profligate Hear it!

profligate Definition

prof·li·gate (präf′li git)

adjective

  1. immoral and shameless
  2. extremely wasteful; recklessly extravagant

Etymology: L profligatus, pp. of profligare, to strike to the ground, rout, ruin < pro-, forward (see pro-) + fligere, to drive, dash (see inflict)

noun

a profligate person

profligate Related Forms

prof′·li·gacy (-gə sē) noun or prof′·li·gate·ness prof′·li·gately adverb

profligate Synonyms

profligate

modif.

dissolute, abandoned, depraved; see lewd 2, wicked 1.

profligate Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • spending: Isn't the real reason for this Government's dilemma the uncontrolled profligate spending of local authorities.
  • waste: Every day, for many years, I have seen a profligate waste of resources around the University.
  • way: Pray that God will turn us from our profligate ways before we end by destroying both ourselves and His world.
  • life: At that time, men and women were denounced as living a profligate life if they were involved in sexual scandals.
  • consumption: Sounds lovely: take the burden of taxation away from the poor downtrodden workers and instead tax our profligate consumption of natural resources.
  • lifestyle: He continued working, even after his profligate lifestyle had brought him to the Fleet prison.

Modifying Another Word

  • so: It was poor today and against better sides United cannot afford to be so profligate.
  • particularly: I don't think I'm particularly profligate, ( in fact, even frugal on occasion!
  • too: But the away side was far too profligate in front of goal, allowing the Blues to come away with victory.
  • not: After all, Fenland district council is not profligate.
  • very: David Irving comments: 1. I have never written a book or article on the Holocaust; not a very profligate denier.

Preposition: in

front: We'll need to be less profligate in front of goal next week.