Difficult GRE Words (Groups 29-37)

abscon

run away like a CON

imbroglio

trouble

prurient

excessive interest in sexual matters

bawdy

racy; Bold

croon

hum

aspersion

slander

nadir

lowest point

HINT: NADA

dowdy

sad

HINT: DOWn

sadistic

fiendish

apogee

climax; apex

collude

conspire

chagrin

ire

HINT: CHAGee had a long line which annoyed us

conflagration

fire

contretemps

argument

HINT: think CONTRA

zenith

optimum

expatiate

embellish like an EXPAT

languish

weaken

spurn

refuse with scorn

HINT: think of a spur with spikes

flagrant

extremely bad; red FLAG

obstreperous

noisy and difficult to control

temerity

recklessness

odious

repulsive

precocious

showing unusually early development

aberrant

abnormal

extemporize

improv

factious

inclined to form factions

callow

without experience

HINT: Crappy at their job

deportment

demeanor

intrigue

underhanded plotting

fallow

unproductive

HINT: Frolicking

tenuous

thin; poorly supported

obdurate

stubborn

indecorous

lacking good taste

capitulate

surrender

HINT: throw in the CAP

nominal

existing in name only; insignificant

plucky

spunky; courageous

grovel

humble; indulge

apprise

to inform of

beguile

to charm

HINT: think of GUILting someone

voluble

talkative

obfuscate

make something difficult to understand

pastiche

piece of literature or music imitating other works

frenetic

wildly excited in a frenzy

stanch

to stop or check the flow of

abrograte

cancel

sinecure

an easy job

sinuous

many twists and turns like SINE graph

sordid

mean; poor

HINT: SORely DID thru

perspicacious

wise

fringe

extreme; margin

rhapsody

writing expressing great pleasure or enthusiasm

boon

gift or blessing

serendipitous

come upon by accident; fortuitous

depravity

moral corruption

dilettante

someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic

gregarious

outgoing; sociable

paragon

a model of excellence or perfection

penurious

miserly

effrontery

shameless boldness

indignant

angered at something unjust or wrong

abstruse

difficult to understand

endow

to equip

ineluctable

inevitable

reprobate

scoundrel

latitude

scope for freedom of action or thought

occlude

stop; prevent passage of

entreat

to beg, implore, ask earnestly

levity

overly casual

draconian

very severe or cruel

egalitarian

characterized by social equality and equal rights

elusive

evading capture

erstwhile

previous

gloat

exhibit pleasure at an adversary’s misfortune

harrowing

causing pain or distress

ingenious

witty; genius-like

bromide

unoriginal remark

HINT: BRO MIDE/might have said this before

denigrate

attack the reputation of someone

disciple

a follower; to educate

extol

praise highly

ideologue

someone who sticks to very strong beliefs no matter what

interminable

no terminals/ends

lassitude

lack of energy

HINT: wants to LASSo things towards them

paltry

worthless

pejorative

disapproving expression

presage

predict

propitiate

appease

recapitulate

summarize

aplomb

poise

apposite

appropriate

beholden

thankful

impervious

unaffected

inalienable

not transferable

martinet

strict disciplinarian

objurgation

harsh criticism

retrench

reduce costs due to economic difficulty

vestigial

leftover

ad hoc

for a specific purpose

aphorism

short saying

blighted

damaged

debase

degrade