GRE Vocabulary

abound

be present in large quantities

amorphous

lacking structure; unclear

austere

1. (of a person) strict and stern in character 2. (of living conditions) lacking luxury; extremely harsh

belie

give a false impression of; mask

capricious

having varying moods; fickle

cerebral

1. related to the brain 2. intellectual; focused on learning rather than emotion

congenial

1. (of a person) likable and friendly, often due to shared interests 2. (of a thing) enjoyable because it aligns with one's tendencies

conspicuous

easily noticed; obvious

cursory

lacking effort; without care

daunting

scary or frightening; (of a task) seeming impossible

deify

look up to someone or something as a god

didactic

meant for teaching; educational, sometimes in a condescending manner

disseminate

distribute or circulate broadly

feasible

likely to be achieved; practical

flout

break a rule without guilt

homogeneous

composed of similar parts; alike

humdrum

boring; unlikely to excite

insipid

without flavor; lacking energy

loquacious

likely to talk a lot; wordy

misanthropic

having a distaste for humans and society

misnomer

a misleading or inaccurate name

negligent

lacking care or attention

obsequious

excessively submissive to authority

placate

decrease someone's anger or other negative emotion

proclivity

a fondness or liking for something

puerile

immature and childish

quixotic

excessively visionary; unfeasible

spendthrift

someone who spends money recklessly

taciturn

of few words; speaking little

wary

exercising caution; careful

adulterate

damage the quality of; corrupt

advocate

support; be in favor of someone who supports a cause, organization, or person

aggrandize

enhance one's power or standing

alacrity

eagerness to do something

ambivalent

having conflicting emotions; unsure

ameliorate

improve a bad feeling or bad situation

amenable

(of a person) receptive to change; open (of a thing) responsive to

anachronistic

of the wrong time or era

audacious

1. bold; unafraid of risks 2. rude; exhibiting disrespect

avaricious

greedy; always wanting more

banal

unoriginal and dull; lacking creativity

benign

1. harmless; having little effect 2. (of a person's character) kind hearted; nice

brazen

shameless and excessively forward

calumny

slander and defamation

candid

honest; without deception

castigate

scold someone harshly

caustic

1. (of speech) hostile and bitter 2. (of a chemical) corrosive; acidic

construe

understand something subjectively

contrite

feeling regretful or guilty

convoluted

difficult to understand or follow.

covet

strongly desire; yearn for

craven

lacking bravery; weak-kneed

decorum

politeness and proper behavior

deft

highly proficient; skilled

demur

1. hesitate or object; express doubt 2. hesitation

derivative

based on someone else's work (often used in a negative sense)

desiccate

dry out; remove all moisture

diatribe

an angry rant; verbal abuse

incredulous

doubtful and disbelieving

ingenuous

naive and lacking experience

abate

decrease in intensity; lessen

abjure

strongly reject (an idea); forgo

anomalous

differing from what is normal; atypical

antipathy

profound hostility or hatred

arcane

comprehended by very few people; secret

arduous

very challenging; needing great effort

artless

1. naive; inexperienced 2. plain and simple 3. lacking skill

ascetic

1. (of a lifestyle) very strict and lacking luxury 2. someone who adopts an ascetic lifestyle

assuage

1. decrease a negative feeling 2. fulfill a certain desire

betray

unknowingly disclose or reveal

bucolic

associated with tranquil rural life

burgeon

quickly increase or grow; skyrocket

cacophonous

extremely noisy; grating

canonize

treat like a god; deeply venerate

censure

strongly criticize or disapprove

chicanery

using deception to attain a certain goal

coalesce

bring elements together; unite

cogent

persuasive and clear; compelling

compelling

1. persuasive and clear 2. attracting interest; fascinating

contend

1. argue a certain point of view; assert 2. compete 3. struggle or attempt to overcome something

copious

existing in great supply; abundant

cosmopolitan

1. (of a city) highly diverse 2. (of a person) sophisticated and urbane

deference

high regard and respect; esteem

desultory

unplanned; without enthusiasm

diffident

reserved or shy; without confidence

dilatory

slow and unhurried; meant to stall

equivocate

speak evasively; avoid taking a stance

polarize

separate into two opposing groups

prodigal

1. carelessly wasteful; extravagant 2. a person who is excessively wasteful

verbose

excessively talkative; wordy

abstain

avoid taking part in something

approbation

appreciation toward someone

cherish

greatly love or protect something

corroborate

lend support to; bolster

disparate

different or contrasting

emulate

imitate someone or something

enervate

sap the energy out of someone; fatigue

ephemeral

extremely short lasting

fervid

excessively energetic or eager

garrulous

tending to talk too much; wordy