Prodigal vs. Prodigious: What's the Difference?
By Aimie Carlson || Updated on May 23, 2024
Prodigal refers to someone who spends resources lavishly or wastefully. Prodigious describes something remarkably or impressively great in size, extent, or degree.
Key Differences
Prodigal is often used to describe a person who is extravagantly wasteful with money or resources. The term carries a negative connotation, implying recklessness and lack of restraint. A common usage is in the phrase "prodigal son," referring to someone who returns after squandering their wealth. Prodigious, on the other hand, describes something extraordinary in size, amount, or degree. It has a positive connotation, highlighting something impressive or remarkable. Prodigious can refer to physical size, intellectual ability, or any other significant quantity or quality.
Prodigal spending habits can lead to financial ruin, as it involves reckless and extravagant use of money or resources. Prodigious achievements or talents, however, are often celebrated and admired, as they denote outstanding ability or effort.
A prodigal individual may be criticized for their wastefulness and lack of foresight. In contrast, a prodigious individual is often praised for their extraordinary capabilities or contributions.
Prodigal behavior is often associated with moral or financial irresponsibility. Prodigious feats, by contrast, are associated with exceptional talent, intelligence, or effort, often inspiring admiration and awe.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Extravagantly wasteful or lavish
Remarkably or impressively great
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Connotation
Negative
Positive
Common Context
Spending, resource use
Size, extent, degree
Example Phrase
Prodigal son
Prodigious talent
Associated Traits
Recklessness, wastefulness
Remarkable, extraordinary
Prodigal and Prodigious Definitions
Prodigal
Extravagantly wasteful or lavish in spending.
His prodigal lifestyle left him bankrupt.
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Prodigious
Remarkably or impressively great in size or degree.
The prodigious mountain loomed over the valley.
Prodigal
Lavish or profuse in giving.
She was known for her prodigal generosity.
Prodigious
Extraordinary in extent or quantity.
He has a prodigious memory for facts.
Prodigal
Spending money or resources freely and recklessly.
The prodigal heir wasted the family fortune.
Prodigious
Causing amazement or wonder.
The prodigious talent of the young musician was evident.
Prodigal
Characterized by wasteful expenditure.
Their prodigal habits led to financial troubles.
Prodigious
Impressively great or large.
She has a prodigious appetite for learning.
Prodigal
Recklessly spending resources.
The prodigal son returned home after squandering his inheritance.
Prodigious
Enormous or immense.
The prodigious effort resulted in a groundbreaking discovery.
Prodigal
Rashly or wastefully extravagant
Prodigal expenditures on unneeded weaponry.
A prodigal nephew who squandered his inheritance.
Prodigious
Impressively great in size, force, or extent; enormous
A prodigious storm.
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).
Prodigious
Extraordinary; marvelous
A prodigious talent.
Prodigal
One who is given to wasteful luxury or extravagance.
Prodigious
(Obsolete) Portentous; ominous.
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.
Prodigious
Very big in size or quantity; colossal, gigantic, huge.
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?
Prodigious
Extraordinarily amazing or exciting.
Prodigal
Profuse, lavishly abundant.
Prodigious
Freakish; monstrous.
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:
Prodigious
(obsolete) Ominous, portentous.
Prodigal
Having (selfishly) abandoned a person, group, or ideal.
Prodigious
Of the nature of a prodigy; marvelous; wonderful; portentous.
It is prodigious to have thunder in a clear sky.
Prodigal
Returning or having returned, especially repentantly, after such an abandonment.
Prodigious
Extraordinary in bulk, extent, quantity, or degree; very great; vast; huge; immense; as, a prodigious mountain; a prodigious creature; a prodigious blunder.
Prodigal
A prodigal person; a spendthrift; a wastrel.
Prodigious
So great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe;
Colossal crumbling ruins of an ancient temple
Has a colossal nerve
A prodigious storm
A stupendous field of grass
Stupendous demand
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.
Prodigious
Of momentous or ominous significance;
Such a portentous...monster raised all my curiosity
A prodigious vision
Prodigal
One who expends money extravagantly, viciously, or without necessity; one that is profuse or lavish in any expenditure; a waster; a spendthrift.
Prodigious
Far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree;
A night of exceeding darkness
An exceptional memory
Olympian efforts to save the city from bankruptcy
The young Mozart's prodigious talents
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
FAQs
Is prodigious a positive or negative term?
Prodigious is a positive term, implying something impressive or extraordinary.
What does prodigal mean?
Prodigal means extravagantly wasteful or lavish, especially in spending resources.
Can prodigal refer to generosity?
Yes, prodigal can describe someone who is lavishly generous.
What does prodigious mean?
Prodigious means remarkably or impressively great in size, extent, or degree.
What is a common context for prodigious?
Prodigious is often used in the context of size, talent, or achievement.
Is prodigal associated with financial irresponsibility?
Yes, prodigal often implies financial irresponsibility.
Is prodigal a positive or negative term?
Prodigal is generally a negative term, implying wastefulness.
Can prodigious describe talent?
Yes, prodigious can describe exceptional talent or ability.
Does prodigal have a biblical reference?
Yes, the term "prodigal son" comes from a biblical parable.
What is a common phrase using prodigal?
"Prodigal son" is a common phrase.
Can prodigious describe size?
Yes, prodigious can describe something extremely large.
Can prodigal describe lavish spending?
Yes, prodigal specifically refers to lavish or wasteful spending.
What part of speech is prodigious?
Prodigious is an adjective.
What part of speech is prodigal?
Prodigal is an adjective.
Can prodigious describe intellectual ability?
Yes, prodigious can describe exceptional intellectual ability.
Is prodigal used to praise someone?
No, prodigal is typically not used to praise someone; it implies criticism.
Is prodigious used to describe impressive achievements?
Yes, prodigious is used to describe impressive or extraordinary achievements.
Does prodigious relate to effort or achievement?
Yes, prodigious relates to significant or impressive effort or achievement.
Is prodigious used to praise someone?
Yes, prodigious is often used to praise someone's extraordinary qualities.
Does prodigal relate to resource use?
Yes, prodigal relates to wasteful or extravagant use of resources.
About Author
Written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
