Choose the most appropriate antonym to replace the underlined word in the given sentence:
The team was lauded for making profligate use of scarce resources.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → parsimonious
Profligate means wasteful, spending money or resources carelessly. A team is not praised for wasting scarce resources, so the sentence needs the opposite word. Its antonym is parsimonious.
Example: His profligate spending left the family in debt.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) prodigal | spending money or resources wastefully (a synonym of profligate, not its opposite) | The prodigal son wasted all his father's money. |
| (2) parsimonious (answer) | extremely careful with money or resources, using as little as possible (the opposite of profligate) | The parsimonious old man never wasted a single rupee. |
| (3) imprudent | unwise, not thinking of the results (it is close to profligate in sense rather than opposite to it) | It was imprudent to drive in such heavy rain. |
| (4) profuse | plentiful, in large amounts (it says nothing about careful use) | He offered profuse apologies for his late arrival. |
| Synonyms of profligate: wasteful, extravagant, prodigal, spendthrift Antonyms of profligate: thrifty, frugal, parsimonious, economical Also asked in CUET (UG): profligate – 31-05-2026 Slot 2, 11-05-2026 Slot 2, 31-05-2025 Slot 1, 21-05-2025 Slot 2 prodigal – 12-05-2026 Slot 2, 11-05-2026 Slot 2, 29-05-2025 Slot 1, 24-05-2025 Slot 1, 21-05-2025 Slot 2 parsimonious – 21-05-2025 Slot 2 imprudent – 06-06-2026 Slot 1, 26-05-2025 Slot 1 profuse – 25-05-2026 Slot 2, 10-06-2023 Slot 3, 30-05-2023 Slot 2, 21-08-2022 Slot 1 |