GRE Vocabulary 1

abound

be present in large quantities

adulterate

damage the quality of; corrupt

abate

decrease in intensity; lessen

abstain

avoid taking part in something

aloof

not warm or friendly; impersonal

admonish

sternly counsel against something

appease

satisfy or calm someone down

accentuate

give emphasis or draw attention

boorish

rude or unrefined in manners or behavior

acumen

quickness and keening in understanding

amorphous

lacking structure; unclear

advocate

support; be in favor of

abjure

strongly reject (an idea); forgo

approbation

appreciation toward someone

clangor

a disturbingly loud noise

aesthetic

pertaining to beauty or the appreciation thereof

arbitrary

determined by chance, not reason

conjectural

pertaining to a guess made with limited data

brook

tolerate or endure something

antithesis

the direct opposite or contrast

austere

avoiding luxury; strict; plain

aggrandize

enhance one's power or standing

anomalous

differing from what is normal; atypical

cherish

greatly love or protect something

conventional

adhering to established practices or accepted standards

affectation

a pretense or show meant to impress others

archaic

very old or old-fashioned

convivial

demonstrating fondness for festivities

circumspect

cautious or wary; exhibiting care

ascribe

attribute something to a particular cause

belie

give a false impression; disprove

alacrity

eagerness to do something

antipathy

profound hostility or hatred

corroborate

lend support to; bolster

debunk

prove a belief or idea false

alleviate

lessen the intensity or severity of something

clamorous

characterized by a loud noise

decadent

displaying excessive indulgence

comity

mutual respect or a courteous harmony

befuddled

confused, bewildered, or perplexed

capricious

having varying moods; fickle

ambivalent

having conflicting emotions; unsure

arcane

comprehended by very few people; secret

disparate

different or contrasting

diminutive

exceptionally small in size or stature

analogous

comparable or similar in some respect

dearth

lack of something in a particular area

egregious

remarkably bad or shocking

commensurate

comparable in size extent, or degree

eschew

intentionally avoid or abstain from

cerebral

related to the brain; intellectual

ameliorate

improve a bad feeling or bad situation

arduous

very challenging; needing great effort

emulate

imitate someone or something

discernible

able to be recognized or understood

bolster

lend support or boost

explicable

able to be explained or understood

evanescent

vanishing or fading away quickly

cordial

characterized with warmth or sincerity

esoteric

understood by a few or a small group of people

congenial

friendly and likeable; agreeable

amenable

receptive to change; open

artless

lacking adornment; unskilled; naive

enervate

sap the energy out of someone; fatigue

enigmatic

difficult to understand; mysterious

chauvinistic

excessively patriotic or biased in favor of a group or cause

hyperbole

exaggeration to make a point or be funny

flamboyant

characterized by a showy or audacious display

deleterious

having a harmful effect; dangerous

evasive

indirect; avoiding confrontation

conspicuous

easily noticed; obvious

anachronistic

of the wrong time or era

ascetic

(of life) very strict and lacking luxury

ephemeral

extremely short-lasting

estranged

emotionally distanced from someone

connoisseur

a discerning expert in matters of taste

immutable

not capable of being changed

forestall

prevent something by taking strategic action in advance

dichotomy

a split into two contrasting parts

exculpate

clear from blame or guilt

cursory

lacking effort; without care

audacious

bold; unafraid of risks; rude

assuage

decrease a negative feeling

fervid

excessively energetic or eager

extravagant

excessive, especially in terms of cost

dissemble

hide or misrepresent one's true feelings or beliefs

indefatigable

excessively energetic or eager

gainsay

deny or refute an assertion or argument

edify

enlighten or uplift through knowledge

expedite

accelerate or speed up a process or action

daunting

scary; seeming impossible

avaricious

greedy; always wanting more

betray

unknowingly disclose or reveal

garrulous

tending to talk too much; wordy

fanciful

highly imaginative; unrealistic

dogged

demonstrating tenacity and persistence

indolent

habitually lazy; averse to activity

galvanize

inspire or stir up to heightened activity

elicit

extract a reply or action; provoke

fastidious

showing great attention to detail; hard to please