Which one of the following alternatives gives the correct synonym of the word ‘Prodigal’?

The correct answer is D. Prodigal means spending money or resources recklessly and wastefully, and extravagant means spending more than is needed or sensible. The parable of the Prodigal Son, who squandered his inheritance, is the classic illustration of the word.

• Fair means just, pale-skinned, or beautiful. None of these carries the idea of wasteful spending.
• Economical is the opposite of prodigal. It means thrifty and careful with money.
• Neglectral is not a valid English word. The intended word is probably neglectful, meaning careless or failing in duty, which is a different idea from wasteful spending.

The core concept is vocabulary built through connotation, not just dictionary definition. For UPPSC, such synonym questions test whether you can match a word to its exact sense, and precise vocabulary helps in Mains essay writing and precis work as well.

Trap: Do not confuse prodigal with prodigious (enormous or extraordinary) or prodigy (a gifted person). The similar sound misleads many candidates, but the meanings are unrelated.