prodigal

/ˈprä-di-gəl/

Latin prodigus, from prodigere to drive away, squander, from pro-, prod- forth + agere to drive

adjective

  1. characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure : lavish

  2. recklessly spendthrift

  3. yielding abundantly : luxuriant —often used with of

a prodigal feast

profuse lavish prodigal luxuriant lush exuberant mean giving or given out in great abundance. profuse implies pouring forth without restraint. lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

noun

  1. one who spends or gives lavishly and foolishly

  2. one who has returned after an absence

noun

  1. a son/daughter who leaves his or her parents to do things that they do not approve of but then feels sorry and returns home —often used figuratively