as in corruption
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society
a religious leader who railed against the profligacy of the nation's decadent aristocrats
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Recent Examples of profligacy
The United States can sustain the eye-popping profligacy of its national debt only because investors consider the U.S. dollar to be a safe haven.
—
Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Modern Paris is an elegant monument to Haussmann’s profligacy; he was fired for spending stupefying sums of public money to force it up like winter tulips.
—Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 5 June 2025
If there’s another deficit, as seems likely, candidates who spent the past year preaching frugality will fare better than those pushing profligacy.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 31 May 2025
Growing critics would argue his place is uncertain and his profligacy in front of goal has returned to levels pre-Unai Emery.
—Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for profligacy
Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Modern Paris is an elegant monument to Haussmann’s profligacy; he was fired for spending stupefying sums of public money to force it up like winter tulips.
—Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 5 June 2025
If there’s another deficit, as seems likely, candidates who spent the past year preaching frugality will fare better than those pushing profligacy.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 31 May 2025
Growing critics would argue his place is uncertain and his profligacy in front of goal has returned to levels pre-Unai Emery.
—Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for profligacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profligacy
Noun
-
In 2019, the 37-year-old Bukele ran for president as a populist outsider promising to defeat crime and corruption in a nation with one of the world’s worst homicide rates and a history of former presidents being charged with crimes.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
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Milei has had more success taming Argentina’s hyperinflation than first expected, but has been dealing with a brewing currency crisis and several corruption scandals.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Hank isn’t being accused of mere immorality, after all; he’s being accused of rape, which was also a crime back in Kierkegaard’s days.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
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Beyond the inherent immorality of thoughtlessly torturing and killing birds and wildlife, Death Pipes are an example of the hidden toll that people and their structures are exacting on nature.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Their sins will be washed away by the waters of liberty.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Maybe she’s being punished for her sin?—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But this is no case study in the evils of devil-worshipping musicians.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
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On this Sunday, a day meant for worship and peace, such violence is a grave evil.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Profligacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profligacy. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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