prodigal 1 of 2

prodigal

2 of 2

noun

as in spendthrift
someone who spends money freely or foolishly the million-dollar lottery winner was such a prodigal that his windfall was exhausted after only a few years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word prodigal distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of prodigal are exuberant, lavish, lush, luxuriant, and profuse. While all these words mean "giving or given out in great abundance," prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources.

prodigal spending

When might exuberant be a better fit than prodigal?

The words exuberant and prodigal can be used in similar contexts, but exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly.

an exuberant imagination

When could lavish be used to replace prodigal?

The synonyms lavish and prodigal are sometimes interchangeable, but lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

a lavish party

In what contexts can lush take the place of prodigal?

The meanings of lush and prodigal largely overlap; however, lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance.

a lush green lawn

When would luxuriant be a good substitute for prodigal?

In some situations, the words luxuriant and prodigal are roughly equivalent. However, luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance.

a luxuriant beard

When can profuse be used instead of prodigal?

Although the words profuse and prodigal have much in common, profuse implies pouring forth without restraint.

profuse apologies

Examples Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of prodigal
Adjective
To mark National Black Cat Day watch the video above to see the surprise return of a prodigal black cat. Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 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
Noun
Instead, all the adulation is directed toward Charlotte’s prodigal adopted son, the guy who holds more than his share of team records and is considered by many to be the best player in franchise history. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2025 After all, there’s always one prodigal — one unstable element who’s removed themself as far as possible from the precarious family mixture. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prodigal 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodigal
Adjective
  • Rubin’s reporting for the San Francisco Chronicle, NPR and Capital & Main has led to state laws protecting workers from lead poisoning and has exposed wasteful spending.
    Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Draws at home to Southampton in November (1-1) and at Leicester in December (2-2) were wasteful, especially in the latter case when a 2-0 lead was relinquished late on.
    Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • That’s half a trillion sucked out of the market and into the bottomless pit of the incontinent spendthrifts in the U.S. government.
    Clem Chambers, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024
  • Even for a country as awash with cash as Venezuela has been since 2004, Chávez's spendthrift ways have left behind a worrisome level of debt, fiscal deficit, and dependence on imports.
    Javier Corrales, Foreign Affairs, 4 Jan. 2013
Noun
  • Henry Muck, suitably nicknamed Prince Hal by his family and friends, may be Industry’s version of the ultimate privileged wastrel.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2024
  • Atay lingers on the outskirts, keeping the company of workers and wastrels, poets and drunks—all those who refuse the monumental transformations of Turkish society.
    Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Photo: Brown Harris Stevens Above the bedroom is a double-height library, which turns the sloping ceiling behind a mansard roof into a design feature rather than a space waster.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 24 Oct. 2024
  • California is moving to outlaw watering some grass that’s purely decorative Today, the lawn is among the biggest wasters of water in our urban environment — by some estimates accounting for more than half of the gallons used by city residents each year.
    Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2024
Noun
  • In some ways, the game was set up for him, with Villa profligate but still regularly creating chances.
    Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
  • The monarchy and the British government, which provides significant financial support for the institution, have long faced a careful balancing act: Both have worked to maintain the pomp and circumstance of the institution while avoiding looking profligate.
    WSJ, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022

Thesaurus Entries Near prodigal

Cite this Entry

“Prodigal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodigal. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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