Prodigal

The adjective prodigal means someone who spends a lot of money carelessly without thinking about what will happen when they have nothing left. It also means a son or a daughter who leaves their family or friends, often after a period of behaving badly, and then returns at a later time as a better person.

Synonyms are wasteful, spendthrift, squandering, or wanton.

The word origins from Middle French (mid-15th century) prodigal and directly from Late Latin prodigalis, and Latin prodigus meaning “wasteful”, from prodigere meaning “drive away, waste”. It comes from pro meaning “forth” plus agere meaning “to set in motion, drive, to do, perform”.

Your prodigal spending on fancy clothes might leave you with no money.

The father attempted to write a letter to his prodigal daughter.

The prodigal son returns! The family celebrated.

Succinct

The adjective succinct means something that said in a clear and short way.

Synonyms are blunt, brief, concise, or pithy.

The word origins from Middle French (early 15th century) succincte, and Latin succinctus meaning “prepared, ready, contracted, short”, past participle of succingere “tuck up (clothes for action), gird from below”. It is derived from the assimilated form of sub meaning “up from under” plus cingere meaning “to gird”. Its sense of “brief, concise” is first recorded in 1530s.

He succinctly delivered his speech.

This encyclopedia gives succinct information about different wildlife around the world.

If you have something to write, make sure it is succinct enough for me to understand your point.

Profound

The adjective profound means something that is felt or experienced very strongly or in an extreme way.

Synonyms are deep, thoughtful, serious, or subtle.

The word origins from Old French profund and Modern French (12th century) profond, from Latin profundus meaning “deep, bottomless, vast”, also “obscure, profound, immoderate”. It comes from pro meaning “forth” plus fundus meaning “bottom”.

His profound ideas amaze me.

She really admires his profound knowledge.

The novel was full of profound insights and information.

Placate

The verb placate means to say or do something to make someone stop feeling angry.

Synonyms are appease, pacify, mollify, or soothe.

The word origins from 1670s. It is a back formation of Latin placation or else from Latin placatus meaning “soothed, quiet, gentle, calm, peaceful”, past participle of placare meaning “to calm, appease, quiet, soothe, assuage”, causative of placere meaning “to please”.

She knows he just wants to placate her but she doesn’t need it.

I think nothing I could say would placate him.

His mother did everything to placate him.

Fastidious

The adjective fastidious means giving a lot of attention and concern to details or showing high standards. It also means having a demanding attitude.

Synonyms are choosy, dainty, delicate, or finical.

The word origins from Latin (Mid 15th century) fastidiosus meaning “disdainful, squeamish, exacting”, fastidium meaning “loathing, squeamishness, dislike, aversion” which is of uncertain origin. Perhaps it comes from fastu-taidiom, a compound of fastus which means “contempt, arrogance, pride” and taedium meaning “aversion, disgust”.

He is always so fastidious about all matters.

My mother is fastidious when it comes to grocery shopping.

Monica in the TV series F.R.I.E.N.D.S is the most fastidious and organized person.

Sporadic

The adjective sporadic means something that happens at irregular intervals.

Synonyms are on and off, irregular, occasional, or infrequent.

The word origins from Medieval Latin (1680s) sporadicus meaning “scattered”. It also sources from Greek sporadikos meaning “scattered”, and sporas meaning “scattered, dispersed”, from spora meaning “a sowing”. It is originally a medical term meaning “occurring in scattered instances”. The meaning “happening at intervals” is first recorded in 1847.

Though most isolates have meningococcemia viruses, those with influenza B viruses were isolated from sporadic cases.

There is a chance of sporadic rain showers and isolated thunderstorms in night hours, especially in the northern part of the island.

Navy officials surveyed the damage caused by sporadic clashes near the borders.

Advocate

The verb advocate means to openly support or propose an idea.

Synonyms are defend, favor, promote, or recommend.

The word origins from Latin (1640s) advocatus, past participle of advocare meaning “to advow, to vouch, to justify an act done”.

They are an institution that advocates helping the poor.

Be an advocate of development, not of destruction.

That lawyer is truly an advocate of justice.

Erudite

The adjective erudite means someone who has shown an enormous academic knowledge that is known by very few people.

Synonyms are scholarly, literate, brainy, or well-educated.

The word origins from Latin (15th century) eruditus meaning “learned, accomplished, well-informed”, past participle of erudire meaning “to educate, teach, instruct, polish” literally “to bring out of the rough”. It is derived from assimilated form of ex meaning “out” plus rudis meaning “unskilled, rough, unlearned”.

To stay erudite on the current events, one must always read newspapers and watch the news.

The professor in World History is erudite.

She is erudite and her classmates find her weird most of the time.

Lethargic

The adjective lethargic means producing laziness, sluggishness or lack of energy.

Synonyms are inert, inactive, dull, or lifeless.

The word origins from the Latin (late 24th century) lethargicus meaning “affected with lethargy”, Greek lethargikos meaning “drowsy”, lethargos meaning “forgetful, inactive” and from 1590s as “pertaining to lethargy”.

The whole class was lethargic after their 3-hour Physical Education class.

She had a fever and was lethargic for two days so they decided to go to the hospital.

It is normal to feel lethargic and super tired at least once a week, but if you think something’s wrong, maybe try visiting a doctor.

Scrupulous

The adjective scrupulous means someone who takes great care to do what is fair, honest, or morally right.

Synonyms are conscientious, fastidious, fussy, or rigorous.

The word origins from Anglo-French (mid-15^th century) scrupulus, and Middle French scrupuleux. It also comes directly from Latin scrupulosus, and scrupulous.

She was known to be excessively scrupulous about everything she wrote.

Their work showed scrupulous care in the use of authorities.

He’s a scrupulous politician who doesn’t lie about his business interests.