wastefulness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wastefulness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the quality of being wasteful or the act of using resources inefficiently. Example: "The company's wastefulness in resource management led to significant financial losses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The wastefulness was all ours but this fetid heat could be a planetary impersonal adjustment like an ice age, so it might well be wise to keep always facepaint and ash about us.

The Guardian

Like all publicly funded bodies, the BBC is often criticised for its wastefulness.

The Guardian

The absurd environmental wastefulness of all this has not gone unremarked.

The Economist

The result of years of work by a committee of experts, it is scathing about the poor standards and wastefulness that it found.One manifest sign of poor quality is the number of people who die because of medical errors.

The Economist

"These rich countries pollute the atmosphere," he says as a flash of anger displaces his jovial smile, "and then they profit from it".Making and unmaking paradiseIt sounds wrenching: peaceful denizens of a simple land in harmony with their environment, paying for others' wastefulness.

The Economist

This would be a popular "victory" for any Polish government, given the country's 2m farms.But the EU's agricultural policy, which directs 40% of all EU budget spending towards farm subsidies, is notorious the world over for its wastefulness.

The Economist

After the slaughter of the first world war, most writers with experience of the trenches wrote of the pointless wastefulness of battle.

The Economist

Their scepticism is understandable, given the government's general record of wastefulness.

The Economist

Khrushchev decries the wastefulness of having more than one brand of washing machine.

The Economist

Or else.Ohno decided there was no reason other than inefficiency and wastefulness why Toyota's productivity should be any lower than that of Detroit.

The Economist

The EIB undercuts them both.Think smallWhen Elizabeth Wallace was working for the EBRD in the early 1990s, she was struck by the wastefulness of closing down big chunks of the communist world's arms industry without helping the newly unemployed to start new businesses.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing environmental concerns, using "wastefulness" effectively highlights the negative impact of unsustainable practices. For instance, specify the area of concern by saying "the wastefulness of single-use plastics".

Common error

Avoid using "wastefulness" when describing careful spending or resource management. "Wastefulness" implies unnecessary or excessive use, while frugality suggests careful conservation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "wastefulness" is as a noun. It refers to the quality or state of being wasteful, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wastefulness" functions as a noun denoting the inefficient or excessive use of resources. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correct usage in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, serving to highlight and critique unsustainable practices. While alternatives like "extravagance" or "profligacy" offer nuanced meanings, understanding the core concept of "wastefulness" is crucial for effective communication about resource management and environmental concerns. Be mindful to not confuse with frugality and use it effectively by specifying the area of concern.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extravagance

Emphasizes excessive spending or lavishness, a particular type of "wastefulness".

profligacy

Highlights reckless and extravagant use of resources or money.

dissipation

Focuses on the squandering or depletion of resources, often in a gradual manner.

inefficiency

Highlights the lack of productivity and the resulting "wastefulness" of resources.

squandering

Implies carelessly wasting something valuable, such as money or opportunities.

thriftlessness

Indicates a lack of careful management of resources, leading to "wastefulness".

misuse

Describes the incorrect or improper use of something, which can result in "wastefulness".

spoilage

Highlights the process of something going to waste because it is no longer usable.

overconsumption

Focuses on the excessive use of goods and services, leading to "wastefulness".

excess

Refers to a surplus or overabundance that often leads to "wastefulness".

FAQs

How can "wastefulness" be used in a sentence?

You can use "wastefulness" to describe the act or quality of being wasteful. For example, "The "wastefulness of energy" in old buildings is a major concern".

What words are similar to "wastefulness"?

Synonyms for "wastefulness" include "extravagance", "profligacy", and "dissipation". Each carries a slightly different nuance related to inefficient use of resources.

Is it correct to say "wastefulness" in a formal context?

Yes, "wastefulness" is appropriate in formal contexts, especially when discussing economic inefficiency, environmental issues, or resource management.

What's the difference between "wastefulness" and "negligence"?

"Wastefulness" implies using resources inefficiently or excessively, while "negligence" refers to a lack of proper care or attention. One can be negligent, leading to "wastefulness", but they are not the same.