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
Fast-forward to Spencer introducing his fists to a henchman's face, and his prodigal son arc is put on hold yet again.
—
Matt Cabral, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
When the film was remade as The Wolfman in 2010, Benicio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins took over as Lawrence and Sir John, playing up Lawrence’s role as the prodigal son, driven far from home after being plagued by delusions connected to the death of his mother.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025
The prodigal daughter returns in ABC's brand new series, Shifting Gears!
—Esther Kang, People.com, 30 Dec. 2024
Newport ’65 was really a Thanksgiving dinner gone amok, in which the prodigal son and the father and several uncles and others are fighting.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for prodigal son/daughter
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Matt Cabral, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
When the film was remade as The Wolfman in 2010, Benicio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins took over as Lawrence and Sir John, playing up Lawrence’s role as the prodigal son, driven far from home after being plagued by delusions connected to the death of his mother.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025
The prodigal daughter returns in ABC's brand new series, Shifting Gears!
—Esther Kang, People.com, 30 Dec. 2024
Newport ’65 was really a Thanksgiving dinner gone amok, in which the prodigal son and the father and several uncles and others are fighting.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for 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 4 May. 2025.
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