profligate

American  

[prof-li-git, -geyt] / ˈprɒf lɪ gɪt, -ˌgeɪt /

adjective

1. utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute.

   Synonyms:

   licentious, abandoned

2. recklessly prodigal or extravagant.

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noun

1. a profligate person.

profligate British  

/ ˈprɒflɪɡəsɪ, ˈprɒflɪɡɪt /

adjective

1. shamelessly immoral or debauched

2. wildly extravagant or wasteful

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noun

1. a profligate person

Other Word Forms

• profligacy
  noun
• profligateness
  noun
• profligately
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of profligate

1525–35; < Latin prōflīgātus broken down in character, degraded, originally past participle of prōflīgāre to shatter, debase, equivalent to prō- pro- ¹ + -flīgāre, derivative of flīgere to strike; see inflict, -ate ¹

Explanation

Profligate, as a noun or as an adjective, implies recklessly wasting your money on extravagant luxury. Profligate behavior is a lot of fun, but you'll regret it later — when you get your charge card bill. Any time someone behaves in a reckless, amoral, or wasteful way, they are engaging in profligate behavior. It usually refers to financial behavior but can cross over to social activity as well. A person who is a slave to their cravings and whose behavior is unrestrained and selfish can be called a profligate. Extravagantly profligate behavior is often wildly fun but usually comes with a heavy price to pay in the morning, both financially and morally.

Example Sentences

This much silence from pop music’s most dramatic main character, biggest cornball and most profligate breadcrumb dropper has rattled the usual channels for all things Swift.

From Salon • Jul. 9, 2026

The yellow metal rallied sharply last year and extended its gains into early 2026, helped by central-bank buying and worries about profligate spending and currency debasement around the world — but particularly in the U.S.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

It’s funny because it’s swaggering, full-of-itself New York, and the Mets are one of baseball’s most profligate franchises, a free-spending, $360-million payroll outfit owned by zillionaire financier Steve Cohen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Skepticism about the wisdom of these profligate plans are a problem for indexes that are heavily weighted toward big tech like the S&P 500, which ended the week slightly lower.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, since Balekin heads the profligate Circle of Grackles.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

• extravagant
• reckless