prodigal son/daughter

noun

: a son/daughter who leaves his or her parents to do things that they do not approve of but then feels sorry and returns home

—often used figuratively

He left the company several years ago, but now the prodigal son has returned.

Examples of prodigal son/daughter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First, the show’s barnburner opening number is followed by a very, very, very long group performance at the show’s midpoint after prodigal son Johnny’s arrival. —

Daniel D'addario, Variety, 13 Dec. 2024 The neighbourhood is back to its usual bustle — and proud as ever of its prodigal son. —

Laia Cervelló Herrero, The Athletic, 6 July 2024 The same year that Joker used the Waynes as representatives of the evil one percent, Robert Pattinson was cast as a younger goth version of Gotham’s nocturnal prodigal son in Matt Reeves’s The Batman, of which The Penguin is a spinoff. —

Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024 Good news, General Hospital fans: The prodigal son is coming home. —

Shania Russell, EW.com, 25 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for prodigal son/daughter

Cite this Entry

Style

“Prodigal son/daughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prodigal%20son%2Fdaughter. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation