GRE Vocab Practice

abound

be present in large quantities

amorphous

lacking structure; unclear

austere

(of a person) strict and stern in character

belie

give a false impression of; mask

capricious

having varying moods; fickle

cerebral

related to the brain

congenial

(of a person) likable and friendly, often due to shared interests

conspicuous

easily noticed; obvious

cursory

lacking effort; without care

daunting

scary or frightening
(of a task) seeming impossible

deify

look up to someone or something as a god

didactic

meant for teaching; educational, sometimes in a condescending manner

disseminate

distribute or circulate broadly

feasible

likely to be achieved; practical

flout

break a rule without guilt

homogeneous

composed of similar parts; alike

humdrum

boring; unlikely to excite

insipid

without flavor; lacking energy

loquacious

likely to talk a lot; wordy

misanthropic

having a distaste for humans and society

misnomer

a misleading or inaccurate name

negligent

lacking care or attention

obsequious

excessively submissive to authority

placate

decrease someone’s anger or other negative emotion

proclivity

a fondness or liking for something

puerile

immature and childish

quixotic

excessively visionary; unfeasible

spendthrift

someone who spends money recklessly

taciturn

of few words; speaking little

wary

exercising caution; careful

adulterate

damage the quality of; corrupt

advocate

support; be in favor of

aggrandize

enhance one’s power or standing

alacrity

eagerness to do something

ambivalent

having conflicting emotions; unsure

ameliorate

improve a bad feeling or bad situation

amenable

(of a person) receptive to change; open

anachronistic

of the wrong time or era

audacious

bold; unafraid of risks

avaricious

greedy; always wanting more

banal

unoriginal and dull; lacking creativity

benign

harmless; having little effect

brazen

shameless and excessively forward

calumny

slander and defamation

candid

honest; without deception

castigate

scold someone harshly

caustic

(of speech) hostile and bitter

construe

understand something subjectively

contrite

feeling regretful or guilty

convoluted

difficult to understand or follow

covet

strongly desire; yearn for

craven

lacking bravery; weak-kneed

decorum

politeness and proper behavior

deft

highly proficient; skilled

demur

hesitate or object; express doubt

derivative

based on someone else’s work (often used in a negative sense)

desiccate

dry out; remove all moisture

diatribe

an angry rant; verbal abuse

incredulous

doubtful and disbelieving

ingenuous

naive and lacking experience

precedence

the condition of coming before something else; priority

omniscience

knowing everything

secure

safe, stable

precarious

unstable, uncertain, potentially dangerous

deceit

dishonesty or deliberate deception

acumen

keen judgement / sharp insight

shrewd

clever, perceptive, and practical

arcane

comprehended by very few people; secret

subjective

based on personal opinion or feelings

nettles

annoys; irritates

objurgation

criticize severely; scold

contemptuous

showing strong disrespect or scorn

potentous

signaling something important

antithetical

directly opposite; contrasting

contemporary

existing or happening at the same time; modern

elusive

difficult to find, understand, or achieve

ubiquitous

present or found everywhere

plastic

capable of being shaped or changed

vestigial

remnant of something no longer useful or functional

nascent

just beginning to develop or exist

flaccid

lacking firmness or strength

supine

lying face up; submissive

submissive

willing to obey or yield to others

abate

decrease in intensity; lessen

abjure

strongly reject (an idea); forgo

anomalous

differing from what is normal; atypical

antipathy

profound hostility or hatred

arduous

very challenging; needing great effort

artless

plain and simple; inexperienced; lacking skill

ascetic

(of a lifestyle) very strict and lacking luxury

assuage

decrease a negative feeling; fulfill a certain desire

betray

unknowingly disclose or reveal

bucolic

associated with tranquil rural life

burgeon

quickly increase or grow; skyrocket

cacophonous

extremely noisy; grating

canonize

treat like a god; deeply venerate

censure

strongly criticize or disapprove

chicanery

using deception to attain a certain goal

coalesce

bring elements together; unite

cogent

persuasive and clear; compelling