1
as in carelessness
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2
as in liberality
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of improvidence
Two key factors in the SVB disaster can’t be overlooked: The incompetence of the bank’s management and the improvidence of its customers.
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2023
Christina Stead gives an unflinching portrait of her own childhood, dominated by improvidence, quarrels and violence—and a crazed, buccaneering idealist of a father who both adores and exploits his ever-increasing brood of children.
—Marina Warner, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022
Some of them cheered for the development of natural resources, and some of them expressed dismay over the waste, improvidence, and disruption that progress unleashed.
—Patty Limerick, The Denver Post, 14 Feb. 2020
In the most spectacular example of improvidence, 54-year-old Larraine blows an entire month’s worth of food stamps on a single meal of lobster tails, shrimp, crab and lemon meringue pie, washed down with Pepsi.
—Barbara Ehrenreich, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2016
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2023
Christina Stead gives an unflinching portrait of her own childhood, dominated by improvidence, quarrels and violence—and a crazed, buccaneering idealist of a father who both adores and exploits his ever-increasing brood of children.
—Marina Warner, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022
Some of them cheered for the development of natural resources, and some of them expressed dismay over the waste, improvidence, and disruption that progress unleashed.
—Patty Limerick, The Denver Post, 14 Feb. 2020
In the most spectacular example of improvidence, 54-year-old Larraine blows an entire month’s worth of food stamps on a single meal of lobster tails, shrimp, crab and lemon meringue pie, washed down with Pepsi.
—Barbara Ehrenreich, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvidence
Noun
-
Once, administrators confronted him about the carelessness of his grading.—
Peter Hessler,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
-
That's not chance or carelessness.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Noun
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Mackenzie had earned a reputation for piety, patriotism, lack of humor and liberality with the lash.—
Gerard Helferich,
WSJ,
10 Nov. 2023
-
All the states Lauck writes about benefited from the liberality of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.—
Phil Christman,
The New Republic,
22 Feb. 2023
Noun
-
The heedlessness of the children has touched her mood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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This is the sort of managerial aimlessness the Post is being governed by, just one example of the missteps and squandering of opportunity framed as strategy.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Kiké Hernández followed with a flyout to complete the squandering.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The best prevention for myopia is not an app or a screen filter.—
John La Puma,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
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Quelling ‘Hormuz myopia’ To be sure, there are also key differences between today and the 1970s that may prevent a repeat of that era’s crisis.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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So, investing in the well-being of women leaders isn't an act of generosity.—
Nakisha Dixon,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
This isn’t out of generosity or a desire to protect the game’s well-being.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Noun
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The court rejected the argument, concluding that a prospective rate hearing — unlike that on the response time — would be considered contested and the utility would have the opportunity to challenge the finding of imprudence then.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
29 Apr. 2026
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Spendthrift trusts are recognized in Illinois and operate to protect a trust from a beneficiary's financial imprudence while also allowing for maintenance payments to that beneficiary.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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It can be booked for private sessions, but if full, the spa menu offers plenty of other indulgences.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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The Idol was unafraid of musical interludes or Tesfaye’s bizarre indulgences.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Improvidence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvidence. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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