Most Important GRE Vocab

"top 52" words to know

Anomaly

something that is unusual or unexpected

Equivocal

not easily understood or explained

Lucid

very clear and easy to understand

Precipitate

to cause (something) to happen quickly or suddenly

Assuage

to make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense

Erudite

having or showing great knowledge

Opaque

not able to be seen through; not easily understood

Prodigal

wastefully extravagant

Enigma

a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling or difficult to understand

Fervid

intensely enthusiastic or passionate

Placate

to make (someone) less angry or hostile

Zeal

a strong feel of interest or enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something

Abstain

to restrain oneself for doing or enjoying something

Audacious

a willingness to take bold risks OR showing a lack of respect

Desiccate

remove the moisture from (something)

Gullible

easily persuaded to believe something

Laudable

deserving praise and commendation

Pedant

a person who makes an excessive display of learning

Vacillate

to waiver between different opinions or actions

Adulterate

to make (something) impure or weaker by adding something of inferior quality

Capricious

given to sudden changes of mood or behavior

Engender

to produce, cause, or give rise to (something)

Homogenous

of the same or similar kind

Loquacious

tending to talk a great deal

Pragmatic

dealing with the problems that exist in a reasonable and logical way instead of depending on theories

Volatile

likely to change rapidly and unpredicatbly

Apathy

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

Corroborate

to confirm or make more certain

Ephemeral

lasting for a very short time

Laconic

using few words

Mitigate

make less severe, serious, or painful

Propriety

the state or quality of being correct or proper

Advocate

publicly recommend or support

Cacophony

a harsh, unpleasant mixture of sounds

Enervate

cause (someone or something) to feel drained of energy; weaken

Ingenuous

innocent and unsuspecting

Misanthrope

a person who dislikes humankind

Paradox

a statement that contradicts itself but might be true

Venerate

regard with great respect

Antipathy

a strong feeling of dislike

Deride

to express contempt for; ridicule

Eulogy

a speech that praises someone, typically someone that has died

Lethargic

lacking energy

Obdurate

stubbornly refusing to change ones opinion

Philanthropic

seeking to promote the welfare of others

Waiver

to go back and forth between choices and opinion

Bolster

to support or strengthen

Dissonance

a lack of harmony or agreement

Garrulous

excessively talkative

Malleable

Easily influenced; pliable

Ostentation

excessive display of wealth

Prevaricate

avoid telling the truth by not directly answering a question