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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

prodigal

/ˈpɹɑdɪɡəl/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:57
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What does prodigal mean?

adjective

  1. Wastefully extravagant.
  2. Yielding profusely, lavish.
  3. Profuse, lavishly abundant.
More meanings (3)

adjective

  1. Having (selfishly) abandoned a person, group, or ideal.
  2. Returning or having returned, especially repentantly, after such an abandonment.

noun

  1. A prodigal person; a spendthrift; a wastrel.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈpɹɑdɪɡəl/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

Here the matter was settled over the breakfast, at which Henchard heaped the young Scotchman’s plate to a prodigal fulness.
Thomas HardyThe Mayor of CasterbridgeProject Gutenberg ebook #143
When the doctrine of the devil is preached people are prodigal in their willing support of those who deceive them.
Martin LutherCommentary on the Epistle to the GalatiansTranslated by Theodore GraebnerProject Gutenberg ebook #1549
More book examples (3)
If I would be prodigal of my time and your patience, what might not I say in commendations of the earth?
Izaak WaltonThe Compleat AnglerProject Gutenberg ebook #683
How like a younger or a prodigal The scarfed bark puts from her native bay, Hugg’d and embraced by the strumpet wind!
William ShakespeareThe Complete Works of William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg ebook #100
Then straightway touched with pity we run to meet the prodigal son and snatch the fugitive slave from the gates of death.
Richard de BuryThe Love of Books: The Philobiblon of Richard de BuryTranslated by Ernest Chester ThomasProject Gutenberg ebook #626