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
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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
My brother-in-law was not what one calls a provident father.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2024
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
The combined employer-and-employee contribution rates into the city’s central provident fund – the main pension plan – currently drop from 37% at 55 years of age to as low as 12.5% for older workers.
—Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2019
Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2025
My brother-in-law was not what one calls a provident father.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2024
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
The combined employer-and-employee contribution rates into the city’s central provident fund – the main pension plan – currently drop from 37% at 55 years of age to as low as 12.5% for older workers.
—Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provident
Adjective
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Spinning off its cellular network will allow Nova Labs to focus on its more economical data offloading business.—
Jack Kubinec,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
-
The trend points to a clear move toward smarter, more economical travel without sacrificing the joy of discovery.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Americans are also increasingly cautious about where sensitive information like health data and financial records rest.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
3 June 2026
-
The current government led by Donald Tusk has been more cautious, speaking only about a bigger role in nuclear deterrence.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Be careful and don’t overreact.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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For more time-saving, clever kitchen tools at Amazon, keep reading.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
5 May 2026
-
The former are made using a resource-saving, closed-loop process.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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This may not be prudent with potential future budget shortfalls already estimated by the state.—
Jeff Kottkamp,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 June 2026
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Bigger builders can buy land cheaper, handle volatility in materials costs (especially prudent during supply-chain disruptions like tariffs or an oil shock), and offer mortgage-rate buydowns that rivals can’t match.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Use neem oil as a proactive treatment, and avoid overhead watering.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2026
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The most important step is increasing staffing so officers can be more proactive, not just reactive.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Aging will go much further toward happiness and satisfaction if the more farsighted among them will begin to organize societies for self-help and self-direction, rather than for the promotion of economic experiments of unknown dimensions and unforeseeable consequences.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
21 Apr. 2026
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These word assemblages could then be linked to one another or branch off in entirely new directions—a farsighted idea for the time.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
12 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Hacks feels very prescient now in its treatment of late night.—
Joy Press,
Vanity Fair,
29 May 2026
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The statement was prescient, because Colombia never did recover.—
Roberto Andrés,
The Dial,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provident. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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