improvident

adjective

(ˌ)im-ˈprä-və-dənt How to pronounce improvident (audio)
Definition of improvidentnext
as in careless
not thinking about and providing for the future the improvident view that the wearing away of the ozone layer need not concern us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 improvident So, yes, the judiciary can be a bulwark against improvident prosecutions. — John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026 Then, there’s the waste that results from improvident eating habits. — Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025 Unsurprisingly, Peter proves to be nasty, brutish and improvident. — Joanne Kaufman, WSJ, 2 Dec. 2022 The history of emerging markets is full of imprudent investors as well as improvident borrowers. — The Economist, 5 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvident
  1. careless
  2. reckless
  3. wasteful
  4. shortsighted
  5. extravagant
Adjective
  • That said, a pattern of careless errors or intentionally misleading claims are more likely to accrue penalties.
    — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 20 July 2026
  • Trost has a past conviction of reckless driving and a lengthy history of civil traffic infractions, including careless driving, speeding, running a stop sign and running a red light, court records show.
    — Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
Definition of careless
Adjective
  • The defending champions managed to hold Spain to a draw in the regulation 90 minutes, which ended with combative midfielder Enzo Fernandez being sent off after a reckless challenge in injury time.
    — Mark Hodge, NBC news, 20 July 2026
  • That context is what separates responsible flexibility from reckless convenience.
    — Anand Solanki, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of reckless
Adjective
  • Throwing the other half away is wasteful, and trying to find an immediate taker for it would be tedious.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2026
  • Perhaps because these gatherings require so much forethought, spending the entire evening in a single establishment feels wasteful.
    — Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026
Definition of wasteful
Adjective
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford said threats from the United States were unacceptable and shortsighted.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2026
  • In my view, statements to that effect are shortsighted, prioritizing short-term social effects over more insidious and long-term issues, including addiction.
    — Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
Definition of shortsighted
Adjective
  • The average song would be a couple of minutes, and four would seem like an extravagant jam.
    — Brian Howe, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026
  • Meteorite from Sebastián Múnera follows two young women on a journey through an extravagant amusement park built on the estate of the late drug lord Pablo Escobar.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 20 July 2026
Definition of extravagant

Browse Nearby Words

improvidence
improvident
improving
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Improvident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvident. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on improvident

Nglish: Translation of improvident for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of parochial

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All