profligate spending

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "profligate spending" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe excessive or wasteful expenditure, often in a financial context. Example: "The company's profligate spending on luxury office supplies led to significant budget overruns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Profligate spending.

The New York Times - Books

The McCarthy deal came to epitomise the club's profligate spending.

Independent

Just look at the outcome from Greece's profligate spending.

The Guardian - Opinion

They are pleased by his judicial appointments but mystified by his profligate spending.

The New Yorker

Bill Murray, playing his unhappily married business manager, Saul, issues dire warnings about Charles's profligate spending.

The New York Times

But this is not just a story about profligate spending and rigid monetary policy.

The New York Times

The family must cut profligate spending, save and pay down debts.

The New York Times

Profligate spending is giving way to saving, scrimping and even — gasp! — a comeback for coupons.

The New York Times

Republicans have especially made headway with the charge that deficits came from profligate spending by Democrats.

The New York Times

N'Dour has repeatedly attacked what he calls the government's profligate spending.

The Guardian - Music

"John Kerry's profligate spending promises will be an issue this fall," Mr. Schmidt said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "profligate spending" with specific examples or data to illustrate the extent and impact of the wasteful expenditure. Avoid generalizations and provide concrete evidence to support your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "profligate spending" when describing investments aimed at long-term growth, even if they seem costly initially. Ensure that the expenditures truly lack a clear return on investment before labeling them as "profligate spending".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "profligate spending" functions as a noun phrase, where "profligate" modifies "spending". It's used to describe a specific type of spending behavior characterized by excess and wastefulness. As Ludwig indicates, this phrase is usable and correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "profligate spending" is a correct and common way to describe excessive and wasteful expenditure. According to Ludwig, its AI analysis confirms its usability in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, where it is often used to critique governments, organizations, or individuals for fiscal irresponsibility. When using this phrase, ensure you provide clear context and specific examples to support your claims. Alternative phrases include "extravagant spending" and "wasteful expenditures", which offer slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extravagant expenditures

Focuses on the scale and excessiveness of the spending, similar to "profligate spending" but emphasizes the act of spending itself.

wasteful expenditures

Emphasizes the lack of value or benefit derived from the spending, highlighting the inefficient use of resources.

reckless spending

Highlights the irresponsibility and potential negative consequences associated with the spending, suggesting a lack of foresight or planning.

uncontrolled spending

Focuses on the lack of regulation or oversight in the spending process, implying a chaotic or disorganized approach.

excessive spending

Simply indicates that the amount spent is beyond what is considered reasonable or necessary, without necessarily implying wastefulness or irresponsibility.

lavish spending

Suggests that the spending is not only excessive but also luxurious and indulgent, often involving non-essential items or experiences.

imprudent spending

Emphasizes the lack of wisdom or good judgment in the spending decisions, suggesting that they are likely to lead to negative outcomes.

dissolute spending

Connects the spending to immoral or decadent behavior, suggesting a self-indulgent and unrestrained approach to financial resources.

frivolous spending

Indicates that the spending is on trivial or unimportant things, lacking any serious purpose or value.

wanton spending

Implies that the spending is unrestrained and often malicious or unjustifiable, suggesting a disregard for the consequences.

FAQs

What does "profligate spending" mean?

"Profligate spending" refers to excessive and wasteful spending, often without regard for the consequences or long-term financial stability.

What are some synonyms for "profligate spending"?

Alternatives include "extravagant spending", "wasteful expenditure", or "reckless spending", each carrying slightly different connotations.

How can I use "profligate spending" in a sentence?

You might say, "The government's "profligate spending" on unnecessary projects led to a budget crisis." This indicates that the government spent excessively and wastefully, causing financial problems.

What is the difference between "profligate spending" and "frugality"?

"Profligate spending" is the opposite of "frugality". While "profligate spending" implies wastefulness, "frugality" suggests careful and economical management of resources.