GRE Grey Deck

inundate

overwhelm

enumerate

to mention separately as if in counting; name one by one; specify; as in a list

eclectic

composed of elements drawn from a variety of sources

convention

a large meeting of people with a common interest, as in a particular recreational activity

inured

hardened by frequent exposure, especially to something bad

nonplussed

completely puzzled or perplexed by something unexpected

burnish

to polish (a surface) by friction

pragmatic

of or relating to a practical point of view or practical considerations

perfunctory

done superficially, only as a matter of routine, careless or cursory

catalyst

a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected

rarefy

to make rare or rarer, make less dense

viscous

of a glutinous nature or consistency; sticky; thick; adhesive

distention

the state of being stretched, swollen, or enlarged beyond normal dimensions, typically caused by pressure within

homogeneous

composed of parts or elements that are all of the same kind

innocuous

not harmful or injurious; harmless

calibrate

to determine, check, or rectify the graduation of (any instrument giving quantitative measurements)

endemic

natural to a characteristic of a specific people or place

membrane

a thin pliable sheet or layer of animal or vegetable tissue, serving to line an organ, connect parts, etc

amalgamate

to mix or merge so as to make a combination, blend; unite; combine

plasticity

the capability of being molded, receiving shape, or being made to assume a desired form

porous

permeable by water, air, etc

discrete

defined only for an isolated set of points

diffuse

to pour out and spread, as a fluid

desiccate

to dry thoroughly; dry up

florid

very flowery in style; ornate; excessively elaborate or showy

tangential

where a speaker wanders from the main topic, diving into side comments or related ideas without ever returning to the original point

elegy

a mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead

euphemism

the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt

loquacious

talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous

rhetoric

the undue use of exaggeration or display; bombast

soliloquy

an utterance or discourse spoken to oneself, without regard for whether any other hearers are present (often used as a device in drama)

surfeit

excess; an excessive amount

prodigious

extraordinary in size, amount, extent, degree, force, etc

superfluous

being more than is sufficient or required; excessive

plethora

overabundance; excess

dogma

an official system of principles or tenets concerning faith, morals, behavior, etc, as of a church

iconoclastic

breaking or destroying images, especially those set up for religious veneration

ascetic

a person who dedicates their life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial or self-martification for religious reasons

penchant

a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something

bent

determined; set; resolved (usually followed by on)

propensity

a natural inclination or tendency

prone

having a natural inclination or tendency to something; disposed; liable

tacit

understood without being openly expressed; implied

succinct

expressed in few words; concise; terse

condone

to give tacit approval to

laconic

using few words; expressing much in few words; concise

implicit

implied, rather than expressly stated

diffident

lacking confidence in one’s own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy

circumspect

watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent

secrete

to place out of sight; hide; conceal

illusory

causing illusion; deceptive; misleading

discretion

the qualm of being discreet, especially with reference to one’s own actions or speech; prudence or decorum

preempt

to acquire or appropriate before someone else; take for one self; arrogate

sanction

a provision of a law enacting a penalty for disobedience or a reward for obedience

disinterested

unbiased by personal interest or advantage; not influenced by selfish motives

commensurate

corresponding in amount, magnitude, or degree; proportionate; adequate

divest

to take away or alienate (property, rights, etc)

warranted

justified or well-founded

arbitrary

subject to individual will or judgement without restriction; contingent solely upon one’s discretion

marginal

of minor importance, significance, relevance or effect

esoteric

understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest

deviance

any action, behavior, or trait that violates established cultural, social, or formal norms

inchoate

not yet completed or fully developed; rudimentary

ephemeral

lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory

extemporaneous

done, spoken, performed, etc., without special advance preparation; impromptu

anachronistic

something that is out of its proper time in history

perennial

lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring

sporadic

(of similar things or occurrences) appearing or happening at irregular intervals in time; occasional

solicitous

showing consideration, concern, attention, etc

tractable

easily managed or controlled; docile; yielding

engender

to produce, cause, or give rise to

apprise

to give notice to; inform; advise

stint

to be frugal; get along on a scanty allowance

frugality

the quality of being frugal, or prudent in saving; the lack of wastefulness