profligate
adjective/ˈprɒflɪɡət/
/ˈprɑːflɪɡət/
(formal, disapproving)- using money, time, materials, etc. in a careless way synonym wasteful
- profligate spending
- the profligate use of resources
- The opposition criticized the government’s profligate spending plans.
- The report dismisses claims that the US is profligate in its use of energy.
Word Originmid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘overthrown, routed’): from Latin profligatus ‘dissolute’, past participle of profligare ‘overthrow, ruin’, from pro- ‘forward, down’ + fligere ‘strike down’.
Check pronunciation:
profligate