View synonyms for

throwaway

[ throh-uh-wey ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

made or intended to be discarded after use or quick examination:
a throwaway container;
a throwaway brochure.
delivered or expressed casually or extemporaneously:
a funny throwaway line that brings applause.

noun

something that is made or intended to be discarded.
a handbill, advertising circular, pamphlet, etc., intended to be discarded after reading.
Also called pushout. Informal: Disparaging and Offensive. a youth who is unwanted or rejected by their family, the school system, or society in general.

throwaway

/ ˈθ��əʊəˌ�ɱ�ɪ /

adjective

said or done incidentally, esp for rhetorical effect; casual
a throwaway remark
1. anything designed to be discarded after use rather than reused, refilled, etc; disposable
2. ( as modifier )
  a throwaway carton

noun

a handbill or advertisement distributed in a public place

verb

to get rid of; discard
to fail to make good use of; waste
to throw away all one's money on horses

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Word History and Origins

Origin of throwaway¹

First recorded in 1900–05; adjective, noun use of verb phrase throw away

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

At this point, what started as a throwaway joke has grown into something vaguely earnest — too big to fail and too enmeshed in the neighborhood to be abandoned in good conscience.

From

And my closet was developing muscle and its own consciousness with each passing moment and each throwaway thrift find.

From

The three men – shown to be experienced international criminals – had been undone by tenacious detectives who found their throwaway piece of tech.

From

There are throwaway references to the Baker Street Irregulars and the Red-Headed League.

From

Instead of burying the concept in a throwaway theme song, the show could weave honest dialogue about this new social contract throughout its episodes, replacing silence with understanding.

From

Related Words

throw a punch throw away

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