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prodigally
/prəˈdɪɡəli/
in a wasteful or lavish manner
The CEO spent prodigally on office renovations, ignoring the company's debt.
The CEO spent money in a wasteful and excessive way on office renovations, ignoring the company's debt.
formal
In a way that involves spending money or using resources freely, extravagantly, or wastefully.
They lived prodigally during the boom years, buying multiple luxury cars.
They lived in an extravagantly wasteful manner during the economic boom years, buying multiple luxury cars.
Often carries a negative connotation of irresponsibility, unlike 'generously' which implies kindness.
literary
In a way that shows abundant or lavish bestowal of non-material things (e.g., praise, talent).
Nature has endowed the region prodigally with natural beauty.
Nature has given the region an abundant and lavish amount of natural beauty.
Used positively in literary contexts to describe abundance.
Collocations
spend prodigallyto spend money wastefullyprodigally giftedhaving abundant natural talent
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Don't confuse with 'prodigious'
'Prodigally' relates to waste/excess. 'Prodigious' relates to size or greatness (e.g., 'a prodigious talent'). They sound similar but have different roots in usage.
Gold Rule
Context Check
If describing a positive abundance of talent, 'prodigally' is acceptable but rare; 'generously' is safer. If describing money, 'prodigally' implies criticism of waste.
Word Origin
From Latin 'prodigus' (wasteful, lavish) + '-ally' (adverbial suffix). Related to 'prodigal son' in biblical literature.
Usage Notes
Use 'prodigally' when you want to emphasize the excessive or wasteful nature of spending or giving. It is more formal and dramatic than 'wastefully'. Be careful not to confuse it with 'prodigious' (meaning enormous or remarkable), which is a common error.
Word Breakdown
prodig-
wasteful, lavish
root-ally
in the manner of
suffixEnglish Dictionary