GRE Day 2/34

abound

exist in large numbers or amounts

amorphous

without clearly defined shape or form

belie

1. (of an appearance) fail to give a true impression

2. fail to fulfill or justify

capricious

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

cerebral

intellectual rather then emotional or physical

congenial

1. (of a person) pleasing of liked on account of having qualities or interests that are similar to one’s own

2. (of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to one’s taste or inclination

cursory

hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed

daunting

seeming difficult to deal with in propect, intimidating

deify

worship or regard as a god

didactic

in the manner of a teacher particularly so as to appear patronizing

disseminate

spread (something, especially information) widely

feasible

possible to do easily or conveniently

flout

openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention)

homogeneous

of the same kind, alike

humdrum

lacking excitement or variety, boringly monotonous

insipid

1. lacking flavor, weak or tasteless

2. lacking vigor or interest

misanthropic

having or showing a dislike of other people, unsociable

misnomer

a wrong of inaccurate name or designation

negligent

failing to take proper care over something

obsequious

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree

placate

make (someone) less anger or hostile

proclivity

a tendency to choose or do something regularly, an inclination of predisposition towards a particular thing

puerile

childish silly and immature

quixotic

extremely idealistic, unrealistic

spendthrift

a person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible way

taciturn

(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech, saying little

wary

feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems

austere

1. strict in manner

2. lack of comforts or luxuries

conspicuous

1. clearly visible

2. attracting notice or attention

loquacious

tending to talk a great deal; talkative

Adulterate

Damage the quality (synonyms: degrade)

Advocate

1. Support; be in favor of 2. Someone who supports (synonyms: champion)

Aggrandize

Enhance one's power (synonyms: augment)

Alacrity

Eagerness to do something (synonyms: willing)

Ambivalent

Having conflicting feelings (synonyms: equivocal)

Ameliorate

Improve a bad feeling or situation (synonyms: mitigate)

Amenable

1. (Of a person) receptive 2. (Of a thing) responsive (synonyms: compliant)

Anachronistic

Of the wrong time (synonyms: antiquated)

Audacious

1. Bold; unafraid 2. Rude; exhibiting lack of respect (synonyms: intrepid)

Avaricious

Greedy; always wanting (synonyms: acquisitive)

Banal

Unoriginal and dull (synonyms: trite)

Benign

1. Harmless; having little effect 2. (Of a person's character) gentle (synonyms: innocuous)

Brazen

Shameless and excessively bold (synonyms: brash)

Calumny

Slander and defamation (synonyms: libel)

Candid

Honest; without deception (synonyms: blunt)

Castigate

Scold someone harshly (synonyms: rebuke)

Caustic

1. (Of speech) hostile 2. (Of a chemical) corrosive (synonyms: biting)

Construe

Understand something (synonyms: interpret)

Contrite

Feeling regretful (synonyms: remorseful)

Convoluted

Difficult to understand (synonyms: complex)

Covet

Strongly desire; yearn for (synonyms: crave)

Craven

Lacking bravery (synonyms: timid)

Decorum

Politeness and proper behavior (synonyms: etiquette)

Deft

Highly proficient; skillful (synonyms: adept)

Demur

1. Hesitate or object 2. Hesitation (synonyms: protest / dispute)

Derivative

Based on someone else's work; unoriginal (synonyms: trite)

Desiccate

Dry out; remove all moisture (synonyms: dehydrate)

Diatribe

An angry rant; verbal attack (synonyms: tirade)

Incredulous

Doubtful and disbelieving (synonyms: dubious)

Ingenuous

Naive and lacking experience (synonyms: innocent)

Abate

(of something unpleasant or severe) become less intense or widespread

Abjure

to formally renounce or reject a belief or claim

anomalous

deviating from what is standard or expected

antipathy

a deep-seated feeling of aversion or hostility.

arcane

understood by few; mysterious or secret

arduous

involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.

artless

without effort or pretentiousness; natural and simple

ascetic

characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons

assuage

make (an unpleasant feeling) less tense

betray

1. to unintentionally reveal; be evidence of

2. Expose (one's country, a group, or a person) to danger by treacherously giving information to the enemy

bucolic

relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life

burgeon

begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish

cacophonous

involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

canonize

1. Place in or regard as belonging to a canon of literacy or artistic works

2. (In the Catholic Church) officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint

censure

express severe disapproval of (someone or something)), especially in a formal statement

chicanery

the use of tricks to deceive someone to achieve ones purpose (usually to extract money)

coalesce

come together to form one mass or whole

cogent

(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing; powerfully persuasive

compelling

evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way.

contend

1. compete with others in a struggle to achieve (something)

2. assert something as a position in an argument

copious

abundant in supply or quantity

cosmolipolitan

1. including people from many different countries

2. (of a plant) found all over the world

deference

polite submission and respect

desultory

laking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm

diffident

modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence

dilatory

1. show to act

2. intended to cause delay

equivocate

(v) use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself

polarize

divide or cause to divide into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs

prodigal

1. spending money or using resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant

2. having or giving something on a lavish scale, opposite of frugal

verbose

using or expressed in more words than are needed