GRE Vocabulary Cartoons: U Words

ubiquitous

present or existing everywhere

(adj.) existing everywhere

umbrage

offense; resentment

(noun) offense, annoyance

unadorned

(adj.) plain, not decorated

unassuming

(adj.) modest, humble

unbridled

(adj.) uncontrolled, not restrained

unconscionable

Not guided by conscience; morally wrong, unjust, unreasonable

(adj.) morally wrong

unconventional

(adj.) not ordinary or typical

(adj.) not traditional

unctuous

(adj.) Excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety

(adj.) smooth in a fake way

uncultivated

(adj.) not refined

1. for land: (adj.) not farmed

2. for people: (adj.) Unrefined

undermine

to weaken

(verb) to weaken in a sneaky way

underscore

(v) emphasize (or, literally, to underline text), to highlight

(verb) to highlight

understated

(adj.) downplayed; made to seem less than it actually is

undulate

(v.) - to move in a smooth wavelike motion

(verb) - to move in a smooth wavelike way

uniform

The same all the way through; consistent

(adj.) always the same

unkempt

not combed; untidy; not properly maintained; unpolished, rude

(adj.) untidy

unpretentiousness

(noun) the state of being unassuming, modest, or natural

(noun) modesty

unpropitious

(adj.) unfavorable, not a good sign or omen

unruly

difficult or impossible to control; disobedient

unsavory

unpleasant, esp. morally unpleasant

unscrupulous

(adj.) without moral principles; dishonest.

untenable

not workable, indefensible, weak, shaky

untoward

improper, troublesome

unwieldy

awkward, clumsy

upbraided

criticized severely

urbane

sophisticated; polite and polished

usurious

unfairly high

usurp

to take over; to seize power

utilitarian

useful

utopian

idealistic or visionary, usually used to describe a perfect society