as in wasteful
given to spending money freely or foolishly
spendthrift consumers had amassed a mountain of debt on their credit cards
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in wastrel
someone who carelessly spends money
the spendthrift managed to blow all of his inheritance in a single year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spendthrift
Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2024
Those could have been used to constrain distributions to or for the benefit of the spendthrift child.
—Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Bob Carlson, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
The Bucs came through three spendthrift seasons with Tom Brady, winning Super Bowl 55 then trying to defend that title, which proved unsuccessful.
—Rick Stroud, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spendthrift
Adjective
Galle’s father worked for Marie Antoinette, but the French Revolution unsurprisingly had a major impact on the aristocratic market for spendthrift furnishings like this.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2024
Those could have been used to constrain distributions to or for the benefit of the spendthrift child.
—Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Noun
Most states allow spendthrift trusts, but some limit the amount of principal that can be protected.
—Bob Carlson, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
The Bucs came through three spendthrift seasons with Tom Brady, winning Super Bowl 55 then trying to defend that title, which proved unsuccessful.
—Rick Stroud, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spendthrift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spendthrift
Adjective
-
The frustration helped spawn the fruitless and wasteful 2021 attempt to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom — which cost taxpayers more than $200 million — and fuels the perennial fantasy of a breakaway rural state called Jefferson.—
Mark Barabak,
Mercury News,
3 July 2025
-
Some onlookers have criticized the initiative as costly and wasteful.—
Aurora Martínez,
Smithsonian Magazine,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Ridley, traumatized by the cancer death of her mother and considered mostly a wastrel by those around her for pursuing a degree in the dread-inducing major of art history, knows a thing or two about the mythology behind these kindly rainbow-spewing creatures.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
12 Mar. 2025
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Henry Muck, suitably nicknamed Prince Hal by his family and friends, may be Industry’s version of the ultimate privileged wastrel.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
27 Aug. 2024
Noun
-
Secrets are revealed, prodigals return, intolerances surface and family bonds are tested.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2025
-
The food today is extraordinarily good and prodigal.—
Jeff Kleinman,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The biggest water waster, though, is cleaning during installation and use.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
13 Nov. 2014
-
Who is a time waster and who is your next biggest client?—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
In some ways, the game was set up for him, with Villa profligate but still regularly creating chances.—
Jacob Tanswell,
The Athletic,
18 Aug. 2024
-
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,
WSJ,
14 Sep. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Spendthrift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spendthrift. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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