prodigal 1 of 2

prodigal

2 of 2

noun

as in spendthrift
someone who spends money freely or foolishly the million-dollar lottery winner was such a prodigal that his windfall was exhausted after only a few years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word prodigal distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of prodigal are exuberant, lavish, lush, luxuriant, and profuse. While all these words mean "giving or given out in great abundance," prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources.

prodigal spending

When might exuberant be a better fit than prodigal?

The words exuberant and prodigal can be used in similar contexts, but exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly.

an exuberant imagination

When could lavish be used to replace prodigal?

The synonyms lavish and prodigal are sometimes interchangeable, but lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

a lavish party

In what contexts can lush take the place of prodigal?

The meanings of lush and prodigal largely overlap; however, lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance.

a lush green lawn

When would luxuriant be a good substitute for prodigal?

In some situations, the words luxuriant and prodigal are roughly equivalent. However, luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance.

a luxuriant beard

When can profuse be used instead of prodigal?

Although the words profuse and prodigal have much in common, profuse implies pouring forth without restraint.

profuse apologies

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 prodigal
Adjective
What happens when a prodigal son falls under the influence of his older, American wife? Air Mail, 17 May 2025 Then Ananya’s prodigal son, Vikram, arrives home unexpectedly after leaving the restaurant and his family years before, sparking fury and jealousy from his hard-working sister Vaidehi. Pamela Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2025
Noun
The discomforts include not just his recent and possibly expedient diagnosis of bipolar disorder but also the return of the other prodigal, Nazareth. Jesse Green, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2025 Instead, all the adulation is directed toward Charlotte’s prodigal adopted son, the guy who holds more than his share of team records and is considered by many to be the best player in franchise history. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prodigal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodigal
Adjective
  • These become anchors, and the idea of cutting them loose feels wasteful.
    Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Republicans have argued that the SNAP cuts will ultimately force more parents into the workforce, prevent wasteful government sending and benefit grocers.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Republicans should make liberals justify their own spendthrift ways, rather than playing defense.
    Erick Erickson, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
  • The last generation’s spendthrifts have become this generation’s scolds, as controversies recur over the same parcels of land with new names in the old roles.
    Andrew Rice, Curbed, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • He was raised on Chicago’s North Side by a wastrel father and a mother who struggled to put food on their table.
    Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025
  • Ridley, traumatized by the cancer death of her mother and considered mostly a wastrel by those around her for pursuing a degree in the dread-inducing major of art history, knows a thing or two about the mythology behind these kindly rainbow-spewing creatures.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Who is a time waster and who is your next biggest client?
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • For example, default settings for focus time added blocking of sites in the categories Shopping, Tabloids, and Time wasters.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • On a gross basis, Villa were the Premier League’s lowest spenders.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Top spenders included brands across the automotive, insurance, retail, technology and quick-service restaurant categories.
    Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In some ways, the game was set up for him, with Villa profligate but still regularly creating chances.
    Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
  • Fed up with the profligate practice, dumpster divers like Ms. Sacks have started posting videos of their haul on TikTok in recent years as a way of shaming corporations and raising awareness of the wasteful behavior.
    Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2022

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prodigal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodigal. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on prodigal

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!