GRE vocab list

The scientist publicly ______ her earlier claims after new evidence proved them entirely false.

Abjured — formally renounced or rejected

synonyms: repudiated, disavowed, recanted

Despite months of failed experiments, the researcher remained ______ that the new drug would eventually work.

Sanguine — optimistic, hopeful

synonyms: confident, bullish, positive

The agency ______ strict new safety regulations, making them binding for every laboratory in the state.

Promulgated — officially announced or made public

synonyms: proclaimed, issued, disseminated

The committee deemed the proposal ______ to public welfare, noting it would increase contamination rather than reduce it.

Inimical — harmful or hostile

synonyms: adverse, damaging, antagonistic

Weeks of nonstop fieldwork left the researchers in a state of deep ______, barely able to stay awake during the briefing.

Lassitude — extreme fatigue or lack of energy

synonyms: exhaustion, weariness, lethargy

The film’s dialogue was filled with ______, offering nothing fresh or memorable to the audience.

Banality — trite or boring ordinariness

synonyms: cliché, platitude, dullness

His ______ reply—just “fine”—made it clear he didn’t want to continue the conversation.

Laconic — using very few words

synonyms: terse, curt, concise

She was so ______ that she made friends within minutes at every conference she attended.

Gregarious — sociable and fond of company

synonyms: outgoing, convivial, friendly

The wildfire created an ______ need for evacuation, leaving residents only minutes to flee.

Exigent — urgent and requiring immediate action

synonyms: pressing, critical, imperative

His ______ decision to invest all his savings in a risky startup left him bankrupt within a year.

Impetuous — acting without thought

synonyms: rash, reckless, hasty

The historian dismissed the story as ______, noting that no records supported its dramatic claims.

Apocryphal — of doubtful authenticity

synonyms: spurious, dubious, questionable

Her ______ jokes about the solemn ceremony shocked the audience and were considered deeply inappropriate.

Irreverent — showing lack of respect for serious things

synonyms: disrespectful, flippant, impudent

The analyst’s theory was pure ______, unsupported by any data or documented trends.

Conjecture — speculation without firm evidence

synonyms: guess, hypothesis, supposition

The hospital added ______ services like counseling and nutrition support to strengthen patient care.

Ancillary — providing supplementary support

synonyms: auxiliary, supplemental, subordinate

The novelist was so ______ that she produced multiple award‑winning books in a single year.

Prolific — highly productive

synonyms: abundant, fertile, creative

His ______ spending on luxury vacations drained his savings far faster than he expected.

Profligate — recklessly wasteful

synonyms: extravagant, spendthrift, excessive

The data revealed a ______ contrast between the wealthiest families and those living in poverty.

Stark — sharply distinct or severe

synonyms: harsh, bleak, severe

He began to ______ around the conference room after receiving praise from the entire team.

Strut — walk with arrogant swagger

synonyms: swagger, parade, prance

The scandal threatened to ______ his reputation, undoing years of respected work.

Sully — to tarnish or defile

synonyms: stain, taint, besmirch

After hours of rude customers, the cashier grew increasingly ______ and difficult to approach.

Surly — rude and bad‑tempered

synonyms: irritable, gruff, ill‑tempered

Her agreement was ______, expressed only through a quiet nod rather than spoken words.

Tacit — understood without being stated

synonyms: implicit, unspoken, inferred

He chose to ______ when asked to support the plan, unwilling to publicly oppose it but not ready to agree.

Demur — to object or hesitate

synonyms: protest, balk, resist

The critic would often ______ amateur performers, mocking their efforts instead of offering guidance.

Deride — to ridicule or mock

synonyms: scorn, disparage, belittle

The professor’s strict ______ required students to follow every rule without exception.

Dictum — authoritative statement

synonyms: decree, command, pronouncement

The construction site was filled with constant ______, making it impossible to hear instructions.

Din — loud, persistent noise

synonyms: clamor, racket, uproar

The funeral procession moved slowly to the sound of a somber ______ played by the brass ensemble.

Dirge — a mournful song

synonyms: lament, elegy, requiem

She began to ______ nervously when asked to choose a side, unable to make a firm decision.

Dither — to hesitate or act indecisively

synonyms: vacillate, waver, falter

The leader insisted that everyone follow the organization’s strict ______ without questioning it.

Dogma — established beliefs accepted without criticism

synonyms: doctrine, ideology, tenet

His ______ sense of humor made even the most serious meetings unexpectedly entertaining.

Droll — funny in an odd way

synonyms: quirky, amusing, whimsical

The community’s ______ emphasized honesty and responsibility, shaping how people treated one another.

Ethos — guiding beliefs or character of a group

synonyms: values, principles, spirit

Her ______ standards demanded flawless work from every member of the team.

Exacting — extremely demanding

synonyms: strict, rigorous, precise

The team’s momentum began to ______ after weeks of setbacks and missed deadlines.

