profligate
Say it: PROF-lih-gut /ˈprɒflɪɡət/ · adjective
What “profligate” means
Wasting money or resources recklessly.
More precisely: Recklessly wasteful with money or resources.
Example: “After a profligate year of taxis and takeaways, he finally started a budget.”
When to use it
A formal, strongly disapproving word for spending or consumption so wasteful that it risks causing serious problems.
Similar words
wasteful, extravagant, spendthrift
Where it comes from
From Latin profligare, 'to overthrow, ruin'.
Quick check
Someone spends their rent money on extravagant parties, then throws away most of the untouched food. Their behaviour is…
profligate or generous?
Show the answer
profligate
Learn 5 new words a day in Kinquire. Each with a picture, how to say it, an example and a quick check, then spaced review so you actually keep them. Free to start.
Learn “profligate”