Which word means 'lavish, wasteful'?

• A. Pristine
• B. Prodigal
• C. Proliferate
• D. Propriety

Answer: (B)

Recognizing a word meaning lavish and wasteful. Prodigal describes spending or using resources extravagantly and carelessly, with little regard for conserving them, which captures the sense of lavish excess implied by the clue. Its connotation is often tied to wastefulness, as in prodigal spending or a prodigal lifestyle. The other options don’t fit: pristine means perfectly clean and untouched; proliferate means to multiply rapidly; propriety refers to correctness or decorum. So prodigal is the best fit for “lavish, wasteful.”