GRE Vocab Mountain

abound

be present in large quantities, thrive

amorphous

lacking structure, unclear

austere

1. strict and stern in character

2. lacking luxury, harsh living conditions

belie

give a false impression of, mask, conceal

capricious

having varying moods, fickle, volatile, impulsive

cerebral

1. related to the brain

2. intellectual, analytical, rational

congenial

likable and friendly person, often due to shared interests; agreeable

conspicuous

easily noticed, obvious

cursory

lacking effort, without care, perfunctory

daunting

scary or frightening, intimidating

deify

look up to someone or something as a god, worship

didactic

educational, instructive

disseminate

distribute or circulate broadly

feasible

practical, attainable

flout

break a rule without guilt, defy

homogenous

composed of similar parts, uniform

humdrum

boring, mundane

insipid

without flavor, lacking energy, bland, dull

loquacious

likely to talk a lot, wordy

misanthropic

having a distaste for humans and society, reclusive

misnomer

a misleading or inaccurate name

negligent

lacking care or attention

obsequious

excessively submissive to authority

placate

decrease someone’s negative emotion, pacify

proclivity

a fondness or liking for something, inclination

puerile

immature and childish, infantile

quixotic

excessively visionary, unfeasible, idealistic

spendthrift

someone who spends money recklessly

taciturn

of few words, speaking little, reserved

wary

exercising caution, careful

adulterate

corrupt; taint

advocate

support; be in favor of

aggrandize

enhance one’s power or standing; augment

alacrity

eagerness to do something; zeal; haste

ambivalent

having conflicting emotions; unsure; irresolute

ameliorate

improve a bad feeling or bad situation; mitigate

amenable

responsive to; open; receptive; compliant

anachronistic

of the wrong time or era; archaic

audacious

bold; unafraid of risks; daring; rude; exhibiting disrespect

avaricious

greedy; always wanting more; rapacious

banal

unoriginal and dull; lacking creativity; trite

benign

harmless; having little effect

brazen

shameless and excessively forward; brash; presumptuous

calumny

slander and defamation; libel

candid

honest; without deception; blunt

castigate

scold someone harshly; berate

caustic

hostile and bitter; corrosive, acidic

construe

understand something subjectively; parse

contrite

feeling regretful or guilty; repentant

convoluted

difficult to understand or follow

covet

strongly desire; yearn for

craven

lacking bravery; weak-kneed; timid

decorum

politeness and proper behavior, propriety

deft

highly proficient; skilled

demur

hesitate or object; express doubt

derivative

based on someone else’s work (often used in a negative sense); trite; imitative

desiccate

dry out; remove all moisture

diatribe

angry rant; verbal abuse

incredulous

doubtful and disbelieving; dubious

ingenuous

naive and lacking experience; unguarded

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

naive; inexperienced; plain and simple; lacking skill

ascetic

a lifestyle that is very strict and lacking luxury

assuage

decrease a negative feeling; fulfill a certain desire

betray

unknowingly disclose or reveal

bucolic

associated with tranquil rural life; rustic; idyllic

burgeon

quickly increase or grow; skyrocket

cacophonous

extremely noise; grating; deafening

canonize

treat like a god; deeply venerate

censure

strongly criticize or disapprove; condemn

chicanery

using deception to attain a certain goal; duplicity

coalesce

bring elements together; unite; merge

cogent

persuasive and clear; compelling

compelling

persuasive and clear; attracting interest; fascinating

contend

argue a certain point of view, assert; compete; struggle or attempt to overcome something, battle

copious

existing in great supply; abundant

cosmopolitan

highly diverse city; sophisticated and urbane; worldly

deference

high regard and respect; esteem

desultory

unplanned; without enthusiasm

diffident

reserved or shy; without confidence; meek

dilatory

slow and unhurried; meant to stall; sluggish

equivocate

speak evasively or dishonestly; avoid taking a stance; waver

polarize

separate into two opposing groups; factionalize

prodigal

careless wasteful, extravagant; a person who is excessively wasteful

verbose

excessively talkative; wordy

abstain

avoid taking part in something; refrain

approbation

appreciation toward someone; recognition

cherish

greatly love or protect something; adore

corroborate

lend support to; bolster; validate

disparate

different or contrasting; varying

emulate

imitate someone or something; mimic

enervate

sap the energy out of something; fatigue

ephemeral

extremely shortlasting; fleeting

fervid

excessively energetic or eager; ardent

garrulous

tending to talk too much; wordy