What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Prodigious vs Profligate - What's the difference?

prodigious | profligate |

In obsolete terms the difference between prodigious and profligate

is that prodigious is ominous, portentous while profligate is to drive away; to overcome.

As adjectives the difference between prodigious and profligate

is that prodigious is very big in size or quantity; gigantic; colossal; huge while profligate is overthrown, ruined.

As a noun profligate is

an abandoned person; one openly and shamelessly vicious; a dissolute person.

As a verb profligate is

to drive away; to overcome.

prodigious

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Very big in size or quantity; gigantic; colossal; huge.
  • {{quote-Fanny Hill, part=3 , Its prodigious size made me shrink again; yet I could not, without pleasure, behold, and even ventur'd to feel, such a length, such a breadth of animated ivory!}}
  • extraordinarily exciting or amazing
  • (obsolete) ominous, portentous
  • Synonyms

    * gigantic, colossal, huge, enormous; See also * amazing * ominous, portentous

    Derived terms

    * prodigiously

    profligate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Overthrown, ruined.
  • * Hudibras
  • The foe is profligate , and run.
  • Inclined to waste resources or behave extravagantly.
  • * 2013 , Ben Smith, "[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24503988]", BBC Sport , 19 October 2013:
  • Jay Rodriguez headed over and Dani Osvaldo might have done better with only David De Gea to beat and, as Southampton bordered on the profligate , United were far more ruthless.
  • Immoral; abandoned to vice.
  • * Roscommon
  • a race more profligate than we
  • * Dryden
  • Made prostitute and profligate muse.

    Synonyms

    * (inclined to waste resources or behave extravagantly) extravagant, wasteful, prodigal * immoral, licentious * See also

    Derived terms

    * profligateness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An abandoned person; one openly and shamelessly vicious; a dissolute person.
  • An overly wasteful or extravagant individual.
  • Synonyms

    * (overly wasteful or extravagant individual) wastrel * See also and

    Verb

    (profligat)
  • (obsolete) To drive away; to overcome.
  • * 1840 , Alexander Walker, Woman Physiologically Considered as to Mind, Morals, Marriage, Matrimonial Slavery, Infidelity and Divorce , page 157:
  • Such a stipulation would remove one powerful temptation to profligate pennyless seducers, of whom there are too many prowling in the higher circles ;

    Synonyms

    * overcome