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profligate

wasteful / extravagant / dissolute / spendthrift
AdjectiveNoun

This term carries a heavy weight of judgment, blending financial recklessness with moral decay. When describing spending, it suggests a level of waste that is not just excessive but actively destructive or irresponsible, often implying a total disregard for future consequences. In its behavioral sense, the word evokes an image of decadence and hedonism. It describes a lifestyle of unrestrained indulgence that transcends mere luxury, crossing into the territory of vice and social or moral abandonment.

Meanings

Adjective
[~ someone][~ something]

Wasteful in the use of money or resources, spending money in a reckless and extravagant manner.

"The profligate heir spent the entire family fortune on luxury cars and parties within a year."

Adjective
[~ someone]

Recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources.

"The government was criticized for its profligate spending on vanity projects during the economic crisis."

Adjective
[~ someone]

Licentious or dissolute in behavior, lacking moral restraint.

"He led a profligate life of gambling and excess before finally seeking redemption."

Noun

A person who is recklessly extravagant or wasteful with money.

"The young man was known as a profligate who lived far beyond his means."

Noun

A person who is dissolute or immoral in their lifestyle.

"The city's underworld was populated by profligates and gamblers."

Related Words

Last Updated: June 14, 2026Report an Error