Comprehensive GRE Vocabulary (Groups 1 – 20)

600 vocabulary flashcards covering all terms from Groups 1-20 of the lecture notes.

abound

exist in very large numbers or amounts

amorphous

lacking a clear shape or form

austere

strict; having no comforts or luxuries

belie

give a false impression of; contradict

capricious

unpredictable; subject to sudden mood changes

cerebral

intellectual rather than physical

congenial

pleasant because suited to one’s taste

conspicuous

clearly visible; attracting attention

cursory

hasty; not thorough or detailed

daunting

intimidating; difficult to deal with

deify

worship or regard as a god

didactic

intended to teach, often in a patronizing way

disseminate

spread widely

feasible

possible; practical

flout

openly disregard; mock

homogeneous

of the same kind; uniform

humdrum

dull; monotonous

insipid

lacking flavor or interest; bland

loquacious

talkative

misanthropic

disliking humankind

misnomer

wrong or inaccurate name

negligent

failing to take proper care

obsequious

excessively obedient or servile

placate

make less angry; soothe

proclivity

natural tendency or inclination

puerile

childishly silly

quixotic

extremely idealistic; impractical

spendthrift

one who spends money irresponsibly

taciturn

habitually silent; reserved

wary

cautious about possible dangers

adulterate

make poorer in quality by adding something inferior

advocate

publicly support

aggrandize

increase the power, status, or wealth of

alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness

ambivalent

having mixed feelings

ameliorate

make better

amenable

open to suggestion; easily persuaded

anachronistic

out of its proper time period; old-fashioned

audacious

bold; daring; showing lack of respect

avaricious

extremely greedy for wealth

banal

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring

benign

gentle; kind; harmless

brazen

shamelessly bold

calumny

false and slanderous statement

candid

truthful; straightforward

castigate

reprimand severely

caustic

bitterly sarcastic; capable of burning chemically

construe

interpret

contrite

remorseful

convoluted

extremely complex or twisted

covet

desire something belonging to another

craven

cowardly; lacking courage

decorum

proper behavior; good taste

deft

skillful; clever

demur

raise objections; hesitate

derivative

imitative; unoriginal

desiccate

dry out completely

diatribe

bitter verbal attack

incredulous

unwilling to believe

ingenuous

innocent; naive; frank

abate

become less intense; reduce

abjure

renounce formally

anomalous

deviating from standard; abnormal

antipathy

deep-seated dislike

arcane

mysterious; understood by few

arduous

requiring strenuous effort; difficult

artless

without deception; natural

ascetic

practicing severe self-discipline; austere

assuage

make less intense; satisfy

betray

be disloyal to; reveal unintentionally

bucolic

relating to the countryside; pastoral

burgeon

grow or flourish rapidly

cacophonous

harsh-sounding

canonize

treat as highly important; place in a canon

censure

express severe disapproval

chicanery

deception; trickery

coalesce

come together; unite

cogent

clear, logical, and convincing

compelling

evoking strong interest; irresistible

contend

struggle; assert

copious

abundant

cosmopolitan

worldly; composed of many cultures

deference

respectful submission

desultory

lacking plan or enthusiasm; random

diffident

shy; lacking self-confidence

dilatory

slow; intended to delay

equivocate

use ambiguous language to deceive

polarize

divide into two contrasting groups

prodigal

wastefully extravagant

verbose

using too many words

abstain

refrain from doing

approbation

approval; praise

cherish

protect and care for lovingly

corroborate

confirm; support with evidence

disparate

essentially different; not comparable

emulate

imitate in order to equal or surpass

enervate

weaken; drain of energy

ephemeral

lasting a very short time

fervid

intensely passionate to excess

garrulous

excessively talkative