provident

adjective

ˈprä-və-dənt How to pronounce provident (audio)
Definition of providentnext
1
as in economical
careful in the management of money or resources it is possible to be provident without being miserly

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cautious
having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future her provident measures kept us safe while we waited out the hurricane

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 provident The ordinance also recognizes domestic workers as formal workers and extends protections to employees of non-profit organizations, including eligibility for provident fund and pension schemes. — Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2025 For example, many cities have begun allowing parents to help their children buy an apartment using their housing provident funds, a kind of compulsory saving program in China. — Jacky Wong, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 Its pilots are angry over not having received the company’s contribution towards their provident fund since 2020, even as pay cuts continue. — Niharika Sharma, Quartz, 13 July 2022 Social Security would likely be replaced also with a provident-fund system, basically a private retirement account with mandatory contributions, with backup provisions if this proves to be insufficient in old age. — Nathan Lewis, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2021 That led to another announcement this spring, which prevented people from using BN(O) passports for the early withdrawal of mandatory provident funds (MPFs). — Michelle Toh and Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, 26 Aug. 2021 The deficits, however, demand a more provident approach to the ballooning defense budget (now larger than everything else in the federal discretionary budget combined). — Jessica T. Mathews, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provident
  1. economical
  2. cautious
  3. saving
  4. careful
  5. prudent
  6. proactive
  7. farsighted
  8. prescient
Adjective
  • Although Ventura County already procures renewable electricity through a community choice energy program, local generation is expected to offer a more economical route to meeting its sustainability targets.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Stax so his drumming was so solid and in the pocket, economical with his high hats, a joy to hear.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of economical
Adjective
  • But Azizi warned that adding economic pressure will not necessarily make Iran more cautious, especially if Tehran sees it as unsustainable.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Be cautious about sharing personal information with an unexpected caller.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of cautious
Adjective
  • It can be stripped through re-saving or format conversion, which is why the two systems are meant to complement each other.
    — Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Less saving and more investment mean more competitive bidding for funds and therefore higher interest rates.
    — Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of saving
Adjective
  • The Challenges of Caring for a Fireclay Sink However, the same gleaming surface that makes a fireclay sink an anchor of your kitchen design requires a more intentional, careful cleaning routine than some other materials.
    — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The premise couldn’t be simpler, though Wollner’s incredible prologue — a careful arrangement of low-event long takes that emphasize how people move through spaces in time — trains our eyes to privilege texture over incident.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • Trying to take the lead in the eighth inning, especially with closer Josh Hader rested and looming to pitch the ninth, seemed prudent.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Work faster, research more seamlessly, and perhaps be more financially prudent?
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of prudent
Adjective
  • Not the Los Angeles Dodgers’ front office, which should have been more proactive in protecting the team’s biggest star.
    — Katie Woo, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Using predictive analysis, cities and agencies have adopted a proactive approach to traffic management using forecasting and real-time analysis.
    — Bryan Mistele, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of proactive
Adjective
  • Some farsighted experts have warned that AI could devastate the job market and widen the divisions that mark today’s politics and society.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Private markets chronically undersave, leaving future generations with less capital than a farsighted society would choose to bequeath.
    — James Broughel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of farsighted
Adjective
  • This claim may not hold up in the 21st century—but its author, Helen Rowland, couldn’t know just how prescient her words would prove to be.
    — Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 4, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
  • For many, a world with machines in charge can be hard to imagine without movies and books and their sometimes prescient visions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
Definition of prescient

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Cite this Entry

“Provident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provident. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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