GRE Vocabulary 2023

abandon

complete lack of inhibition or restraint

abrasive

showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh

abreast

up to date with the latest news, ideas, or information

abridge

shorten without losing meaning

abstruse

difficult to understand; obscure

accentuate

make more noticeable or prominent

accord

an official agreement or treaty

acerbic

sharply or biting

acquisitive

excessively interested in acquiring money or material things

activism

the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change.

acumen

superior insight; quickness and shrewdness of judgment, especially in practical matters.

acute

present or experienced to a severe or intense degree

adroit

clever or skillful in using the hands or mind

adulation

flattery; excessive admiration

aesthetic

concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty

affable

friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to

affectation

behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress

aghast

filled with horror or shock

alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness

alienate

cause (someone) to feel isolated or estranged

aloof

uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste

ambiguity

the quality of being open to more than one interpretation

ambivalent

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

ameliorate

to make better; to improve

amiable

having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner

amuse

cause (someone) to find something funny; entertain

anachoronsim

belonging to a period other than that being portrayed

antagonistic

showing or feeling active opposition or hostility toward someone or something

antedate

precede in time, come before (something) in date

antiquity

the ancient past, especially the period before the middle ages

antithesis

a contrast or opposition between two things

apathy

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

aplomb

complete and confident composure or self-assurance

apologist

a person who makes an argument in support of someone or something

apposite

appropriate; fitting

approrpiate

to take for one's own use; to confiscate

arbitrary

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

articulate

able to speak clearly and expressively

assertive

having or showing a confident and forceful personality

assiduous

persistent, attentive, diligent

astonish

To surprise or amaze

astound

shock or greatly surprise

attainment

an accomplishment, the act of achieving

attribute

regard something as being caused by someone or something

augment

to make larger, increase

austerity

extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance

aversion

strong dislike

avert

to prevent; to turn away

banal

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring

banish

send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment.

bearing

relation or relevance

befriend

To be a friend to, especially when in need.

beguile

charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way OR

trick someone into doing something OR

help time pass pleasantly

beholden

owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for help or a service

belie

contradict; give a false impression

bemuse

puzzle, confuse, or bewilder (someone).

benign

harmless, kind and gentle

betray

to reveal or make known something, usually unintentionally

bias

prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

blemish

a mark or stain that damages the appearance of something; a weakness or flaw

blight

have a severely detrimental effect on

blunt

honest to the point of rudeness

bogus

not genuine or true; fake

bolster

support; prop up

boon

a timely benefit; a blessing

braggart

someone who boasts

brandish

to wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion

brazen

bold and without shame

brevity

concise and exact use of words in writing or speech

bridle

bring (something) under control; curb.

bucolic

pertaining to the countryside; rural; rustic

buoyancy

an optimistic and cheerful disposition

calamitous

disastrous, catastrophic

callous

feeling or showing no sympathy for others

calumny

a false and malicious accusation

canny

shrewd, careful

canonize

to declare a person a saint; raise to highest honors

caprice

a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior

catastrophe

a large-scale disaster, misfortune, or failure

cerebral

intellectual rather than emotional or physical

check

stop or slow down the progress of (something undesirable).

cherish

to feel or show affection toward something

circumscribe

restrict within limits

circumstantial

pointing indirectly toward someone's guilt but not conclusively proving it

clangor

a continuous loud banging or ringing sound

clearheaded

alert and thinking logically and coherently.

cloak

to hide or disguise

clumsy

lacking grace in movement or posture

coalesce

to come together

cogent

forceful, convincing; relevant, to the point

coherent

logically connected

collusion

secret agreement or cooperation

commensurate

corresponding in size or degree; in proportion

commonplace

a usual or ordinary thing

compel

To force or strongly persuade; coerce

complacent

self-satisfied; smug

complementary

serving to complete something

compliance

Conforming to a request or demand

conditional

subject to one or more conditions being met; qualified

condone

accept and allow to continue