Synonyms of prodigal

prodigal 1 of 2

adjective

ˈprä-di-gəl 

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

• wasteful
• profligate
• generous
• extravagant
• spendthrift
• unthrifty
• high-rolling
• liberal
• thriftless
• philanthropical
• reckless
• lavish
• squandering
• careless
• philanthropic
• bountiful
• improvident
• munificent
• unselfish
• imprudent
• bighearted
• shortsighted
• heedless
• openhanded
• myopic
• injudicious
• charitable
• openhearted
• unstinting
• incautious
• indulgent
• unsparing
• unwise
• self-indulgent
• freehanded
• wanton
• splurging
• freehearted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• frugal
• thrifty
• economical
• parsimonious
• conserving
• miserly
• penurious
• spare
• mean
• stingy
• cheap
• tightfisted
• sparing
• wise
• careful
• close
• tight
• niggardly
• prudent
• sensible
• penny-pinching
• pinching
• judicious
• economizing
• skimping
• scrimping
• provident
• stinting
• closefisted
• farsighted
• forehanded
• foresighted
• forethoughtful
• foreseeing

prodigal

2 of 2

noun

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

• spendthrift
• wastrel
• waster
• spender
• dissipate
• profligate
• squanderer
• high roller
• fritterer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• economizer
• miser
• niggard
• skinflint
• tightwad
• cheapskate
• saver
• piker
• penny-pincher
• scrooge
• conserver

Synonym Chooser

How is the word prodigal distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of prodigal are exuberant, lavish, lush, luxuriant, and profuse. While all these words mean "giving or given out in great abundance," prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources.

prodigal spending

When might exuberant be a better fit than prodigal?

The words exuberant and prodigal can be used in similar contexts, but exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly.

an exuberant imagination

When could lavish be used to replace prodigal?

The synonyms lavish and prodigal are sometimes interchangeable, but lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

a lavish party

In what contexts can lush take the place of prodigal?

The meanings of lush and prodigal largely overlap; however, lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance.

a lush green lawn

When would luxuriant be a good substitute for prodigal?

In some situations, the words luxuriant and prodigal are roughly equivalent. However, luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance.

a luxuriant beard

When can profuse be used instead of prodigal?

Although the words profuse and prodigal have much in common, profuse implies pouring forth without restraint.

profuse apologies

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of prodigal

Adjective

Good news, General Hospital fans: The prodigal son is coming home. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 25 June 2024

President Biden flew to Delaware on Tuesday to be with his son Hunter Biden in the wake of the prodigal son’s conviction on felony charges over a gun purchase. —Evan Rosen, New York Daily News, 11 June 2024

Noun

He is angered by his father’s instant acceptance of the prodigal’s return. —Scott Burns, Dallas News, 18 Dec. 2020

As a youth, Mr. Graham, now 65, was the prodigal of the Graham family, a college dropout fond of alcohol. —Elizabeth Dias, New York Times, 27 May 2018