prod·i·gal
ˈprä-di-gəl 
1
: characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure : lavish
a prodigal feast
prodigal outlays for her clothes
2
: recklessly spendthrift
the prodigal prince
3
: yielding abundantly : luxuriant
—often used with of
nature has been so prodigal of her bounty—
H. T. Buckle
H. T. Buckle1
: one who spends or gives lavishly and foolishly
2
: one who has returned after an absence
Synonyms
Examples of prodigal in a Sentence
Adjective
We sipped our beers and wondered at one another, at what was left of all that and of those prodigal days.
—Michael Chabon, A Model World and Other Stories, 1991
The prodigal use of antibiotics in animals has the same consequence as their overprescription for human beings.
—Cullen Murphy, New York Times Book Review, 10 June 1984
Mr. Bulstrode replied without haste, but also without hesitation. "I am grieved, though, I confess, not surprised by this information, Mr. Lydgate. For my own part, I regretted your alliance with my brother-in-law's family, which has always been of prodigal habits, and which has already been much indebted to me for sustainment in its present position … "
—George Eliot, Middlemarch, 1872
the prodigal child always spent her allowance the minute she got it
Noun
Such a trustee had been first instituted by the praetor, to save a family from the blind havoc of a prodigal or madman …
—Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1788
the million-dollar lottery winner was such a prodigal that his windfall was exhausted after only a few years
Michael Chabon, A Model World and Other Stories, 1991
The prodigal use of antibiotics in animals has the same consequence as their overprescription for human beings.
—Cullen Murphy, New York Times Book Review, 10 June 1984
Mr. Bulstrode replied without haste, but also without hesitation. "I am grieved, though, I confess, not surprised by this information, Mr. Lydgate. For my own part, I regretted your alliance with my brother-in-law's family, which has always been of prodigal habits, and which has already been much indebted to me for sustainment in its present position … "
—George Eliot, Middlemarch, 1872
the prodigal child always spent her allowance the minute she got it
Noun
Such a trustee had been first instituted by the praetor, to save a family from the blind havoc of a prodigal or madman …
—Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 1788
the million-dollar lottery winner was such a prodigal that his windfall was exhausted after only a few years
Recent Examples on the Web
Neil Hauer, Foreign Affairs, 4 Feb. 2019
To mark National Black Cat Day watch the video above to see the surprise return of a prodigal black cat.
—Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Scott Burns, Dallas News, 18 Dec. 2020
As a youth, Mr. Graham, now 65, was the prodigal of the Graham family, a college dropout fond of alcohol.
—Elizabeth Dias, New York Times, 27 May 2018
See all Example Sentences for prodigal 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, is showing an almost complete disregard for his prodigal son’s destabilizing actions in Russia’s most fragile region.
—Neil Hauer, Foreign Affairs, 4 Feb. 2019
To mark National Black Cat Day watch the video above to see the surprise return of a prodigal black cat.
—Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
He is angered by his father’s instant acceptance of the prodigal’s return.
—Scott Burns, Dallas News, 18 Dec. 2020
As a youth, Mr. Graham, now 65, was the prodigal of the Graham family, a college dropout fond of alcohol.
—Elizabeth Dias, New York Times, 27 May 2018
See all Example Sentences for prodigal
Dictionary Entries Near prodigal
Cite this Entry
“Prodigal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prodigal. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prodigal
2 of 2 noun
: somebody who wastes money carelessly
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share