Profligates are people who are excessively wasteful and immoral in their behavior. The term can be broken down into two crossword solutions: ROUES (5 letters) and wastrels (8 letters). ROUES is a French term for a person who is dissolute and debauched, while wastrels are people who squander their money and resources. Together, these two words describe someone who is recklessly extravagant and morally irresponsible.