GRE Vocabulary Cartoons: A Words

abase

(v.) to lower in esteem, degrade; to humble

(v.) to humiliate

abashed

(adj., part.) embarrassed, ashamed, or nonplussed

abate

(v.) to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit

(v.) to reduce

aberration

noun: a state or condition markedly different from the norm

noun: different from normal

abeyance

noun: a state of being temporarily inactive, suspended, or set aside

noun: temporary inactive; suspension

abhor

(v.) to regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply

(v.) to hate

abject

(adj.) Lowly, miserable and wretched

(adj.) miserable

abnegate

(v.) to deny oneself things; to reject; to renounce

(v.) to give up something

abomination

noun: something awful

aboriginal

(adj.) being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine

(adj.) primitive

abort

(v.) to give up unfinished

Synonyms: abandon, repeal, rescind, revoke

(v.) abandon

abound

(v.) to exist in great numbers or quantities

(v.) to be abundant

abrasive

1. (adj.) overly aggressive and causing irritation

2. (adj.) rough enough to wear away the outer surface

abridge

(v.) to shorten

abrogate

(v.) to abolish

absolute

(adj.) complete; totally unlimited; certain

absolve

(v.) to clear from blame, responsibility, or guilt

synonyms: acquit, exonerate, vindicate, excuse, pardon

(v.) to free from guilt

abstemious

(adj.) moderate, sparing (as in eating and drinking); characterized by abstinence and self-discipline

(adj.) following abstinence

abstruse

(adj.) difficult to understand

(adj.) confusing

abysmal

(adj.) Very bad or of bad quality

(adj.) awful

accede

(v.) to agree to

(v.) agreed

accolade

noun: tribute; honor; praise

noun: an expression of praise

accretion

noun: a growth in size; an increase in amount

noun: a gradual growth

accumulate

(v.) to increase in number or amount; to pile up, collect, or gather

(v.) to increase

acerbic

(adj.) biting, bitter in tone or taste (Jill became extremely acerbic and began to cruelly make fun of all her friends.)

(adj.) biting

acme

noun: the highest point

acquisitive

(adj.) greedy

acrimonious

(adj.) angry and bitter, typically of speech

acumen

noun: the ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions.

noun: insightfulness

adamant

(adj.) unyielding; firm in opinion

(adj.) stubborn

adept

(adj.) Skilled; expert at

adequate

(adj.) enough, sufficient

adhere

(v.) to stick to something

admonished

(v.) warn or reprimand someone firmly

adorned

(adj.) (v.) decorated

adroit

(adj.) skillful

adulation

noun: excessive admiration

adulterate

(v.) to make impure; to contaminate

adversary

noun: an enemy or opponent

advocate

noun: supporter, ally

aegis

noun: shield; protection; defense

noun: protection

aesthetic

(adj.) relating to beauty

affable

(adj.) friendly

affectation

noun: a fake or exaggerated behaviour adopted to impress others.

It’s not natural — it’s pretending to be something you're not.

noun: artificial behaviour to impress

affiliated

(adj., part.) associated, connected

affront

noun: an insult

aghast

(adj.) shocked or horrified

aggrandize

(v.) made greater

alacrity

(noun) a cheerful readiness; brisk and eager action

syn: promptness, willingness, dispatch, celerity

noun: cheerful readiness

Algorithm

noun: a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem

alleviate

(verb) to relieve, make more bearable

syn: lesson, lighten, allay, mitigate, assuage

(verb) lessen the intensity or severity of something negative

(verb) lighten

Allusion

noun: an indirect reference

altruistic

(adj) unselfish, selfless concern for the well-being of others

Syn.: selfless

amalgamate

(v.) unify, join parts into a whole

(v.) to unite

Ambiguity

noun: uncertainty

ambivalence

noun: the state of having mixed feelings

ambi (both) + valence (values)

ameliorate

(v.) make better

amenable

(adj.) willing to follow advice or authority, tractable

amicable

(adj.) friendly

amortize

(v.) to gradually pay off or reduce

ample

(adj.) enough or more than enough

anachronism

noun: something out of place in time or history; an incongruity

noun: something belonging to a different time period

analogue

noun: something similar

anathema

1. noun: something hated

2. noun: a curse

animosity

noun: hatred

annotation

noun: a comment or note on a literary work

annul

(v.) to cancel

anodyne

noun: pain reliever

anomaly

noun: abnormality, irregularity

noun: something different from usual pattern

antedate

(v.) Be older than, precede in time; assign to an earlier date

(v.) to come before

antipode

noun: exact opposite

Antithesis

noun: opposite

apace

adverb: quickly

aplomb

noun: confidence

apocryphal

(adj.) of doubtful authenticity

(adj.) of doubtful truthfulness

apoplectic

(adj.) overcome with anger; furious

(adj.) extremely angry

Apostle

noun: A supporter

apothegm

noun: a short, instructive saying

noun: a short, wise saying

apotheosis

noun: a perfect example

appease

(v.) to make calm, soothe; to relieve, satisfy; to yield to

(v.) to calm someone down by giving them what they want

apportion

(v.) to divide and give out in shares, distribute

(v.) to divide and distribute

apposite

(adj.) appropriate

approbation

(n.) the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval

noun: approval

apropos

(adj.) relevant

(adj.) relevant to the situation.

arbitrary

(adj.) based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system

(adj.) done without reason

(adj.) random

arcane

(adj.) understood by few; mysterious or secret

(adj.) mysterious, known only to a few

arch

(adj.) sassy

(adj.) Playfully teasing, mischievous

archaic

(adj.) ancient; old-fashioned

(adj.) Very old or outdated — no longer in common use.

(adj.) outdated

arduous

(adj.) difficult; requiring much effort; strenuous

arid

(adj.) very dry

arrogate

(v.) to claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right

(v.) to unrightfully claim

articulate

(adj.) able to use language effectively; expressed clearly and forcefully

(adj.) able to express ideas clearly

artifice

noun: deception; trickery

noun: A clever trick used to deceive someone.

artless

(adj.) without guile; open and honest

(adj.) simple; without cunning

ascendancy

noun: controlling influence; domination

noun: A position of power, control, or influence over others.

ascetic

(adj.) practicing self-denial

(adj.) self-denying

ashen

(adj.) pale (esp. of a person's face)

askew

(adj., adv.) twisted to one side, crooked; disapprovingly

(adj.) slanted to one side

asperity

noun: harshness of tone or manner

aspersion

(n.) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming

noun: a false claim intended to harm