Meaning & use
prodigal
Spending money or resources in a recklessly wasteful and extravagant way.
See it in a sentence
The prodigal heir spent his entire inheritance on parties within a single year.
Their prodigal spending on the wedding left the couple deeply in debt.
A note on using this word
Often confused with meaning "returning," because of the parable of the prodigal son; the word itself describes wastefulness.
Words with a similar meaning
wastefulextravagant
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
A person who spends money or resources recklessly, especially one who later returns after squandering everything.
The family welcomed the prodigal home without a word of blame.
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