GRE Vocabulary Cartoons: I Words

iconoclast

one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions

(noun) someone who goes against society

ideological

(adj.) stubbornly based on beliefs or ideas

idiosyncrasy

a peculiar personality trait

(noun) a weird trait

idyllic

charming in a rustic way; naturally peaceful

(adj.) pleasing, naturally simple

ignominy

(n.) shame and disgrace

(noun) deep disgrace

illiberal

(adj.) narrow-minded

illusory

(adj.) deceptive; not real

imbroglio

(noun) complicated situation; an entanglement

(noun) complicated situation

imminent

(adj.) about to happen

immure

(v.) to enclose or confine within walls; to imprison; to seclude or isolate

(verb) to imprison

immutable

(adj.) unchangeable

impassive

(adj.) showing no feeling or emotion; inanimate; motionless

(adj.) unemotional

impeccable

(adj.) flawless

impecunious

(adj.) poor

impeded

(adj.) blocked; obstructed

impenetrable

impossible to pass through or enter

1. (adj.) unable to be penetrated

2. (adj.) unable to be understood or overcome

imperative

extremely necessary; vitally important

(adj.) very important

imperious

(adj.) overbearing, arrogant; seeking to dominate; pressing, compelling

(adj.) arrogant, dominant in a kingly way

imperturbable

(adj.) calm

impetuous

(adj.) impulsive

impetus

a moving force, impulse, stimulus

(noun) driving force

impinge

to encroach; to trespass

(verb) to trespass on one’s freedoms

implacable

(adj.) not to be satisfied or pacified; unyielding

(adj.) unable to satisfied or pleased

implication

(noun) An idea that is communicated indirectly, through a suggestion or hint

implicit

(adj.) implied or understood though unexpressed; without doubts or reservations, unquestioning; potentially contained in

(adj.) suggested but not directly expressed

implore

(verb) to beg

importune

(v.) to trouble with demands; to beg for insistently

(verb) to persistently insist

impregnable

not able to be conquered; impenetrable

(adj.) unconquerable

imprimatur

(noun) Formal approval

(noun) official approval

impromptu

(adj.) without preparation

impudence

(noun) rudeness

impugn

(v.) to call into question; to attack as false

(verb) to attack verbally

inalienable

not able to be taken or given away

(adj.) impossible to take away or give up

inane

(adj.) silly, empty of meaning or value

incandescent

brilliant; giving off heat or light

(adj.) bright

incensed

very angry; enraged

(adj.) extremely angry

incessant

never stopping, going on all the time

(adj.) constant

inchoate

(adj.) in an initial stage; not fully formed

incipient

beginning to come into being or to become apparent

(adj.) beginning

incisive

Sharply cutting; direct and powerful

(adj.) sharp

incoherent

(adj.) unclear

incorporate

to bring together features, ideas, or elements

(verb) to include

incorrigible

incapable of being reformed or improved

(adj.) unable to be reformed

inculcate

teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions

(verb) to teach by constant repetition and warning

incumbent

1. (adj.) obligatory, required

2. (n.) the holder of an office

indefatigable

persisting tirelessly

(adj.) persistent

indictment

the act of accusing; a formal accusation

(noun) an accusation

indigenous

native to a certain area

(adj.) native to an area

indignant

(adj.) filled with resentment or anger over something unjust, unworthy, or mean

(adj.) angered by perceived unfair treatment

indomitable

(adj.) unconquerable

industrious

(adj.) hard-working

ineffable

(adj.) inexpressible, indescribable

(adj.) indescribable

ineluctable

(adj.) certain, inevitable, unavoidable

inestimable

(adj.) too great to calculate

inexorable

impossible to stop or prevent

(adj.) unstoppable

infinitesimal

(adj.) so small as to be almost immeasurable; minute

(adj.) incredibly tiny

influx

a flowing or pouring in; arrival in massive numbers

(noun) the arrival of many things or people

ingenious

(adj.) clever; resourceful

(adj.) extremely clever

ingenuous

(adj.) naive and trusting; lacking sophistication

(adj.) naive

ingrained

(adj) deep-rooted, forming part of the very essence; worked into the fiber

(adj.) deep-rooted

ingratiate

to gain another's favor by flattery or false friendliness

(verb) to make someone like you

inimical

(adj.) hostile, unfriendly

(adj.) unfriendly

inimitable

(adj.) not capable of being imitated

innate

existing from birth, inborn

(adj.) existing from birth, inherent

innocuous

(adj.) harmless

inordinate

(adj.) far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive

(adj.) exceeding reasonable limits

(adj.) excessive

inscrutable

(adj.) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically

(adj.) impossible to understand

insinuate

to suggest or hint slyly; to edge into something indirectly

(verb) to hint

insipid

lacking flavor; dull; not at all stimulating

(adj.) bland; dull

insolence

contemptuously rude or impertinent behavior or speech

(noun) rudeness

insular

(adj.) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience

(adj.) narrow-minded

integrate

To bring together and make whole

(verb) to unite into a whole

interloper

one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder

(noun) an intruder

intimate

to suggest something subtly

(verb) to hint at

intrepid

very brave, fearless, unshakable

(adj,) extremely brave

intrinsic

(adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part

(adj.) inherent

intrusive

(adj.) causing disruption or annoyance through being unwelcome or uninvited.

(adj.) causing disruption or annoyance by being unwelcome

inundated

(adj.) flooded

inveigh

(v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval

(verb) to protest bitterly

inveigle

to tempt or persuade by using deception or flattery

(v.) persuade through flattery

invidious

(adj.) causing envy

inviolate

free or safe from injury or violation

(adj.) pure

irascible

(adj.) easily angered

irk

(v.) to annoy, trouble, make weary

(verb) to annoy

ironic

(adj.) suggesting an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens; given to irony, sarcastic

(adj.) the opposite of what one would expect

irresolute

(adj.) unable to make up one's mind, hesitating

(adj.) not firm