as in careless
not thinking about and providing for the future
the improvident view that the wearing away of the ozone layer need not concern us
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Recent Examples of improvident
So, yes, the judiciary can be a bulwark against improvident prosecutions.
—
John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
Then, there’s the waste that results from improvident eating habits.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Unsurprisingly, Peter proves to be nasty, brutish and improvident.
—Joanne Kaufman, WSJ, 2 Dec. 2022
Going that route is improvident.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 5 Mar. 2022
The history of emerging markets is full of imprudent investors as well as improvident borrowers.
—The Economist, 5 Oct. 2017
John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
Then, there’s the waste that results from improvident eating habits.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Unsurprisingly, Peter proves to be nasty, brutish and improvident.
—Joanne Kaufman, WSJ, 2 Dec. 2022
Going that route is improvident.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 5 Mar. 2022
The history of emerging markets is full of imprudent investors as well as improvident borrowers.
—The Economist, 5 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvident
Adjective
-
Stewart’s successor, Mayor Bobby Sanchez, a Democrat, suspended Blogoslawski in February amid allegations of improprieties, including the careless handling of cash and the backdating of tax payments to avoid interest penalties.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
-
More likely the difference was in the turnover column – 15 for the Lakers, which led to 18 Houston points, including several errors that seemed careless and one sequence early in the fourth quarter at the offensive end in which the ball was flying all over the place.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Feeling restless and reckless, Michael (LJ Benet) is drawn to a hard-rocking local band that is secretly a quartet of young vampires that is literally sucking the life out of the community.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The vast majority of drivers stop speeding after one or two camera violations, but a small and extremely reckless group of super speeders flagrantly endanger themselves and everyone around them.—
Mike Flynn,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Flameless induction cooking ranges, waste management and composting, oil purifying machines—all part of a large attempt to make luxury a little less wasteful.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Some conservative politicians have pushed to defund NPR and PBS for reasons ranging from concerns of bias to wasteful spending.—
Corey Hutchins,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But virtually eliminating arts and culture funding is shortsighted due to the return on investment those grants provide in the form of resident and tourist spending.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
What’s frugal at $10 million can become shortsighted at $100 million.—
Samuel Mueller,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Derby fashion became even bigger, more extravagant, and brighter.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Figures move across these planes in extravagant silhouette, heads tilted just so, fingers stiffly splayed and elbows akimbo.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Improvident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvident. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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