Basic Details
Word: Prudent
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Sensible and careful, especially in thinking ahead to avoid risks or problems.
Synonyms: sensible, wise, careful, cautious
Antonyms: rash, reckless, imprudent, foolish
Word origin: From Latin prudens, a shortened form of providens, foreseeing.
How to Spell Prudent
Syllables: pru - dent
Tricky part: It ends in ent, not ant, and there is no o after the r. Students write prudant or proudent.
Watch out for: prudant, proudent, prudient
Memory tip: A prudent student never gets a DENT in the bicycle: pru + dent. Careful riders avoid dents.
Usage Examples
Example 1: It would be prudent to carry an umbrella in July.
Example 2: Ananya made the prudent choice of starting her project early.
Example 3: A prudent driver slows down near schools and markets.
Fun Fact
The opposite takes im, not in, because the word starts with p: imprudent, just like impossible and impatient.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the prefix im to make its opposite. Choose it:
im
a) honest
b) friendly
c) prudent
d) kind
Show answer
c) prudent. Imprudent means unwise; the other three take dis or un: dishonest, unfriendly and unkind.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
pruedent
a) e
b) d
c) n
d) u
Show answer
a) e. After pru comes the d straight away; the e squeezed in before the d is the extra one.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word prudent as used in the sentence:
With exams next week, it would be prudent to stop watching cartoons every evening.
a) exciting
b) foolish
c) unusual
d) sensible
Show answer
d) sensible. Prudent advice is sensible advice; foolish points in the other direction.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A prudent shopper is most likely to ____.
a) buy the first thing seen
b) compare prices before buying
c) lose the shopping list
d) spend all the money at once
Show answer
b) compare prices before buying
2. An unwise, risky choice is the opposite of a prudent one. Which word describes it?
a) sensible
b) careful
c) reckless
d) wise
Show answer
c) reckless
