as in wasteful
given to spending money freely or foolishly
profligate movie producers hoping to create the next blockbuster
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in spendthrift
someone who spends money freely or foolishly
a profligate who could not really afford the grand style he maintained at Monticello, Jefferson died deeply in debt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in degenerate
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard
a drunken profligate, he was given to wretched excess in every aspect of his life
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 profligate
Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2026
The profligate spending of the Biden administration and the monetary mismanagement of the Federal Reserve caused both home prices and interest rates to skyrocket, a deadly one-two punch that knocked out the housing market.
—E.j. Antoni, Mercury News, 28 Nov. 2025
WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022
Still, Republicans have slammed Democrats for profligate spending since retaking the majority, decrying the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief measure passed in March and the possible passage of the Build Back Better Act.
—Grace Segers, The New Republic, 15 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for profligate
Adjective
But profligate spending wasn’t the only way inflation weighed on bonds.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2026
The profligate spending of the Biden administration and the monetary mismanagement of the Federal Reserve caused both home prices and interest rates to skyrocket, a deadly one-two punch that knocked out the housing market.
—E.j. Antoni, Mercury News, 28 Nov. 2025
Noun
The monarchy and the British government, which provides significant financial support for the institution, have long faced a careful balancing act: Both have worked to maintain the pomp and circumstance of the institution while avoiding looking profligate.
—WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022
Still, Republicans have slammed Democrats for profligate spending since retaking the majority, decrying the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief measure passed in March and the possible passage of the Build Back Better Act.
—Grace Segers, The New Republic, 15 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for profligate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profligate
Adjective
-
The city controller has no power over local policy, legislation or the city’s budget, but can often shed light on wasteful spending or fraud and pressure politicians by releasing audits and reports on city departments.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?—
Eden Stuart,
Allure,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The Legislative Analyst’s Office is out with a smashing revelation: the spendthrift state legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom have run up massive deficits that will force the next governor – Democrat, Republican or whatever billionaire Tom Steyer is today – to cut spending dramatically.—
Will Swaim,
Oc Register,
6 May 2026
-
These restrictions include spendthrift provisions in trust.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Now playback all the degenerate, violent entertainment Julianne has happily participated in throughout her career.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
-
Especially compared to the degenerates and felons all around him in the Mets clubhouse.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Delery ruminates on her wastrel youth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Nora Ephron for depressed perverts.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
-
You are being spied on by a pervert.—
Jay Ruttenberg,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Twenty-six James Bond films (the 25 Eon joints, plus the prodigal Never Say Never Again) are coming to Netflix this month.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Secrets are revealed, prodigals return, intolerances surface and family bonds are tested.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The protagonist of A Love Story is a lover boy, a libertine, a gossip, a flirt.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
4 Dec. 2025
-
The libertines will begin the film in suits.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In 2025, the average payroll of MLB’s top five spenders was almost five times that of the bottom five, the widest gap the sport has recorded since at least 1985.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
-
The Street is simply more apt to reward those spenders with the infrastructure in place to sell excess compute.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Profligate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profligate. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
