider whether you want to suggest someone is drunk or that time or money has been squandered. If in doubt, formal contexts might benefit from clearer or more precise alternatives such as they were inebriated, or they were squandered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were intoxicated

Focuses specifically on the state of being drunk or affected by drugs.

they were inebriated

A more formal synonym for being drunk.

they were squandered

Shifts the meaning to resources or opportunities being wasted instead of a person's state.

they were frittered away

Implies a gradual and wasteful expenditure of something, whether time, money, or effort.

they were useless

Indicates a lack of purpose or effectiveness, which can be a consequence of being "wasted".

they were good for nothing

Suggests a complete lack of value or utility, often implying a negative judgment.

they were unproductive

Emphasizes the lack of output or results from their actions.

they were ineffective

Highlights the failure to achieve a desired outcome or result.

they were worthless

Indicates a lack of inherent value or importance.

they were all washed up

Suggests that someone's opportunities have passed and they are no longer successful or relevant.

FAQs

How can I use "they were wasted" in a sentence?

You can use "they were wasted" to describe someone who is heavily intoxicated, such as "After the party, they were wasted and could barely stand". It can also describe resources, time or effort that has been used ineffectively or squandered.

What's a less informal alternative to "they were wasted"?

For more formal situations, consider alternatives that specify whether you are describing people or resources. To describe people, you could say "they were inebriated" or "they were intoxicated". To describe resources, you could use "they were squandered".

Is it ever appropriate to use "they were wasted" in a professional setting?

Using "they were wasted" in a professional context is generally inappropriate when describing people, unless discussing substance abuse directly. In such scenarios, it's better to use clinical and respectful language. You could potentially describe resources as "wasted" but consider stronger synonyms like "squandered" for more impact.

What is the difference between "they were wasted" and "they were exhausted"?

"They were wasted" primarily indicates a state of intoxication or the inefficient use of resources, whereas "they were exhausted" refers to extreme tiredness or fatigue. The phrases are not interchangeable as they describe completely different states.