GRE verbal

abound

be present in large quantities

• proliferate, thrive, flourish

amorphous

lacking structure, unclear

• shapeless, indefinite, vague

austere

(of a person) stern in character; (of a place) lacking luxury, very harsh

• harsh, dour, grim; spartan, ascetic, abstemious

belie

give a false impression, mask

• conceal, contradict, be at odds with

capricious

having varying moods, fickle

• mercurial, volatile, implusive

cerebral

related to the brain; (of a person) intellectual

• neurological, analytical, academic

congenial

likable and friendly, often due to shared interests

• convival, kindred, pleasant

conspicuous

easily noticed, obvious

• manifest, patent, striking

cursory

lacking effort, without care

• desultory, perfunctory, token

daunting

scary, frightening; (of a task) seemingly impossible

• formidable, intimidating, unnerving

deify

to look up to someone or something like a god

• venerate, exalt

didactic

meant for teaching, sometimes in a condescending way

• instructive, doctrinal, pedagogic

disseminate

distribute or circulate broadly

• disperse, promulgate, propogate

feasible

practical, likely to be achieved

• attainable, realizable, expedient

flout

break a rule without guilt

• defy, scorn, contravene

homogenous

composed of similar parts, alike

• uniform, analogous

humdrum

boring

• mundane, banal, prosaic

insipid

without flavor or energy

• bland, dull, vapid

loquacious

likely to talk a lot, wordy

• garrulous, voluble, verbose

misanthropic

having a distaste for humans and society

• reclusive, antisocial

misnomer

a misleading or inaccurate name

negligent

lacking care or attention

• lax, neglectful

obsequious

excessively submissive to authority

• servile, sycophantic, unctuous

placate

decrease someone’s anger or annoyance

• pacify, mollify, conciliate

puerile

immature, childish

• infantile, juvenile, inane

quixotic

excessively visionary, unfeasible

• idealistic, utopian, nonviable

spendthrift

someone who spends money recklessly

• profligate, prodigal, squanderer

taciturn

of few words, saying little

• unforthcoming, reserved

wary

cautious, careful

• chary, vigilant

adulterate

damage the quality of, corrupt

• defile, taint, debase

advocate

to support, be in favor of

• champion, proponent, endorse

aggrandize

to enhance one’s power or standing

• embellish, augment, elevate

alacrity

eagerness to do something

• zeal, haste, ardor

ambivalent

having conflicting emotions, unsure

• irresolute, vacillating

ameliorate

improve a bad feeling or situation

• ease, mitigate, relieve

amenable

receptive to change, open

• acquiescent, compliant, tractable

anachronistic

of the wrong time or era

• archaic, antiquated

avaricious

greedy

• acquisitive, rapacious

banal

unoriginal and dull, lacking creativity

• trite, platitudinous, vapid

benign

harmless, having little effect; (of a person) kindhearted

• innocuous, gentle, congenial

brazen

shameless and excessively forward

• presumptuous, brash, unabashed

calumny

slander and defamation

• libel, obloquy, denigration

candid

honest

• blunt, forthright, frank

castigate

to scold someone harshly

• rebuke, lambast, berate

caustic (2)

(of a person) hostile and bitter; (of a chemical) corrosive and acidic

• derisive, scathing; stinging, acrid

construe

to understand something subjectively

• read, parse, decode

contrite

feeling regretful or guilty

• repentant, rueful, chastened

convoluted

difficult to understand or follow

• serpentine, tortuous, Byzantine

covet

strongly desire or yearn for

• ache for, hanker for

craven

lacking bravery, weak-kneed

• quaking, timid

decorum

politeness, proper behavior

• propriety, decency, deportment

deft

highly proficient or skilled

• adroit, dexterous

demur

hesitate or object, express doubt

• cavil, dissent, take issue with

derivative

based on someone else’s work

• trite, imitative, hackneyed

desiccate

dry out, remove all moisture

• dehydrate, drain, parch

diatribe

an angry rant

• tirade, harangue, denunciation

incredulous

doubtful, disbelieving

• dubious, unconvinced, suspicious

ingenuous

naive, lacking experience

• green, unworldly

abate

decrease in intensity, lessen

abjure

strongly reject (an idea), forgo

anomalous

differing from what is normal, atypical

antipathy

profound hostility or hatred

arcane

comprehended by very few people, secret

arduous

very challenging, needing great effort

artless

naive, inexperienced

ascetic

(of a lifestyle) very strict and lacking luxury

assuage

decrease a negative feeling or fulfill a certain desire

betray

unknowingly disclose or reveal

bucolic

associated with tranquil rural life

burgeon

quickly grow or increase

cacophonous

extremely noisy

canonize

treat like a god, deeply revere

censure

strongly criticize or disapprove of

chicanery

using deception to attain a certain goal

coalesce

bring elements together, unite

cogent

persuasive and clear, compelling

contend

argue a certain point of view, assert

copious

existing in great supply, abundant

cosmopolitan

(of a city) highly diverse; (of a person) sophisticated and urbane

deference

high regard and respect, esteem

desultory

unplanned and without enthusiasm

diffident

reserved or shy, without confidence

dilatory

slow and unhurried, meant to stall

equivocate

speak evasively or dishonestly, avoid taking a stance

polarize

separate into two opposing groups

prodigal

carelessly wasteful, extravagant

verbose

excessively talkative and wordy

abstain

avoid taking part in something

approbation

appreciation toward someone

cherish

greatly love or protect something

corroborate

lend support to, bolster

disparate

different or contrasting

emulate

imitate someone or something

enervate

sap the energy out of someone, fatigue

ephemeral

extremely shortlasting

fervid

excessively energetic or eager

garrulous

tending to talk too much, verbose

incendiary

provocative, causing conflict

inimical

damaging, hostile in matter or tone

intimate

subtly suggest or imply