IMPROVIDENT Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

improvident

adjective

(ˌ)im-ˈprä-və-dənt

Definition of improvident

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

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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

Adjective

Attention is often the first casualty of careless communication.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
The losers would include the families of passengers who were uninsured, those of trespassers who were careless (or suicidal), and, equally tragically, those of unfortunate railway employees killed in the course of their employment.

— Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of careless

Adjective

Officials frequently approved reimbursement after travel had already happened, and failed to require consultants to provide documentation like receipts, violating contract rules around wasteful spending.

— Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Tightening accountability, closing loopholes, and ending wasteful corporate handouts would generate revenue without raising taxes on working families.

— Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of wasteful

Adjective

The two murals lasted until the ’80s and ’90s, and replacing them was a mistake that’s only looked more shortsighted over time.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
The notion that families should provide care without additional support is unrealistic and shortsighted, especially for families of people with highly complex medical or behavioral needs.

— Barbara Merrill, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of shortsighted

Adjective

Trump’s extravagant welcome gesture will almost certainly be matched by prosaic summit outcomes.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Travis, who married Swift in July in an extravagant wedding ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York City, also compared her fervor for the sport to her lifelong passion for her artistry.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of extravagant

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improvidence

improvident

improving

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“Improvident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvident. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of improvident

adjective

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