Flag — to weaken or decline

synonyms: dwindle, fade, wane

The ornate cathedral featured ______ decorations that overwhelmed some visitors.

Florid — excessively elaborate

synonyms: ornate, flamboyant, baroque

The rebellious students chose to ______ the dress code by wearing intentionally outrageous outfits.

Flout — to openly disregard

synonyms: defy, mock, scorn

Winning the competition was a complete ______, since she had entered on a whim and barely prepared.

Fluke — an unexpected stroke of luck

synonyms: accident, coincidence, chance

The hikers attempted to ______ the river at its narrowest point to reach the opposite bank.

Ford — to cross a river

synonyms: traverse, wade, cross

The debate erupted into a noisy ______ as both sides began shouting over one another.

Fracas — a loud quarrel or fight

synonyms: brawl, melee, uproar

His explanation sounded smooth but ______, revealing that he didn’t fully understand the topic.

Glib — fluent but insincere

synonyms: superficial, slick, shallow

The coach used the team’s rivalries to ______ them into working harder.

Goad — to provoke or urge

synonyms: spur, prod, incite

The contractor attempted to ______ the homeowner by charging far more than the agreed price.

Gouge — to overcharge or swindle

synonyms: cheat, extort, fleece

Corruption spread quickly as officials began to exchange favors through political ______.

Graft — bribery or corruption

synonyms: fraud, venality, dishonesty

The employees continued to ______ about the new policy, complaining even after it was revised.

Grouse — to complain

synonyms: grumble, protest, whine

Her charm masked a deep ______ that allowed her to manipulate others with ease.

Guile — cunning or deceit

synonyms: craftiness, trickery, duplicity

The seedlings proved surprisingly ______, surviving the harsh winter without damage.

Hardy — strong and resilient

synonyms: robust, sturdy, tough

He tried to ______ his bets by investing in several unrelated markets.

Hedge — to limit or protect against risk

synonyms: safeguard, buffer, minimize

The professor’s ______ theories were outdated, relying on ideas from decades earlier.

Hoary — ancient or old‑fashioned

synonyms: antiquated, venerable, timeworn

The issue was debated ______, with both sides arguing fiercely for hours.

Hotly — with strong intensity

synonyms: passionately, vehemently, fiercely

Her trust in him was ______, though never spoken aloud.

Implicit — implied without being stated

synonyms: unspoken, tacit, understood

The instructions were finally made ______ to everyone after the supervisor clarified each step.

Intelligible — able to be understood

synonyms: clear, comprehensible, lucid

The doctor explained the procedure in terms a ______ could understand.

Layperson — someone without specialized knowledge

synonyms: nonexpert, amateur, outsider

His attempt at humor added a moment of ______ to an otherwise tense meeting.

Levity — lightness or humor

synonyms: amusement, wit, cheer

The government planned to ______ additional taxes to fund the new infrastructure project.

Levy — to impose or collect

synonyms: charge, exact, assess

The crime scene was so ______ in mud and debris that investigators struggled to find any usable evidence.

Mired — stuck or entangled; synonyms: bogged down, trapped, ensnared

The comedian’s unexpected joke brought a moment of genuine ______ to the otherwise tense event.

Mirth — amusement or joy; synonyms: cheerfulness, laughter, glee

The community’s strict ______ dictated how people behaved, emphasizing modesty and restraint in all public interactions.

Mores — societal norms or customs; synonyms: traditions, conventions, practices

After the failed launch, the company found itself at the ______ of its reputation, struggling to regain trust.

Nadir — the lowest point; synonyms: bottom, rock‑bottom, trough

Her argument relied on a subtle ______ that changed the entire meaning of the passage.

Nuance — a slight or delicate distinction; synonyms: subtlety, shade, gradation

He chose to ______ during the meeting, offering his opinion only when directly asked.

Opine — to express an opinion; synonyms: suggest, declare, comment

The editor worked to ______ the lengthy manuscript, removing unnecessary details to improve clarity.

Pare — to trim or reduce; synonyms: cut down, whittle, diminish

The knight skillfully ______ the opponent’s blow, redirecting it with a swift movement.

Parried — deflected or warded off; synonyms: avoided, sidestepped, blocked

The flaw in the design was so ______ that even a novice could spot it immediately.

Patent — obvious or unmistakable; synonyms: evident, clear, apparent

Her devotion to the charity was deeply ______, rooted in her belief that helping others was a moral duty.

Pious — devoutly religious or virtuous; synonyms: reverent, devout, righteous

The explanation seemed ______ at first, but further questioning revealed several contradictions.

Plausible — appearing reasonable or believable; synonyms: credible, likely, convincing

The scientist chose to ______ that the phenomenon was caused by atmospheric changes.

Posit — to propose or assert; synonyms: suggest, hypothesize, claim

Her ______ approach to the problem focused on practical solutions rather than abstract theories.

Pragmatic — practical and realistic; synonyms: sensible, down‑to‑earth, utilitarian

The company moved quickly to ______ the competitor’s product by releasing its own version first.

