GRE Appendix C - Common GRE- Level Words in Context

Abate

As the hurricane's force ABATED, the winds dropped and the sea became calm

To reduce in amount, degree, or severity

Abscond

The patron ABSCONDED from the restaurant without paying his bill sneaking out the back door

To leave secretly

Abstain

She ABSTAINED from choosing a mouthwatering dessert from the tray

To choose not to do something

Abyss

The submarine dove into the ABYSS to chart the previously unseen depths

An extremely deep hole

Adulterate

The chef made his ketchup last longer by ADULTERATING it with water

To make impure

Aesthetic

Followers of the AESTHETIC movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only true purpose of art

Concerning the appreciation of beauty

Aggrandize

The supervisor sought to AGGRANDIZE herself by claiming that the achievements of her staff were actually her own

To increase in power, influence, and influence

Alleviate

Taking aspirin helps to ALLEVIATE a headache

To make more bearable

Amalgamate

Giant Industries AMALGAMATED with Mega Products to form Giant-Mega Products Incorporated.

to combine; to mix together

Ambiguous

The directions she gave were so AMBIGUOUS that we disagreed on which way to turn

Doubtful or uncertain; able to interpreted several ways

Ameliorate

The doctor was able to AMELIORATE the patient's suffering using painkillers

To make better; to improve

Anachronism

The aged hippie used ANACHRONISTIC phases, like "groovy" and "far out", that had not been popular for years

Something out of place in time

Analogous

In the Newtonian construct for explaining the existence of God, the universe is ANALOGOUS to mechanical timepiece, the creation of a divinely intelligent "clock maker".

Similar or alike in some way; equivalent to

Anomaly

the near-boiling river in Peru called Shanaytimpishka is a geological ANOMALY: it is the only naturally heated body of water that is not heated by its proximity to a volcano

Deviation from what is normal

Antagonize

The child discovered that he could ANTAGONIZE the cat by pulling its tail

To annoy or provoke to anger

Antipathy

The ANTIPATHY between the French and the English regularly erupted into open warfare

Extreme dislike

Apathy

The APATHY of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually bother to do so

lack of interest or emotion

Arbitrate

Since the couple could not come to an agreement, a judge was forced to ARBITRATE their divorce proceedings

To judge a dispute between two opposing parties

Archaic

Her ARCHAIC commodore computer could not run the latest software

Ancient, old-fashioned

Ardor

Bishop's ARDOR for the landscape was evident when he passionately described the beauty of the scenic Hudson Valley

Intense and passionate feeling

Articulate

She is such an ARTICULATE defender of labor that unions are among her strongest supports

Able to speak clearly and expressively

Assuage

Serena used aspirin to ASSUAGE her pounding headache

To make something unpleasant less severe

Attenuate

The Bill of Rights ATTENUATED the traditional power of governments to change laws at will

To reduce in force or degree; to weaken

Audacious

Her AUDACIOUS nature allowed her to fulfill her dream of skydiving

Fearless and daring

Austere

The lack of decoration makes the military barracks seem AUSTERE to the civilian eye

Severe or stern in appearance; undecorated

Banal

He used BANAL phrases like "have a nice day" and "another day, another dollar."

Predictable, cliched, boring

Bolster

The presence of giant footprints BOLSTERED the argument that Sasquatch was in the area

To support; to prop up

Bobmbastic

The ranting of the radio talk-show host was mostly BOMBASTIC; his boating and outrageous claims had no basis in fact

Pompous in speech and manner

Cacophony

The junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable CACOPHONY as they tried to tune their instruments

Harsh, jarring noise

Candid

The observation of a child can be charming since they are CANDID and unpretentious

Impartial and honest in speech

Capricious

Queen Elizabeth I was quite CAPRICIOUS; her courtiers could never be sure which of their number would catch her fancy

Changing one's mind quickly and often

Castigate

Many Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in Singapore CASTIGATE perpetrators of what would be considered minor crimes in the United States

To punish or criticize harshly

Catalyst

The imposition of harsh taxes was the CATALYST that finally brought on the revolution

