1
as in spendthrifts
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in perverts
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profligates
Noun
-
Nora Ephron for depressed perverts.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026 -
Also, what many now interpret as Kubrick’s exposé of elite perverts was, in fact, mostly Schnitzler’s doing.—
Lane Brown,
Vulture,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
But 16 did, including two found in the human dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra, a region of the brain that degenerates in Parkinson’s disease.—
Freda Kreier,
Hartford Courant,
14 Jan. 2026
-
What should be a gripping thriller centered on new, uncharted technology and questionable loyalties degenerates into a jumbled mess.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
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These sold their products, procured supplies and luxury goods, and wrote mortgages on their plantations and slaves when spenders like Thomas Jefferson lived beyond their means.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays were among baseball’s top spenders this offseason.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Include categories for deep work, admin tasks, communication, and time wasters.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Profligates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profligates. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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