prodigal
[ prod-i-guhl ]
/ ˈprɒd ɪ gəl /
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adjective
wastefully or recklessly extravagant: prodigal expenditure.
giving or yielding profusely; very generous; lavish (usually followed by of or with): prodigal of smiles; prodigal with praise.
lavishly abundant; profuse: nature's prodigal resources.
noun
a person who is wasteful of their money, possessions, etc.; spendthrift: In later years, he was a prodigal of his fortune.
OTHER WORDS FOR prodigal
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Origin of prodigal
First recorded in 1500–10; back formation from prodigality
synonym study for prodigal
1. See lavish.
OTHER WORDS FROM prodigal
prod·i·gal·ly, adverbDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use prodigal in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for prodigal
prodigal
/ (ˈprɒdɪɡəl) /
adjective
recklessly wasteful or extravagant, as in disposing of goods or money
lavish in giving or yieldingprodigal of compliments
noun
a person who spends lavishly or squanders money
Derived forms of prodigal
prodigality, nounprodigally, adverbWord Origin for prodigal
C16: from Medieval Latin prōdigālis wasteful, from Latin prōdigus lavish, from prōdigere to squander, from pro- 1 + agere to drive
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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