Wasters

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals characterized by a tendency to misuse or squander resources in an inefficient manner
2. People who exhibit a continuous pattern of irresponsibility by wasting materials or opportunities without proper consideration
3. Persons who habitually use up resources in a wasteful way without regard for conservation

Etymology: "Wasters" is the plural of "waster," an agent noun formed from the verb "waste" with the suffix "-er." The verb comes through Old French "gaster," meaning to devastate or lay waste, from Latin "vastare," to make desolate. A waster, then, is literally one who lays things waste. English has also used "waster" for other things, including a blunt wooden sword for fencing practice. The link between that object and the idea of wasting is unclear, so the sense of a wasteful person is the one with a clear line back to "vastare."

Synonyms: squanderers, spenders, dissipators, prodigals, idlers

Antonyms: savers, conservers, utilizers