The correct answer is option (B):
Preserve
The correct answer is preserve. The word "squander" means to waste something, especially money or resources, in a reckless and foolish manner. It implies using something up without a good return or benefit.
The antonym of "squander" is "preserve." To preserve something means to keep it safe from harm or decay, to maintain it in its existing state, or to protect it from loss or destruction. Preserving is the opposite of wasting.
Let's look at why the other options are not the best antonyms:
* Depart: To leave or go away. While departure can sometimes involve a loss (like leaving behind resources), it doesn't directly oppose the wasteful act of squandering.
* Forfeit: To lose or be deprived of something as a penalty for wrongdoing or because of a failure to do something. This is a form of loss, but not necessarily a wasteful one, and the cause is different from squandering.
* Fortify: To strengthen something. While related to protection, it doesn't directly address the concept of avoiding waste.
* Destroy: To ruin or demolish something completely. This is a strong negative action, similar to the consequences of squandering, not its opposite. Squandering can lead to destruction, but they are not antonyms.