The difference between Frugal and Prodigal

When used as adjectives, frugal means avoiding unnecessary expenditure either of money or of anything else which is to be used or consumed, whereas prodigal means wastefully extravagant.


Prodigal is also noun with the meaning: a prodigal person, a spendthrift.

check bellow for the other definitions of Frugal and Prodigal

  1. Frugal as an adjective:

    Avoiding unnecessary expenditure either of money or of anything else which is to be used or consumed; avoiding waste.

  1. Prodigal as an adjective:

    wastefully extravagant.

    Examples:

    "He found himself guilty of prodigal spending during the holidays."

    "He is a [[prodigal son prodigal son]]."

  2. Prodigal as an adjective (often, followed by of or with):

    someone yielding profusely, lavish

    Examples:

    "She was a merry person, glad and prodigal of [[smile]]s."

    "How can he be so prodigal with money on such a tight budget?"

  3. Prodigal as an adjective:

    profuse, lavishly abundant

  4. Prodigal as an adjective:

    (by allusion to the Biblical parable of the prodigal son) returning after abandoning a person, group, or ideal, especially for selfish reasons; being a prodigal son.

  1. Prodigal as a noun:

    A prodigal person, a spendthrift.

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