would be squandered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would be squandered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is likely to be wasted or misused in the future. Example: "If we don't take action now, our resources would be squandered on unnecessary projects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Otherwise the bonanza would be squandered.

The Economist

"It would be squandered, too, believe me," he said.

The New York Times

If it materialises, the time bought by capital controls would be squandered.

The Guardian - Business

He said he worried that a great opportunity would be squandered.

The New York Times

If Heathrow were shrunk or closed, he says, the investment that has gone into the airport would be squandered.

The Guardian

The cease-fire prompted concerns that whatever gains had been made against militants in the region would be squandered.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

And, as he often reflected, he knew that if he let himself be consumed by hate, he would be squandering the life that had been given back to him.

The New York Times

Paula Radcliffe last night warned that London would be squandering the opportunity to leave British sport with a legacy that could benefit athletics for generations if it did not retain an athletics track at the Olympic Stadium after it has staged the 2012 Games.

The Guardian - Sport

That means recognising the need to reassure foreigners, notably the IMF, that any money they might in future lend to Russia would not be squandered or stolen.

The Economist

And it would be a shame if it had been caused by a failure to take proper notice of a warning, all those years ago, sounded by one of the men whose legacy would thus be squandered.

The Economist

They did not heed his warning to "save Social Security first" and lock away the Clinton surplus so it would not be squandered.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would be squandered" when you want to emphasize the idea that a resource or opportunity is not just wasted, but also handled irresponsibly or carelessly, leading to its loss. For instance: "Without proper planning, the investment would be squandered on short-term gains."

Common error

While "would be squandered" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid using it excessively in very formal or academic writing. Consider alternatives like "would be inefficiently allocated" or "would not be optimized" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would be squandered" functions as a verb phrase expressing a conditional or hypothetical future passive action. It indicates a potential outcome where something valuable is wasted or used irresponsibly. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would be squandered" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase. Ludwig confirms its correctness. It's primarily employed to convey the potential for valuable resources or opportunities to be wasted due to mismanagement or carelessness. While versatile, consider using it judiciously in overly formal contexts. Common synonyms include "would be wasted" and "would be misused". The phrase is commonly found in news and media outlets, as well as formal business communications, highlighting its relevance in professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would be squandered away

Adds emphasis to the action of squandering, being slightly redundant.

would be wasted

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

would be misused

Focuses on the incorrect or inappropriate use of something.

would be misspent

Highlights the improper or unwise spending of resources.

would be frittered away

Emphasizes the gradual and careless wasting of something.

would be lost

A simpler way of saying that something valuable would disappear or be unavailable.

would be thrown away

Highlights the act of discarding something valuable.

would go to waste

Indicates that something beneficial would not be utilized effectively.

would be dissipated

Focuses on the scattering or dispersing of something, often energy or resources.

would be sacrificed

Suggests something is given up, often for a perceived greater good, but with a negative connotation of loss.

FAQs

How can I use "would be squandered" in a sentence?

You can use "would be squandered" to indicate that something valuable, like time, money, or an opportunity, risks being wasted or used ineffectively. For instance, "The potential benefits of the project "would be squandered" without adequate funding".

What is a synonym for "would be squandered"?

Synonyms for "would be squandered" include "would be wasted", "would be misused", or "would go to waste". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "would be squandered" and "would be wasted"?

While both phrases imply a loss, "would be squandered" suggests a more reckless or irresponsible loss than "would be wasted". "Would be squandered" implies mismanagement, whereas "would be wasted" can simply mean not utilized effectively. Consider the context to choose the most appropriate term.

Is it correct to say "the opportunity will be squandered" or "the opportunity would be squandered"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Will be squandered" suggests a higher degree of certainty that the opportunity will be lost. "Would be squandered" expresses a conditional or hypothetical situation, implying the loss is contingent on certain factors.