improvident

[ im-prov-i-duhnt ]

adjective

1. not provident; lacking foresight; incautious; unwary.

   Synonyms: heedless, imprudent, careless, thoughtless

   Antonyms: prudent

2. neglecting to provide for future needs.

   Synonyms: unthrifty, prodigal, wasteful, thriftless, shiftless

   Antonyms: economical

improvident

/ ɪmˈprɒvɪdənt /

adjective

1. not provident; thriftless, imprudent, or prodigal
2. heedless or incautious; rash

Derived Forms

• imˈprovidently, adverb
• imˈprovidence, noun

Other Words From

• im·provi·dence noun
• im·provi·dent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of improvident¹

First recorded in 1505–15; im- ² + provident

Example Sentences

In two seasons of “Sex and the City” and in brief cameos later, including in the improvident Arabian fantasia “Sex and the City 2,” Corbett, 62, played Aidan Shaw, a hunky furniture maker and the on-again, off-again, engaged to, off-again, still mostly off-again love interest of Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw.

From New York Times

“They’re saying, ‘You’re making an improvident business decision that potentially undermines your ability to compete effectively.’

From New York Times

It is hard to see this dismissal — leaving the Justice Department case to languish in the plainly hostile 5th Circuit while the Texas law remains in effect — as anything but an “improvident” lack of respect for the Justice Department and the height of judicial arrogance.

From Washington Post

She did quit her job to take care of him, but they were improvident and did not buy long-term care insurance.

From Washington Post

Why is a baker a most improvident person?

From Salon