Preempt — to act before someone else; synonyms: forestall, prevent, anticipate

Farmers hoped to ______ the benefits of their hard work during the upcoming harvest.

Reap — to gather or receive; synonyms: collect, harvest, obtain

The guests enjoyed a lavish ______ that included multiple courses and desserts.

Repast — a meal or feast; synonyms: banquet, spread, meal

After years of nonstop work, she longed for a quiet ______ in the countryside.

Repose — rest or relaxation; synonyms: tranquility, calm, peace

His determination to finish the project was ______, even when setbacks threatened to derail everything.

Resolve — firm determination; synonyms: willpower, commitment, tenacity

Rumors were ______ throughout the town, spreading faster than anyone could verify them.

Rife — widespread or abundant; synonyms: prevalent, common, overflowing

The evidence was too ______ to support the claim, leaving investigators with more questions than answers.

Scant — barely sufficient; synonyms: meager, sparse, inadequate

A sudden ______ of complaints overwhelmed the customer service department after the new policy was announced.

Spate — a large number or outburst; synonyms: surge, flood, wave

Her ______ for the cause drove her to volunteer every weekend and donate whenever possible.

Zeal — passionate enthusiasm; synonyms: fervor, devotion, ardor

His ______ tactics allowed him to negotiate deals that others thought impossible.

Wily — clever and cunning; synonyms: crafty, shrewd, sly

The coach’s speech helped ______ the team’s motivation before the final game.

Whet — to stimulate or sharpen; synonyms: rouse, excite, kindle

She tackled the project with surprising ______, completing tasks faster than anyone expected.

Vim — energy and enthusiasm; synonyms: vigor, vitality, pep

The speech felt ______, offering nothing new or insightful to the audience.

Trite — overused and unoriginal; synonyms: stale, clichéd, banal

The professor’s latest ______ was a dense, 800‑page analysis of ancient civilizations.

Tome — a large scholarly book; synonyms: volume, manuscript, opus

He acted like a ______, flattering the CEO constantly in hopes of receiving a promotion.

Toady — someone who flatters for personal gain; synonyms: sycophant, flatterer, bootlicker

Her angry ______ lasted nearly ten minutes, leaving everyone in the room stunned.

Tirade — a long, angry speech; synonyms: rant, outburst, diatribe

His ______ reply made it clear he had no interest in continuing the conversation.

Terse — brief and to the point; synonyms: curt, concise, succinct

The board agreed to ______ to the proposal after reviewing the supporting evidence.

Accede — to agree or give consent; synonyms: accept, comply, approve

She decided to attend the event, ______ she had little free time that week.

Albeit — although or even though; synonyms: though, even if, notwithstanding

His ______ personality made him easy to talk to and well‑liked by everyone.

Genial — friendly and pleasant; synonyms: warm, affable, amiable

The professor’s lecture covered an ______ topic that only specialists could fully understand.

Arcane — understood by few; synonyms: obscure, esoteric, mysterious

Her ______ support for the project inspired others to join the effort.

Ardent — passionate and enthusiastic; synonyms: fervent, eager, zealous

The journalist began to ______ the politician with pointed questions about the scandal.

Assail — to attack or criticize; synonyms: confront, challenge, assault

The ceremony had an ______ atmosphere, making everyone feel the weight of the moment.

August — majestic or dignified; synonyms: noble, grand, stately

His impressive ______ was evident in the way he explained complex theories with ease.

Erudition — deep scholarly knowledge; synonyms: learning, expertise, scholarship

The speaker’s ______ style overwhelmed the audience with unnecessary complexity.

Bombastic — overly inflated or pretentious; synonyms: grandiose, pompous, verbose

She was an ______ reader, finishing several books every week.

Avid — enthusiastic or passionate; synonyms: eager, devoted, fervent

He began to ______ when asked to take on additional responsibilities he didn’t want.

Balk — to hesitate or refuse; synonyms: resist, recoil, object

The film was criticized for its ______ plot, which offered nothing new or engaging.

Banal — boringly predictable; synonyms: trite, commonplace, dull

The new policy proved to be the ______ of the organization, causing widespread frustration.

Bane — a source of great harm; synonyms: curse, ruin, scourge

Her calm tone helped ______ the rumor that she was leaving the company.

Belie — to contradict or misrepresent; synonyms: disguise, distort, negate

His natural ______ for mathematics made advanced concepts easy for him to grasp.

Bent — a personal inclination or tendency; synonyms: leaning, propensity, talent

Her ______ comments focused so much on minor details that the main point was lost.

Pedantic — overly concerned with rules or details; synonyms: nitpicky, meticulous, fussy

His ______ tone made it clear he expected everyone to obey without question.

Imperious — domineering or commanding; synonyms: authoritative, overbearing, dictatorial

The essay was so ______ that readers struggled to follow the main argument.

Verbose — using too many words; synonyms: wordy, long‑winded, rambling