English Meaning & Definitions
A person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible, or wasteful way.
- “He inherited a massive fortune but proved to be a notorious spendthrift, losing it all within a few years.”
- “Instead of saving for their future, the couple lived like spendthrifts, constantly buying luxury items they didn't need.”
Characterized by wasteful spending; extravagant.
- “Her spendthrift habits eventually caught up with her, leading to severe debt.”
- “The company went bankrupt due to the CEO's spendthrift management style.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “spendthrift”.
Derived from 16th-century English, combining 'spend' (to pay out money) and 'thrift' (which historically meant prosperity, savings, or economic success, derived from 'thrive'). Ironically, a spendthrift was originally perceived as someone who 'spends thriving' or wastes their prosperity, though over time the second element was reinterpreted as 'thrift' in the modern sense of savings, rendering the word a compound meaning one who wastes money.
Think of someone who 'spends' recklessly and makes their money 'thrift' (disappear or shrink).
Frequently Asked Questions About “spendthrift”
1. What is the meaning of “spendthrift” in English?
In English, spendthrift (noun) is defined as: “A person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible, or wasteful way.”.
2. How do you use “spendthrift” in a sentence?
“He inherited a massive fortune but proved to be a notorious spendthrift, losing it all within a few years.”
3. What are English synonyms of “spendthrift”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “spendthrift”?
Derived from 16th-century English, combining 'spend' (to pay out money) and 'thrift' (which historically meant prosperity, savings, or economic success, derived from 'thrive'). Ironically, a spendthrift was originally perceived as someone who 'spends thriving' or wastes their prosperity, though over time the second element was reinterpreted as 'thrift' in the modern sense of savings, rendering the word a compound meaning one who wastes money.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.