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
None is more electrifying than a traditional spiritual about the prodigal son, which Oglesby uses to net her first theatrical role.
—
Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 29 Jan. 2024
But the deeper throughline of The Stones and Brian Jones involves the primal wound of a prodigal son.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Nov. 2023
In Sweden, summer is embraced like the return of a prodigal son.
—Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2023
Deeply resentful of his absence, with no qualms about commenting on his appearance (created with the use of a fat suit), Ellie is the prodigal daughter with a monster chip on her shoulder.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2022
Refusing to grow bitter or give up hope that someday my brother will return like the prodigal son.
—Jamie Quatro, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023
Eastman became an active writer and illustrator on the comics line again starting in 2011 — the prodigal son had returned to the Turtles!
—Jarrett J. Krosoczka, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2023
The film follows Thien (Le Phong Vu), a prodigal son with little direction in his life who, after his sister-in-law dies in a freak motorcycle accident, is tasked with delivering her body, and his 5-year-old nephew Dao, who miraculously survived the crash, back to their countryside hometown.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 July 2023
After four seasons of humiliation and struggle, Kendall the prodigal son was ascendant and probably in the best position of all the siblings to assume the throne.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2023
Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 29 Jan. 2024
But the deeper throughline of The Stones and Brian Jones involves the primal wound of a prodigal son.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Nov. 2023
In Sweden, summer is embraced like the return of a prodigal son.
—Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2023
Deeply resentful of his absence, with no qualms about commenting on his appearance (created with the use of a fat suit), Ellie is the prodigal daughter with a monster chip on her shoulder.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2022
Refusing to grow bitter or give up hope that someday my brother will return like the prodigal son.
—Jamie Quatro, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023
Eastman became an active writer and illustrator on the comics line again starting in 2011 — the prodigal son had returned to the Turtles!
—Jarrett J. Krosoczka, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2023
The film follows Thien (Le Phong Vu), a prodigal son with little direction in his life who, after his sister-in-law dies in a freak motorcycle accident, is tasked with delivering her body, and his 5-year-old nephew Dao, who miraculously survived the crash, back to their countryside hometown.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 July 2023
After four seasons of humiliation and struggle, Kendall the prodigal son was ascendant and probably in the best position of all the siblings to assume the throne.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prodigal son/daughter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near prodigal son/daughter
Cite this Entry
“Prodigal son/daughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prodigal%20son%2Fdaughter. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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