profligate
Americanadjective
-
utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute.
- Synonyms:
- licentious, abandoned
-
recklessly prodigal or extravagant.
noun
adjective
-
shamelessly immoral or debauched
-
wildly extravagant or wasteful
noun
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing profligate
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Grade 12, List 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Importance of Being Earnest
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
He thinks humanity is engaged in a “plunder” of nature “while our profligate use of land and energy continues to ruin our planet and threaten our existence.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 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
His son David speculated that his dad’s mixed feelings about his fast-food career stemmed from a mentality common among children of the Depression: “Excess bothered them. It almost seemed profligate and unnecessary,” he explained.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026
Lewis was so confident of his process that he was profligate with what was still a rare substance.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