Something that brings about a change in something else

Caustic

Dorothy Parker gained her reputation for CAUSTIC wit from her cutting, yet clever, insults

Biting in wit

Chaos

In many religious traditions, God created an ordered universe from CHAOS

Great disorder or confusion

Chauvinist

The attitude that men are inherently superior to women and therefore must be obeyed is common among male CHAUVINIST

Some prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs

Chicanery

Dishonest used car salespeople often use CHICANERY to sell their beat up old cars

Deception by means of craft or guile

Cogent

Swayed by the COGENT argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant

Convincing and well reasoned

Condone

Some theorists believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as CONDONING an air of lawlessness

To overlook, pardon, or disregard

Convoluted

Although many people bought the professor's book, few people could follow its CONVOLUTED ideas and theories.

Intricate and complicated

Corroborate

Fingerprints CORROBORATED the witness's testimony that he saw the defendant in the victims apartment

To provide supporting evidence

Credulous

Although some four-year-olds believe in the Easter Bunny, only the most CREDULOUS nine-year-olds also believe in him.

Too trusting; gullible

Crescendo

The CRESCENDO of tension became unbearable as Evel Knievel prepared to jump his motorcycle

Steadily increasing volume or force

Decorum

The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the DECORUM appropriate for a visit to the palace

Appropriateness of behavior or conduct propriety

Deference

The respectable young law clerk treated the supreme court justice with the utmost DEFERENCE

respect, courtesy

Deride

The awkward child was often DERIDED by his "cooler" peers

To speak of or treat with contempt; to mock

Desiccate

After a few weeks of lying on the desert's baking sands, the cow's carcass became completely DESICCATED.

to dry out thoroughly

Desultory

Diane had a DESULTORY academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in 3 years

Jumping from one thing to another; disconnected

Diatribe

The trucker bellowed a DIATRIBE at the driver who had cut him off.

an abusive, condemnatory speech

Diffident

Steve's DIFFIDENT manner during the job interview stemmed from his nervous nature and lack of experience in the field.

Lack self confidence

Dilate

When you enter a dark room, the pupils of your eyes DILATE to let in more light

To make larger; to expand

Dilatory

The congressman used DILATORY measures to delay the passage of the bill

Intended to delay

Dilettante

Jerry's friends were such DILETTANTES that they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week.

Someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic

Dirge

Melville wrote the poem "A DIRGE for James McPherson" for the funeral of a Union general who was killed in 1864.

A funeral hymn or mournful speech

Disabuse

Galileo's observations DISABUSED scholars of the notion that the Sun revolved around the earth

To set right; to free from error

Discern

It is easy to DISCERN the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping.

To perceive; to recognize

Disparate

Although the twins appear to be identical physically, their personalities are DISPARATE.

Fundamentally different; entirely unlike

Dissemble

The villain could DISSEMBLE to the police no longer -- he admitted the deed and tore up the floor to reveal the body of the old man

to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character

Dissonance

Cognitive DISSONANCE is the inner conflict produced when long-standing beliefs are contradicted by new evidence.

A harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds

Dogma

Linus's central DOGMA was that children who believed in the Great Pumpkin would be rewarded.

a firmly held opinion, often a religious belief

Dogmatic

The dictator was DOGMATIC - he, and only he, was right.

Dictatorial in one's opinions

Dupe

Bugs Bunny was able to DUPE Elmer Fudd by dressing up as a lady rabbit

To deceive; a person who is easily deceived

Eclectic

Budapest's architecture is an ECLECTIC mix of Eastern and Western styles.

Selecting from or made up from a variety of sources

Efficacy

The Efficacy of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced; the drug completely eliminated almost all bacterial infections for which is was administered

Effectiveness

Elegy

Although Thomas Gray's "ELEGY Written in a Country Churchyard" is about death and loss, it urges its readers to endure this life and to trust in spirituality.

A sorrowful poem or speech

Eloquent

The Gettysburg address is moving not only because of its loft sentiments but also because of its ELOQUENT words

persuasive and moving, especially in speech

Emulate

The graduate student sought to EMULATE his professor in every way, copying not only how she taught but also how she conducted herself outside of class.

