Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

profligate

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of profligate

given to spending money freely or foolishly

  • profligate movie producers hoping to create the next blockbuster
Synonyms of profligate

extravagant, high-rolling, prodigal, spendthrift, squandering, thriftless, unthrifty, wasteful
Words Related to profligate

improvident, myopic, shortsighted

bighearted, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, freehearted, generous, lavish, liberal, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, philanthropic (also philanthropical), unselfish, unsparing, unstinting

careless, heedless, imprudent, incautious, injudicious, unwise

indulgent, reckless, self-indulgent, splurging, wanton
Near Antonyms of profligate

cheap, close, closefisted, mean, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, pinching, spare, sparing, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted

careful, judicious, prudent, sensible, wise

farsighted, forehanded, foreseeing, foresighted, forethoughtful, provident
Antonyms of profligate

conserving, economical, economizing, frugal, penny-pinching, scrimping, skimping, thrifty

profligate

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of profligate

1 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 of profligate

fritterer, high roller, prodigal, spender, spendthrift, squanderer, waster, wastrel
Words Related to profligate

dissipate
Near Antonyms of profligate

cheapskate, miser, niggard, piker, scrooge, skinflint, tightwad

conserver, saver
Antonyms of profligate

economizer, penny-pincher

2 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 of profligate

backslider, debauchee, debaucher, decadent, degenerate, deviate, libertine, perv, pervert, rake, rakehell, rip
Words Related to profligate

bankrupt, delinquent, derelict, incorrigible

blackguard, cad, heel, knave, miscreant, rascal, reprobate, rogue, scoundrel, villain

lecher, playboy, playgirl, satyr
Near Antonyms of profligate

saint

Learn More about profligate

  1. See words that rhyme with profligate Dictionary: Definition of profligate Spanish Central: Translation of profligate Nglish: Translation of profligate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of profligate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up profligate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games