profligate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The yellow metal rallied sharply last year and extended its gains into early 2026, helped by central-bank buying and worries about profligate spending and currency debasement around the world — but particularly in the U.S.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

His son David speculated that his dad’s mixed feelings about his fast-food career stemmed from a mentality common among children of the Depression: “Excess bothered them. It almost seemed profligate and unnecessary,” he explained.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

He has long believed that large-scale asset purchases should only be used during crisis and in moderation due to the risk that they can be used to fund a profligate Treasury.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

In Japan, a weaker yen appears to be a symptom of a broader economic and financial rebalancing underway as interest rates normalize, inflation picks up, economic green shoots appear, and Tokyo’s fiscal policies remain profligate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

He bought four pair—a profligate quantity of socks—and not only were they not gray, no two pair were even the same color.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor