Top GRE Vocab Words

anomaly

something that is unusual or unexpected

equivocal

not easily understood or explained

lucid

very clear and easy to understand

precipitate

to cause (something) to happen quickly or suddenly

assuage

to make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense

erudite

having or showing great knowledge

opaque

not able to be seen through; not easily understood

prodigal

wastefully extravagant

enigma

a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand

fervid

intensely enthusiastic or passionate

placate

to make (someone) less angry or hostile

zeal

a strong feel of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something

abstain

to restrain oneself for doing or enjoying something

audacious

-(adj.) a willingness to take bold risks

-(adj.) showing a lack of respect

desiccate

remove the moisture from (something)

gullible

easily persuaded to believe something

laudable

deserving praise and commendation

pedant

a person who makes an excessive display of learning

vacillate

to waver between different opinions or actions

adulterate

to make (something) impure or weaker by adding something of inferior quality

capricious

given to sudden changes of mood or behavior

engender

to produce, cause, or give rise to (something)

homogenous

of the same or similar kind

loquacious

tending to talk a great deal

pragmatic

dealing with the problems that exist in a reasonable and logical way instead of depending on theories

volatile

likely to change rapidly and unpredictably

apathy

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

corroborate

to confirm or make more certain

ephemeral

lasting for a very short time

laconic

using few words

mitigate

make less severe, serious, or painful

propriety

the state or quality of being correct or proper

advocate

publicly recommend or support

cacophony

a harsh, unpleasant mixture of sounds

enervate

cause (someone or something) to feel drained of energy; weaken

ingenuous

innocent and unsuspecting

misanthrope

a person who dislikes humankind

paradox

a statement that contradicts itself but might be true

venerate

regard with great respect

antipathy

a strong feeling of dislike

deride

to express contempt for; ridicule

eulogy

a speech that praises someone, typically some who has recently died

lethargic

lacking energy

obdurate

stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion

philanthropic

seeking to promote the welfare of others

waver

to go back and forth between choices or opinions

bolster

to support or strengthen

dissonance

a lack of harmony or agreement

garrulous

excessively talkative

malleable

easily influenced; pliable

ostentation

excessive display of wealth

prevaricate

avoid telling the truth by not directly answering a question

deference

respect, courtesy 

bombastic

pompous in speech and manner 

obsequious

overly submissive and eager to please 

specious

deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious 

mollify

to calm or make less severe

dirge

a funeral hymn or mournful speech

veracity

truthfulness; accuracy 

disparate

fundamentally different; entirely unlike

exigent

urgent; requiring immediate action

castigate

to punish or criticize harshly 

iconoclast

one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions

amalgamate

to combine; to mix together

paragon

model of excellence of perfection

chicanery

deception by means of craft or guile

occlude

to stop up; to prevent the passage of 

foment

to arouse or incite

quiescent

motionless 

intransigent

uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled

disabuse

to set right; to free from error

stolid

unemotional; lacking sensitivity 

opprobrium

public disgrace 

florid

excessively decorated or embellished 

soporific

causing sleep or lethargy 

dogmatic

dictatorial in one’s opinions

aggrandize

to increase in power, influence, and reputation 

perfunctory

done in a routine way; indifferent

luminous

bright, brilliant, glowing

malinger

to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill

guile

deceit or trickery 

esoteric

known or understood by only a few

cogent

convincing and well-reasoned

repudiate

to reject the validity of 

torpor

extreme mental and physical sluggishness 

taciturn

silent, not talkative

anachronism

something out of place in time

dilettante

someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic

propitiate

to conciliate; to appease

insipid

lacking interest or flavor 

inchoate

not fully formed; disorganized 

banal

predictable, clichéd, boring

estimable

admirable 

dilate

to make larger; to expand

diffident

lacking self-confidence 

austere

severe or stern in appearance; undecorated 

stigma

a mark of shame or discredit 

onerous

troublesome and oppressive; burdensome 

inimical

hostile, unfriendly

condone

to overlook, pardon, or disregard