Despilfarrar

Despilfarrar is a Spanish verb that means to squander or waste money, resources, or time through excessive or reckless spending. It is commonly used to describe wasting funds on nonessential or imprudent activities, whether by individuals, organizations, or governments. The corresponding noun is despilfarro, referring to the act or result of such waste.

Etymology and form: Despilfarrar is derived from the noun despilfarro with the prefixed des-, indicating reversal or removal. The word is used across the Spanish-speaking world, including Spain and Latin America. The verb is transitive and conjugates regularly (despilfarro, despilfarra, despilfarraamos, despilfarran), and it can also appear with the preposition en to indicate the target of the waste (despilfarrar dinero en caprichos, despilfarrar recursos en proyectos inadecuados).

Usage: Despilfarrar is employed in formal and informal registers to express criticism of wasteful expenditure. It can describe personal finances, corporate budgeting, or public policy. The tone is usually negative, highlighting imprudence or misplaced priorities.

Examples: Despilfarrar dinero en lujos no esenciales fue una decisión criticada por los auditores. La empresa despilfarró recursos en proyectos mal planificados. No debemos despilfarrar las oportunidades que ofrece el presupuesto limitado.

See also: malgastar, derrochar, derroche, ahorrar, economizar.