wasted
Very intoxicated, usually from alcohol or drugs.
By Cal Hewitt, Gen X · Researched from public sources · ·
What it actually means
It can also mean exhausted or squandered in other contexts. When used for intoxication, it should not glamorize risky substance use.
See the quick definition in the wasted dictionary entry.
Where it came from
An older English adjective with a long-standing intoxication sense. No individual coiner is associated with it.
No single person is credited, the origin is well-documented.
Where it's popular
Most associated with general informal English. This is a community and platform description, not a claim about national usage rates.
Online slang shifts quickly across platforms and age groups.
How it caught on
- Before current online useThe relevant base word or phrase existed in English or informal speech; the supplied source is the starting point for its documented meaning.
- Internet circulationThe form became recognizable in general informal English; no precise first-post date is asserted without a verifiable primary record.
- Current useIt remains context-dependent and is commonly encountered in informal writing, memes, captions, or conversation.
How to use it
““That is so wasted.””
A casual example showing the term in an informal sentence.
““I get what you mean, but calling it wasted depends on the context.””
A careful example that does not assume a fixed tone.
““They used wasted jokingly in the group chat.””
An example of online casual use.
Common mix-ups
It does not have one universal tone or meaning in every community.
Do you actually know it?
Do you actually know “wasted”?
0/31. Which is the safest plain-English summary of “wasted”?
2. What is the most responsible way to handle the origin of “wasted”?
3. Where is this kind of slang most likely to appear?
Related slang
Questions people ask
What does “wasted” mean?
Very intoxicated, usually from alcohol or drugs.
Is “wasted” always an insult?
No. Tone, relationship, and platform can make the same term teasing, neutral, approving, or critical.
Who coined “wasted”?
No single coiner is reliably documented.
Can I use “wasted” in formal writing?
Usually no. Use a plain-English equivalent unless you are quoting or explaining slang.
The spelling and tone of “wasted” can carry as much social meaning as its dictionary definition.
Get the weekly decode
Get this week's list as soon as you confirm: what Gen Z is actually saying, what moved up or down, and the new terms that are not in the dictionary yet. A fresh one every week after that.