profligacy

noun

ˈprä-fli-gə-sē How to pronounce profligacy (audio)
Definition of profligacynext
as in corruption
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society a religious leader who railed against the profligacy of the nation's decadent aristocrats

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of profligacy Such profligacy slows real income growth, deters hiring, discourages innovation and drives up interest rates. — Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026 California’s profligacy in state funding during the Newsom era has been made possible by its high tax rates, as evidenced by its 48th overall ranking in the 2025 Tax Foundation’s State Tax Competitiveness Index. — Jim Doti, Oc Register, 8 Mar. 2026 Should the Fed act imprudently, financial markets respond swiftly through rising yields or declining asset prices, mechanisms that serve as effective constraints on profligacy. — James Broughel, Forbes.com, 2 Feb. 2026 The State of Illinois and City of Chicago’s finances have been in a continuous downward spiral because of their unbalanced budgets, spending, profligacy, and inability — especially from Chicago — to deal with the staggering unfunded pension liabilities. — Joe Sanders, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for profligacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profligacy
  1. corruption
  2. immorality
  3. sin
  4. sinfulness
  5. evil
Noun
  • Talarico’s success so far can partly be chalked up to voters’ apprehensions toward Paxton, who faced questions in his past over corruption, including being impeached by his own party in the Texas legislature.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Blagojevich was impeached, removed from office by a unanimous 59-0 Illinois Senate vote and convicted of federal corruption offenses.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of corruption
Noun
  • Since the middle of the twentieth century, societies around the globe have undergone a collective revolution in standards and attitudes towards obscenity and immorality.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Independents said the worst thing about Republicans was their loyalty to Trump (10%), perceptions of corruption and self-enrichment (8%), dishonesty, hypocrisy or immorality (7%), a lack of concern for ordinary people or cruelty (6%), and ineffective and weak or unqualified leadership (5%).
    — Emily Guskin, ABC News, 27 May 2026
Definition of immorality
Noun
  • Catholic teaching still calls suicide a grave sin, but recognizes mental illness can diminish responsibility; advocates want mental health ministries in parishes worldwide.
    — Luis Andres Henao, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • If the sin of Mars’ album was being too predictable, Styles’ bold and unexpected Kiss All the Time.
    — Alan Light, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • But soon after, in Genesis 18, God tells Abraham of plans to investigate reports of sinfulness in Sodom and Gomorrah.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
  • Denver author Josiah Hesse was raised by Evangelical parents in churches that believe in the torments of hell, that their poverty is due to their sinfulness and lack of faith.
    — Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
Definition of sinfulness
Noun
  • Rather than doing a literal adaptation, the creators kept the book’s DNA and tweaked the ideas of evil, temptation and power with a contemporary twist.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But disagreement does not necessarily mean that one side possesses wisdom while the other possesses ignorance or evil.
    — Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of evil

Browse Nearby Words

profits
profligacy
profligate
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Cite this Entry

“Profligacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profligacy. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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