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Promiscuous vs Profligate - What's the difference?

promiscuous | profligate | Related terms |

Promiscuous is a related term of profligate.


As adjectives the difference between promiscuous and profligate

is that promiscuous is made up of various disparate elements mixed together; of disorderly composition while profligate is (obsolete) overthrown, ruined.

As a noun profligate is

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

As a verb profligate is

(obsolete) to drive away; to overcome.

promiscuous

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Made up of various disparate elements mixed together; of disorderly composition.
  • * 1667 , , Book 1, ll. 379-80
  • Came singly where he stood on the bare strand, / While the promiscuous croud stood yet aloof.
  • *
  • they had both been educated on plans at once narrow and promiscuous , first in an English family and afterwards in a Swiss family at Lausanne, their bachelor uncle and guardian trying in this way to remedy the disadvantages of their orphaned condition.
  • Made without careful choice; indiscriminate.
  • indiscriminate in choice of sexual partners.
  • (networking) The mode in which a gathers all network traffic instead of getting only the traffic intended for it.
  • Synonyms

    * See also * See also * (made up of various disparate elements) motley

    Derived terms

    * promiscuity * promiscuousness

    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