To copy; to try to equal or excel

Enervate

The guerrillas hoped a series of surprise attacks would ENERVATE the regular army

To reduce in strengths

Engender

His fear and hatred of clowns was ENGENDERED when he witnessed the death of his father at the hands of a clown.

to produce, cause or bring about

Enigma

Speaking in riddles and dressed in old robes, the artist gained a reputation as something of an ENIGMA

a puzzle; a mystery

Enumerate

Moses returned form the mountain with tablets on which the commandments were ENUMERATED

to count, list, or itemize

Ephemeral

The lives of mayflies seem EPHEMERAL to us, since the flies' average life span is a matter of hours.

Lasting a short time

Equivocal

Asked a pointed question, the politicians nevertheless gave an Equivocal answer

Open to more than one interpretation; misleading

Equivocate

When faced with criticism of her policies, the politician EQUIVOCATED and left all parties thinking she agreed with them

to use expression of double meaning in order to mislead

Erratic

The plot seemed predictable until it suddenly took a series of ERRATIC turns that surprised the audience

Wandering and unpredictable

Erudite

The annual meeting of philosophy professors was a gathering of the most ERUDITE , well-published individuals in the field

learned, scholarly, bookish

Esoteric

Only a handful of experts are knowledgeable about the ESOTERIC world of particle physics

Known or understood by only a few

Estimable

Most people consider it ESTIMABLE that Mother Teresa spent her life helping the poor of India.

Admirable

Eulogy

His best friend gave the EULOGY, outlining his many achievements and talents.

Speech in praise of someone

Euphemism

The funeral director preferred to use the EUPHEMISM "sleeping" instead of the word "dead"

use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one

Exacerbate

It is unwise to take aspirin to try to relieve heartburn; instead of providing relief, the drug will only EXACERBATE the problem.

To make worse

Exculpate

The adversarial legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and to EXCULPATE those who are innocent

To clear from blame; prove innocent

Exigent

The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was EXIGENT to stop the source of the bleeding

urgent: requiring immediate action

Exonerate

The fugitive was EXONERATED when another criminal confessed to committing the crime

To clear of blame

Explicit

The owner of the house left a list of EXPLICIT instructions detailing their house sitter's duties, including a schedule for watering the plants

Clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression

Fanatical

The stormtroppers were FANATICAL in their devotion to the emperor, readily sacrificing their lives for him

Acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion

Fawn

The understudy fawned over the director in hopes of being cast in part on a permanent basis

To grovel

Fervid

The fans of Maria Callas were unusually FERVID, doing anything to catch a glimpse of the great opera singer

Intensely emotional; feverish

Florid

The palace had been decorated in a FLORID style; every surface had been carved an gilded

Excessively decorated or embellished

Foment

The protesters tried to FOMENT feeling against the war through their speeches and demonstrations

To arouse or incite

Frugality

Scrooge McDuck's FRUGALITY was so great that he accumulated enough wealth to fill a giant storehouse with money

A tendency to be thrifty or cheap

Garrulous

The GARRULOUS parakeet distracted its owner with its continuous talking

Tending to talk a lot

Gregarious

She was so GREGARIOUS that when she found herself alone, she felt quite sad.

Outgoing, sociable

Guile

Since he was not fast enough to catch the roadrunner on foot, the coyote resorted to GUILE in an effort to trap his enemy

Deceit or trickery

Gullible

The con man pretended to be a bank officer so as to fool GULLIBLE bank customers into giving him their account information.

Easily deceived

Homogeneous

The class was fairly HOMOGENEOUS, since almost all of the students were senior journalism majors

Of a similar kind

Iconoclast

His lack of regard for traditional beliefs soon established him as an ICONOCLAST

One who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions

Imperturbable

The counselor had so much experience dealing with distraught children that she seemed IMPERTURBABLE, even when faced with the wildest tantrums

Not capable of being disturbed

Impervious

A good raincoat will be IMPERVIOUS to moisture

impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected

Impetuous

It is not good for an investment broker to be IMPETUOUS, since much thought should be given to all the possible options

quick to act without thinking