vergeuden

Vergeuden is a Dutch verb meaning to waste or squander resources, especially time or money, by using them in a way that yields little or no benefit. It conveys a sense of misallocation or unproductive expenditure and is often used in discussions about efficiency, budgeting, and prudent planning. Common targets of the verb are tijd (time), geld (money), and other valuable resources or opportunities, in contexts where the speaker criticizes careless or unconsidered use.

Vergeuden is usually considered more formal or literary than everyday synonyms such as verspillen (to waste) or verkwisten (to squander extravagantly). It emphasizes a failure to make good use of something valuable, and can carry moral or evaluative overtones. The word is of Dutch origin, formed with the prefix ver- and a historical root related to use or consumption; its precise etymology appears in older language records and is not always transparent to modern speakers. In contemporary Dutch, vergeuden occurs primarily in written, formal, or historical contexts, but is still understood in everyday language when a more elevated tone is desired.

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