In the following question on English vocabulary, choose the word which best expresses the meaning of the given word “PROFLIGATE”.

Introduction / Context:
This is a synonym-based vocabulary question. You are asked to choose the word that is closest in meaning to “profligate”. Such words often appear in editorials and advanced reading passages, so learning them is important for both competitive exams and general English comprehension. Understanding “profligate” helps you interpret descriptions of people who spend excessively or behave in a morally careless way.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: “PROFLIGATE”.
• Options include: TALKATIVE, INTELLIGENT, UNCONVENTIONAL, WASTEFUL, and GENEROUS.
• We must choose the option closest in meaning to “profligate”.
• We assume the typical exam usage describing spending habits or lifestyle.

Concept / Approach:
The word “profligate” usually refers to someone who is recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources, especially money. It can also imply a lack of moral restraint. Among the given options, “wasteful” most directly reflects this idea of careless, excessive spending or using resources without thought. The other options either describe unrelated traits (like being talkative or intelligent) or are too positive or neutral in tone.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the usual meaning of “profligate” as reckless and extravagant. Step 2: Connect it with contexts such as “a profligate lifestyle” or “profligate spending by the government”. Step 3: Compare with “wasteful”, which means using resources foolishly or extravagantly. Step 4: Check other options: “talkative” relates to speaking a lot, “intelligent” to mental ability, “unconventional” to not following norms, and “generous” to kindness or willingness to give. Step 5: Conclude that only “wasteful” truly matches the financial and resource-related aspect of “profligate”.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify the meaning by placing “profligate” and “wasteful” in similar sentences: “His profligate habits drained his savings” is very close to “His wasteful habits drained his savings”. On the other hand, replacing it with “talkative” or “intelligent” makes no sense, which confirms that they are not synonyms. Dictionaries also define “profligate” as “recklessly extravagant or wasteful”, supporting our conclusion.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“TALKATIVE” refers to someone who speaks a lot, which has no direct connection with wasteful spending.
“INTELLIGENT” describes mental ability or smartness and is not related to extravagance or moral looseness.
“UNCONVENTIONAL” suggests being different from usual practices, but this may be positive, neutral, or negative and does not specifically mean wasteful.
“GENEROUS” involves being kind and willing to give, often seen as a positive trait, not necessarily reckless or irresponsible.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to misinterpret “profligate” as “generous” because both may involve giving or spending. However, “generous” implies thoughtful kindness, while “profligate” suggests careless, excessive, and often irresponsible use of resources. Another pitfall is selecting a word simply because it sounds sophisticated. Always focus on meaning, not appearance or sound of the word.

Final Answer:
The word that best expresses the meaning of “profligate” is “wasteful”.