ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)Word Knowledge (WK)Hard

Which word is an antonym for <b>prodigal</b>?

  1. Athrifty
  2. Bextravagant
  3. Cwasteful
  4. Dlavish
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A. thrifty

The word 'prodigal' means spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant. Therefore, 'thrifty,' meaning using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully, is its antonym.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. 'Extravagant' is a synonym for prodigal.
  • C. 'Wasteful' is a synonym for prodigal.
  • D. 'Lavish' is a synonym for prodigal, meaning sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious.

Prodigal

Spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.

  • Implies excessive and imprudent spending.
  • Often associated with the biblical 'prodigal son'.
  • Can also refer to giving or generating something on a lavish scale.

Memory trick: Prodigal people 'prodigally' waste money; the opposite is 'thrifty' saving.

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