Vocabulary Flashcards for GRE Exam Preparation

A collection of vocabulary flashcards designed for GRE exam preparation, containing definitions for key terms commonly encountered.

abase

Degrade or humble; to lower in rank, status, or esteem.

abate

Reduce, diminish

abdicate

Formally give up the throne (or some other power or responsibility).

aberrant

Abnormal, deviant

abeyance

Temporary suspension, inactivity.

abhor

Detest, regard with disgust

abjure

Give up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun (especially formally or under oath)

abrasive

Rough, suitable for grinding or polishing (such as sandpaper); causing irritation or annoyance

abreast

Side-by-side; the more common meaning is keeping up with, staying aware of, or remaining equal in progress.

abridge

Reduce or lessen; shorten by omitting parts throughout while retaining the main idea

abscission

Cutting off; sudden termination; the separation of leaves, petals, or other parts from a plant or animal.

abscond

Depart suddenly and secretively.

abstain

Hold back, refrain (especially from something bad or unhealthy); decline to vote.

abstruseness

The quality of being difficult to understand, obscure, recondite, or highly complex.

abyss

A deep and vast space or cavity; anything profound or infinite.

accede

Agree, give consent; assume power.

accretion

Gradual increase; an added part or addition.

acerbic

Sour; harsh or severe.

acidulous

Slightly acid or sour; sharp or caustic.

acme

Summit, peak, highest point.

activism

The practice of pursuing political or other goals through vigorous action, often including protests and demonstrations.

acumen

Keen, quick, accurate insight or judgment.

adhere

Stick (to), such as with glue, or to a plan or belief.

admonish

Mildly scold; caution, advise, or remind to do something.

adulterate

Make impure by adding inappropriate or inferior ingredients.

adumbrate

Give a rough outline of; foreshadow; reveal only partially; obscure.

adverse

Opposing, harmful.

advocate

Speak or argue in favor of (verb); a person who pleads for a cause or on behalf of another person (noun).

aerie

Dwelling or fortress built on a high place; the nest of a bird of prey, such as an eagle or hawk.

aesthetic

Concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste; pertaining to the science of what is beautiful.

affable

Warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable.

affectation

Fake behavior (such as in speech or dress) adopted to give a certain impression.

affluence

The state of having a great deal of money; wealth.

aggrandize

Make greater; exaggerate.

aggregate

Gather together, amount to (verb); constituting a whole made up of constituent parts (adj).

alacrity

Cheerful or speedy willingness.

albeit

Although, even though.

alienate

Cause to become unfriendly, hostile, or distant.

allegory

A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning.

alleviate

Lessen, make easier to endure.

aloof

Distant physically or emotionally; reserved; indifferent.

amalgamate

Blend, merge, or unite.

ambiguous

Not clear, hard to understand, open to having several meanings or interpretations.

ambivalent

Uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two contradictory things at once.

ameliorate

Improve; make better or more bearable.

amortize

Gradually pay off a debt, or gradually write off an asset.

anachronism

Something that is not in its correct historical time; a mistake in chronology.

analgesia

Pain relief; inability to feel pain.

analogous

Comparable, corresponding in some particular way.

anarchy

Absence of law or government; chaos, disorder.

annul

Make void or null, cancel, abolish.

anodyne

Medicine that relieves pain (noun); soothing, relieving pain (adj).

anoint

Rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred.

anomaly

Deviation from what is common; inconsistency.

antagonize

Make hostile or unfriendly.

antedate

Be older than, precede in time.

antithetical

Directly opposed, opposite.

apathy

Not caring; absence of feeling; lack of interest or concern.

aplomb

Self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.

apocryphal

Of questionable authenticity; false.

apostate

Person who deserts a party, cause, religion, etc.

apostle

Pioneer of a reform movement.

apposite

Highly appropriate, suitable, or relevant.

apprise

Inform, give notice to.

approbation

Praise or approval, especially formal approval.

appropriate

Set aside or authorize (such as money) for a particular purpose.

arbiter

Judge, umpire, person empowered to decide matters at hand.

arcane

Known or understood by only a few; obscure, secret.

archaic

Characteristic of an earlier period, ancient, primitive.

ardent

Very passionate, devoted, or enthusiastic.

arduous

Very difficult, strenuous; severe.

arrogate

Claim or take presumptuously or without the right to do so.

articulate

Using language in a clear, fluent way (adj); speak distinctly or give clarity to an idea (verb).

artifact

Any object made by humans, especially those from an earlier time.

artless

Free of deceit or craftiness, natural; lacking skill or knowledge.

ascertain

Find out with certainty.

ascetic

A person who leads an austere and simple life without material pleasures.

ascribe

Assign or credit to a certain cause or source.

aseptic

Free from germs.

asperity

Rigor, severity; harshness or sharpness of tone.

aspersions

Damaging remarks, defamation, slander.

assail

Attack violently, assault.

assiduous

Persevering, diligent, constant.

assuage

Make milder, relieve; soothe, pacify, or calm.

attenuate

Weaken or thin out.

attuned

In harmony; in sympathetic relationship.

audacious

Very bold or brave, often in a rude or reckless way.

augment

Make larger.

augury

Telling the future, such as through supernatural means.

august

Venerable, majestic; inspiring admiration.

austere

Severe in manner or appearance; very self-disciplined.

autonomous

Self-governing, independent.

avarice

Insatiable greed; a miserly desire to hoard wealth.

aver

Declare or affirm with confidence.

avid

Enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate.

axiom

Self-evident truth requiring no proof.

balk

Refuse to proceed or to do something.

balloon

Swell or puff out; increase rapidly.

banal

Lacking freshness and originality; cliché.

bane

Something that ruins or spoils.