adjective / noun
prodigal
PRAH-dih-gul/ˈprɑːdɪɡl/
Wastefully extravagant in using resources.
His prodigal spending leaves him short of rent every month.
Etymology
The pieces carry the image of driving things forth: Latin prodigere meant “drive away” or “waste.” Applied to spending, this became the idea of extravagantly expending money or resources.
In context
Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son over and over when he was on earth that even the Sun that seemed to squander his inheritance
More examples
- The factory's prodigal use of electricity drives up costs.
- Even during droughts, the hotel is prodigal with water.
- The prodigal returns home after squandering her inheritance.
Forms
prodigal · prodigals
prodigality noun — The habit of spending or giving wastefully.
prodigally adverb — In a wastefully extravagant or lavish manner.
Similar words
- wasteful
- Emphasizes unnecessary loss or consumption, not necessarily lavish spending.
- extravagant
- Emphasizes spending beyond reasonable limits, often on luxuries.
- spendthrift
- Specifically describes someone who spends money recklessly or wastefully.