ex·pend·able
ik-ˈspen-də-bəl 
: that may be expended: such as
a
: normally used up or consumed in service
expendable supplies like pencils and paper
b
: more easily or economically replaced than rescued, salvaged, or protected
: one that is expendable
—usually used in plural
Examples of expendable in a Sentence
Adjective
employees whose jobs are considered expendable
Recent Examples on the Web
Daniel Larlham, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
This makes former first-rounder Kayvon Thibodeaux expendable, and possibly available in a trade if GM Joe Schoen decides to jump back into the first round for a quarterback.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025
Once Mickey dies, the scientists simply print another version of the expendable to take his place.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expendable
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Adjective
The Long March 9 project has morphed in recent years from an expendable rocket designed to facilitate crewed lunar missions, to a reusable, stainless-steel project for major infrastructure missions.
—Daniel Larlham, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
This makes former first-rounder Kayvon Thibodeaux expendable, and possibly available in a trade if GM Joe Schoen decides to jump back into the first round for a quarterback.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
One expendable named Mickey (Robert Pattinson) is part of a mission to colonize a distant planet, under the authority of a sleazily predatory and demagogic politician, Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo).
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025
Once Mickey dies, the scientists simply print another version of the expendable to take his place.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expendable
Cite this Entry
“Expendable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expendable. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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