noun

dissipation

dis-ih-PAY-shun/ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃn/

The spreading or wasting away of something.

The scattered coins show the dissipation of money that could buy needed groceries.

Man carelessly tips purse so coins scatter uselessly away while a small sensible grocery basket sits empty; expression distracted, visible waste of money without glamorous gambling.

Etymology

disLatinapart

+sipLatinthrow, scatter

+ationLatinaction or process

The pieces describe an act of scattering apart. Applied to money, energy, or resources, that scattering becomes wasteful expenditure: what could be conserved is instead squandered.

In context

Allellu356:04

How often is a woman left with a family, and the shattered remains of a fortune, lost perhaps by dissipation or by indolence

Proofs of a Conspiracy [Part 1 of 2] by John Robison | Full Audiobook, Read-Along

More examples

Sunlight hastens the dissipation of the morning fog.
Poor planning leads to the dissipation of limited funds.
The gradual dissipation of her anger allows a calmer conversation.

Forms

dissipation

dissipate verb — To spread out or gradually disappear.

Similar words

dispersal: Emphasizes spreading over an area rather than being wasted.
depletion: Emphasizes a supply being used up rather than scattered.