Wasting one's effort can be frustrating, especially when you put so much time and energy into something only to see no results. However, there are several synonyms for this phrase that you may find helpful. One synonym is "spinning your wheels," which means that you are expending effort but not making any progress. Another synonym is "beating a dead horse," which refers to continuing to work on something that is no longer useful or productive. "Futile efforts" is another synonym that can be used to describe situations where your effort is not yielding any positive outcomes. By keeping these synonyms in mind, you can better articulate your frustration when faced with situations like this.