GRE Vocab

admonish

warn or reprimand someone firmly.

aesthetic

concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.

affectation

behavior, speech, or writing that is pretentious and designed to impress.

alleviate

make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe.

analogous

comparable in certain respects, typically in a way which makes clearer the nature of the things compared.

bolster

support or strengthen.

chauvinistic

feeling or displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.

connoisseur

an expert judge in matters of taste.

dissemble

conceal or disguise one's true feelings or beliefs.

dogged

having or showing tenacity and grim persistence.

dupe

deceive; trick.

empirical

based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.

engender

cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition).

entitled

believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.

pertinacious

holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action.

presumptuous

(of a person or their behaviour) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate/overconfident

probity

the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.

proliferate

increase rapidly in number; multiply.

specious

superficially plausible, but actually wrong.

spurious

not being what it purports to be; false or fake.

subjective

based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.

subvert

undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution).

timorous

showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence.

tortuous

1. full of twists and turns.

2. excessively lengthy and complex.

tractable

easy to control or influence.

transient

lasting only for a short time; impermanent.

ubiquitous

present, appearing, or found everywhere.

underscore

emphasize.

venal

showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery; corrupt.

venerate

regard with great respect; revere.

appease

1. pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands.

2. assuage or satisfy (a demand or a feeling).

arbitrary

1. based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

2. (of power or a ruling body) unrestrained and autocratic in the use of authority.

archaic

very old or old-fashioned.

clamorous

1. making a loud and confused noise.

2. expressing or characterized by vehement protests or demands.

dearth

a scarcity or lack of something.

explicable

able to be accounted for or understood.

hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

immutable

unchanging over time or unable to be changed.

indefatigable

(of a person or their efforts) persisting tirelessly.

indolent

1. wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.

2. (of a disease or condition) causing little or no pain.

insular

ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's own experience.

intransigent

unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something.

intrepid

fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect).

irreverent

showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously.

loathe

feel intense dislike or disgust for.

malign

1. evil in nature or effect.

2. speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner.

malleable

easily influenced; pliable.

neophyte

1. a person who is new to a subject or activity.

2. a new convert to a religion.

plastic

1. not genuine; artificial or unnatural.

2. (of a substance or material) easily shaped or moulded.

platitude

a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.

prescient

having or showing knowledge of events before they take place.

pristine

in its original condition; unspoilt.

reproach

express to (someone) one's disapproval of or disappointment in their actions.

robust

1. strong and healthy; vigorous.

2. (of wine or food) strong and rich in flavour or smell.

salubrious

1. health-giving; healthy.

2. (of a place) pleasant; not run-down.

sanction

1. a threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule.

2. official permission or approval for an action.

sedulous

(of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence.

soporific

tending to induce drowsiness or sleep.

stern

(of a person or their manner) serious and unrelenting, especially in the assertion of authority and exercise of discipline.

tendentious

expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one.

accentuate

make more noticeable or prominent.

conjectural

based on or involving conjecture.

convivial

friendly, lively, and enjoyable.

decadent

characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline.

egregious

outstandingly bad; shocking.

evanescent

soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing.

flamboyant

1. (of a person or their behaviour) tending to attract attention because of their exuberance, confidence, and stylishness.

2. bright, colourful, and very noticeable.

forestall

prevent or obstruct (an anticipated event or action) by taking advance action.

gainsay

deny or contradict (a fact or statement).

galvanize

1. shock or excite (someone) into taking action.

2. coat (iron or steel) with a protective layer of zinc.

indiscriminate

done at random or without careful judgement.

innocuous

not harmful or offensive.

momentary

lasting for a very short time; brief.

mundane

1. lacking interest or excitement; dull.

2. of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one.

nettlesome

causing annoyance or difficulty.

nullify

make legally null and void; invalidate.

obviate

1. remove (a need or difficulty).

2. avoid or prevent (something undesirable).

omnipresent

widely or constantly encountered; widespread.

oust

drive out or expel (someone) from a position or place.

palpable

1. (of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem almost tangible.

2. able to be touched or felt.

perfidy

the state of being deceitful and untrustworthy.

profuse

(especially of something offered or discharged) very plentiful; abundant.

pugnacious

eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.

sagacious

having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; wise or shrewd.

sanguine

optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.

scant

barely sufficient or adequate.

skulduggery

underhand, unscrupulous, or dishonest behaviour or activities.

trivial

of little value or importance.

utilitarian

1. designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive.

2. relating to or adhering to the doctrine of utilitarianism.

vapid

offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; bland.

abstain

1. restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something.

2. formally decline to vote either for or against a proposal or motion.

approbation

approval or praise.

cherish

1. protect and care for (someone) lovingly.

2. keep (a hope or ambition) in one's mind.

corroborate

confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding).

disparate

essentially different in kind; not able to be compared.

emulate

match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation.

enervate

make (someone) feel drained of energy or vitality.

ephemeral

lasting for a very short time.

fervid

intensely enthusiastic or passionate, especially to an excessive degree.

garrulous

excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.