improvident

I1M3P3R1O1V4I1D2E1N1T1
/ɪmˈpɹɒvɪdənt/

adjective

failing to provide for the future; reckless

Similar
myopicshortwastefulimprudentthriftlessshortsightedunforesightfulunforethoughtful
Opposite
provident
OriginLatin improvidens →
RareScrabble 19
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Meanings

adjectiveimprovident (comparative more improvident, superlative most improvident)

comparative more improvident · superlative most improvident

  1. failing to provide for the future; reckless

    When Benjamin Bunny grew up, he married his Cousin Flopsy. They had a large family, and they were very improvident and cheerful.

    1909, Beatrix Potter, The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies
  2. incautious; prone to rashness

    Synonyms: myopic, short, wasteful, imprudent, thriftless

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveincautious; prone to rashness

Similar
myopicshortwastefulimprudentthriftless
Opposite
provident

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivenot provident; not providing for the future

Similar
shortshortsightedunforesightfulthriftlessunforethoughtful
Opposite
provident

adjectivenot given careful consideration

Similar
ill-consideredill-judgedshortsightedimprudent
Also see
extravagantill-consideredill-judgedimprudentlavishloose-handedmyopicprodigalprofligateshortthriftlessunforethoughtfulwasteful

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinimprovidens
  2. Englishimprovident

From the Latin improvidens, equivalent to in- + provident.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian непредвидлив
  • непредвидлив (nepredvidliv)failing to provide for the future
Chinese Cantonese 揮霍嘅 /挥霍嘅
  • 揮霍嘅 /挥霍嘅 (fai¹ fok³)failing to provide for the future
Irish neamhchríonna
  • neamhchríonnafailing to provide for the future
Polish nieprzezorny, lekkomyślny
  • nieprzezornyfailing to provide for the future
  • lekkomyślnyfailing to provide for the future
Slovak neprezieravý
  • neprezieravýfailing to provide for the future
Cite this entry
APA

improvident. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/improvident

MLA

“improvident.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/improvident. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “improvident,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/improvident.

Source: improvident on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.