as in wasteful
given to spending money freely or foolishly
the prodigal child always spent her allowance the minute she got it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in spendthrift
someone who spends money freely or foolishly
the million-dollar lottery winner was such a prodigal that his windfall was exhausted after only a few years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of prodigal
John Davis,
Daily News,
9 May 2026
Directed by Juan Pablo Arias Munoz, a prodigal daughter rejoins her family at their farm during a difficult time, as her ailing father faces both a terminal diagnosis and mounting pressure from rivals.
—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
1 May 2026
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
Secrets are revealed, prodigals return, intolerances surface and family bonds are tested.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prodigal
Adjective
The prodigal player has returned.
—
John Davis,
Daily News,
9 May 2026
Directed by Juan Pablo Arias Munoz, a prodigal daughter rejoins her family at their farm during a difficult time, as her ailing father faces both a terminal diagnosis and mounting pressure from rivals.
—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
1 May 2026
Noun
Twenty-six James Bond films (the 25 Eon joints, plus the prodigal Never Say Never Again) are coming to Netflix this month.
—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
Secrets are revealed, prodigals return, intolerances surface and family bonds are tested.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prodigal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prodigal
Adjective
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The flights were one of six areas the audit identified as wasteful use of taxpayer dollars.
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The administration defends its actions, including massive layoffs at government health agencies, as necessary to eliminate wasteful spending.
Noun
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To be a valid spendthrift trust in Illinois, three factors must be met.
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The split screen of Bezos and his spendthrift wife, Lauren Sánchez, frolicking everywhere — including Paris Fashion Week — while the tech mogul defiles the crown jewel nurtured by Ben Bradlee and Kay Graham is sickening.
Noun
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Delery ruminates on her wastrel youth.
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He was raised on Chicago’s North Side by a wastrel father and a mother who struggled to put food on their table.
Noun
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The form asks for the date and time of the watering, along with the waster’s address.
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The state Department of Environmental Protection is responding and will assist in the safe disposal of waster materials generated during the cleanup Morrisey said.
Noun
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Crucially, the premium push isn't crowding out lower-income spenders.
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The north London side have been hefty transfer spenders since completing the build of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2019, and such spending had caught up with their bank balance.
Noun
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As nouveau riche neighbor Yermolái (Lance Gardner) tries to impress upon the profligate Liubóv that her property is in arrears and about to be auctioned off, the rules and tone of their world still seem unsettled under the direction of Carey Perloff.
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In some ways, the game was set up for him, with Villa profligate but still regularly creating chances.
Cite this Entry
“Prodigal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prodigal. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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