GRE Vocab Set - 2

adulterate

render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance.

advocate

a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.

aggrandize

increase the power, status, or wealth of.

alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness.

ambivalent

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

ameliorate

make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.

amenable

open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled.

anachronistic

belonging to a period other than that being portrayed.

audacious

1. showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks. 2. showing an impudent lack of respect.

avaricious

having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

banal

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.

benign

1. gentle and kind. 2. not harmful to the environment.

brazen

bold and without shame.

calumny

the making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation; slander.

candid

truthful and straightforward; frank.

castigate

reprimand (someone) severely.

caustic

1. sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way. 2. able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action.

construe

interpret (a word or action) in a particular way.

contrite

feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong.

convoluted

1. (especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow. 2. intricately folded, twisted, or coiled.

covet

yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another).

craven

contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly.

decorum

behaviour in keeping with good taste and propriety.

deft

neatly skilful and quick in one's movements.

demur

raise objections or show reluctance.

derivative

1. something which is based on another source. 2. imitative of the work of another artist, writer, etc., and usually disapproved of for that reason.

desiccate

remove the moisture from (something); cause to become completely dry.

diatribe

a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.

incredulous

(of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something.

ingenuous

(of a person or action) innocent and unsuspecting.