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Prodigal vs. Prodigy: What's the Difference?

Prodigal and Prodigy Definitions

Prodigal

Rashly or wastefully extravagant
Prodigal expenditures on unneeded weaponry.
A prodigal nephew who squandered his inheritance.

Prodigy

A person with exceptional talents or powers
A math prodigy.

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 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

One who is given to wasteful luxury or extravagance.
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Prodigy

(Archaic) A portentous sign or event; an omen.

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

An extraordinary thing seen as an omen; a portent.

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 extraordinary occurrence or creature; an anomaly, especially a monster; a freak.
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Prodigal

Profuse, lavishly abundant.

Prodigy

An amazing or marvellous thing; a wonder.

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

A wonderful example of something.

Prodigal

Having (selfishly) abandoned a person, group, or ideal.

Prodigy

An extremely talented person, especially a child.

Prodigal

Returning or having returned, especially repentantly, after such an abandonment.

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

A prodigal person; a spendthrift; a wastrel.

Prodigy

Anything so extraordinary as to excite wonder or astonishment; a marvel; as, a prodigy of learning.

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

A production out of ordinary course of nature; an abnormal development; a monster.

Prodigal

One who expends money extravagantly, viciously, or without necessity; one that is profuse or lavish in any expenditure; a waster; a spendthrift.

Prodigy

An unusually gifted or intelligent (young) person; someone whose talents excite wonder and admiration;
She is a chess prodigy

Prodigal

A recklessly extravagant consumer

Prodigy

A sign of something about to happen;
He looked for an omen before going into battle

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

Prodigy

An impressive or wonderful example of a particular quality;
The Marines are expected to perform prodigies of valor

Prodigal

Recklessly wasteful;
Prodigal in their expenditures

Prodigal

Marked by rash extravagance;
Led a prodigal life

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