You can describe someone as a prodigal son or daughter if they leave their family or friends, often after a period of behaving badly, and then return at a later time as a better person.
[literary]
...the parable of the prodigal son.
Prodigal is also a noun.
The prodigal had returned.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Someone who behaves in a prodigal way spends a lot of money carelessly without thinking about what will happen when they have none left.
Prodigal habits die hard.
More Synonyms of prodigal
prodigal in British English
(ˈprɒdɪɡəl)
adjective
1.
recklessly wasteful or extravagant, as in disposing of goods or money
2.
lavish in giving or yielding
prodigal of compliments
noun
3.
a person who spends lavishly or squanders money
Derived forms
prodigality (ˌprodiˈgality)
noun
prodigally (ˈprodigally)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Medieval Latin prōdigālis wasteful, from Latin prōdigus lavish, from prōdigere to squander, from pro-1 + agere to drive
prodigal in American English
(ˈprɑdɪɡəl)
adjective
1.
wastefully or recklessly extravagant
prodigal expenditure
2. (usually fol. by of or with)
giving or yielding profusely; lavish
prodigal of smiles
prodigal with money
3.
lavishly abundant; profuse
nature's prodigal resources
noun
4.
a person who spends, or has spent, his or her money or substance with wasteful extravagance; spendthrift
Derived forms
prodigally
adverb
Word origin
[1500–10; back formation from prodigality]
Examples of 'prodigal' in a sentence
prodigal
The parable of the return of the prodigal son showed the way.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
These are our prodigal sons and daughters.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Return of the prodigal son was great to watch.
The Sun (2014)
It is some turnaround and now they have the return of the prodigal son to complete it.
The Sun (2016)
This has to be the end for his prodigal son, or it will be the end of him.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The prodigal returned to his hometown with a loathing for it, and only a little less for his family.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The prodigal son has returned.
The Sun (2008)
Trying to prove to his father that his music would get him somewhere, the prodigal son sent home copies of all his records.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
1 (adjective)
Definition
recklessly wasteful or extravagant
his prodigal habits
Synonyms
extravagant
his extravagant lifestyle
excessive
The length of the prison sentence was excessive considering the nature of the crime.
reckless
squandering
wasteful
the wasteful consumption of fuel
wanton
profligate
the most profligate consumer of energy in the world
spendthrift
his father's spendthrift ways
intemperate
the unwisely intemperate language of the party leader
immoderate
He launched an immoderate tirade on his son.
improvident
Opposites
economical
,
frugal
,
tight
,
sparing
,
thrifty
,
stingy
,
parsimonious
,
miserly
2 (adjective)
You are prodigal of both your toil and your talent.
Synonyms
lavish
American reviewers are lavish in their praise of this book.
bountiful
Their bountiful host was serving a variety of wonderful dishes.
unstinting
The task was made easier by the unstinting help extended to me.
unsparing
She was unsparing with her devotion to the team.
bounteous
profuse
Helena's profuse thanks were met with only a nod.
Opposites
generous
,
free
,
liberal
,
bountiful
,
open-handed
,
unstinting
(noun)
Definition
a person who squanders money
Was he a prodigal or a miser?
Synonyms
spendthrift
I was a natural spendthrift when I was single.
squanderer
big spender
profligate
wastrel
a wastrel who squandered his entire fortune
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bountiful
Definition
giving freely
Their bountiful host was serving a variety of wonderful dishes.
Synonyms
generous,
kind,
princely,
liberal,
charitable,
hospitable,
prodigal,
open-handed,
unstinting,
beneficent,
bounteous,
munificent,
ungrudging
in the sense of excessive
The length of the prison sentence was excessive considering the nature of the crime.
Synonyms
immoderate,
too much,
enormous,
extreme,
exaggerated,
over the top (slang),
extravagant,
needless,
unreasonable,
disproportionate,
undue,
uncontrolled,
superfluous,
prodigal,
unrestrained,
profligate,
inordinate,
fulsome,
intemperate,
unconscionable,
overmuch,
O.T.T. (slang)
in the sense of immoderate
Definition
excessive or unreasonable
He launched an immoderate tirade on his son.
Synonyms
excessive,
extreme,
over the top (slang),
enormous,
steep (informal),
exaggerated,
extravagant,
unreasonable,
undue,
uncontrolled,
unjustified,
unwarranted,
exorbitant,
unrestrained,
profligate,
inordinate,
over the odds (informal),
egregious,
intemperate,
unconscionable,
uncalled-for,
O.T.T. (slang)
Nearby words of
prodigal
procure
procurer
prod
prodigal
prodigality
prodigious
prodigy
Synonyms of 'prodigal'
prodigal
Explore 'prodigal' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of intemperate
Definition
extreme or severe
the unwisely intemperate language of the party leader
Synonyms
excessive,
extreme,
over the top (slang),
wild,
violent,
severe,
passionate,
extravagant,
uncontrollable,
self-indulgent,
unbridled,
prodigal,
unrestrained,
tempestuous,
profligate,
inordinate,
incontinent,
ungovernable,
immoderate,
O.T.T. (slang)
in the sense of profligate
Definition
recklessly extravagant
the most profligate consumer of energy in the world
Synonyms
extravagant,
reckless,
squandering,
wasteful,
prodigal,
spendthrift,
immoderate,
improvident
in the sense of profligate
Definition
a profligate person
Synonyms
spendthrift,
squanderer,
prodigal,
waster,
wastrel
in the sense of profuse
Definition
generous in the giving (of)
Helena's profuse thanks were met with only a nod.
Synonyms
extravagant,
liberal,
generous,
excessive,
lavish,
exuberant,
prodigal,
fulsome,
open-handed,
unstinting,
immoderate
in the sense of unsparing
Definition
very generous
She was unsparing with her devotion to the team.
Synonyms
lavish,
liberal,
generous,
abundant,
prodigal,
bountiful,
open-handed,
unstinting,
profuse,
munificent,
ungrudging,
plenteous
in the sense of unstinting
Definition
generous and gladly given
The task was made easier by the unstinting help extended to me.