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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Recent Examples of improvident
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
Going that route is improvident.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 5 Mar. 2022
The history of emerging markets is full of imprudent investors as well as improvident borrowers.
—The Economist, 5 Oct. 2017
Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Unsurprisingly, Peter proves to be nasty, brutish and improvident.
—Joanne Kaufman, WSJ, 2 Dec. 2022
Going that route is improvident.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 5 Mar. 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
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Back in 2025, soaring rice prices and careless comments cost then farm minister Taku Eto his job and reportedly prompted former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba to take personal responsibility for lowering prices as a rice shortage took hold.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
22 Jan. 2026
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The problem is that careless usage has gradually shifted the nep-Overton window, expanding the term until it’s lost both its meaning and its bite.—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Later that month, a reckless driver trying to flee police hit and killed a 28-year-old man.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The Oceanside City Council recently revised their e-bike ordinance to allow law enforcement to confiscate e-bikes from reckless riders.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Further, this will help address the root causes of unnecessary physical sampling and overdevelopment, both chronically wasteful and persistent issues.—
Raj Dhiman,
Sourcing Journal,
23 Jan. 2026
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Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The industry responded with more than $450 million to influence the 2024 elections, and the federal government, in turn, went after clean energy with a wrecking ball in 2025 — a shortsighted move that spells trouble for electricity bills, clean air, and America’s technological competitiveness.—
Anshul Gupta,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Whether Drury has earned that level of security will be an ongoing source of debate, but with his job seemingly safe, the pressure to appease the owner with shortsighted moves should be lifted.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The Veyron was Volkswagen Group at its most extravagant and ambitious, and that’s saying something for its time.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
22 Jan. 2026
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President Abraham Lincoln wore cravats, as did Hollywood actor Cary Grant and the extravagant entertainer Liberace.—
Kristina Kukolja,
NPR,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Improvident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvident. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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