Prodigal vs. Prodigy — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Prodigal and Prodigy
ADVERTISEMENT
Definitions
Prodigal
Spending money or using resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant
Prodigal habits die hard
Prodigy
A person with exceptional talents or powers
A math prodigy.
Prodigal
Having or giving something on a lavish scale
The dessert was prodigal with whipped cream
Prodigy
An act or event so extraordinary or rare as to inspire wonder
"The Spies performed prodigies of activity in clambering over the rooftops and cutting the streamers that fluttered from the chimneys" (George Orwell).
Prodigal
A person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way
The government wished to clip the wings of the local authority prodigals
ADVERTISEMENT
Prodigy
(Archaic) A portentous sign or event; an omen.
Prodigal
Rashly or wastefully extravagant
Prodigal expenditures on unneeded weaponry.
A prodigal nephew who squandered his inheritance.
Prodigy
An extraordinary thing seen as an omen; a portent.
Prodigal
Giving or given in abundance; lavish or profuse
"the infinite number of organic beings with which the sea of the tropics, so prodigal of life, teems" (Charles Darwin).
Prodigy
An extraordinary occurrence or creature; an anomaly, especially a monster; a freak.
ADVERTISEMENT
Prodigal
One who is given to wasteful luxury or extravagance.
Prodigy
An amazing or marvellous thing; a wonder.
Prodigal
Wastefully extravagant.
He found himself guilty of prodigal spending during the holidays.
The prodigal son spent his share of his inheritance until he was destitute.
Prodigy
A wonderful example of something.
Prodigal
Yielding profusely, lavish.
She was a merry person, glad and prodigal of smiles.
How can he be so prodigal with money on such a tight budget?
Prodigy
An extremely talented person, especially a child.
Prodigal
Profuse, lavishly abundant.
Prodigy
Something extraordinary, or out of the usual course of nature, from which omens are drawn; a portent; as, eclipses and meteors were anciently deemed prodigies.
So many terrors, voices, prodigies,May warn thee, as a sure foregoing sign.
Prodigal
(by allusion to the New Testament story commonly called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son", [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+15:11–32 Luke 15:11–32]) Behaving as a prodigal son:
Prodigy
Anything so extraordinary as to excite wonder or astonishment; a marvel; as, a prodigy of learning.
Prodigal
Having (selfishly) abandoned a person, group, or ideal.
Prodigy
A production out of ordinary course of nature; an abnormal development; a monster.
Prodigal
Returning or having returned, especially repentantly, after such an abandonment.
Prodigy
An unusually gifted or intelligent (young) person; someone whose talents excite wonder and admiration;
She is a chess prodigy
Prodigal
A prodigal person; a spendthrift; a wastrel.
Prodigy
A sign of something about to happen;
He looked for an omen before going into battle
Prodigal
Given to extravagant expenditure; expending money or other things without necessity; recklessly or viciously profuse; lavish; wasteful; not frugal or economical; as, a prodigal man; the prodigal son; prodigal giving; prodigal expenses.
In fighting fields [patriots] were prodigal of blood.
Prodigy
An impressive or wonderful example of a particular quality;
The Marines are expected to perform prodigies of valor
Prodigal
One who expends money extravagantly, viciously, or without necessity; one that is profuse or lavish in any expenditure; a waster; a spendthrift.
Prodigal
A recklessly extravagant consumer
Prodigal
Very generous;
Distributed gifts with a lavish hand
The critics were lavish in their praise
A munificent gift
His father gave him a half-dollar and his mother a quarter and he thought them munificent
Prodigal praise
Unsparing generosity
His unstinted devotion
Called for unstinting aid to Britain
Prodigal
Recklessly wasteful;
Prodigal in their expenditures
Prodigal
Marked by rash extravagance;
Led a prodigal life
