GRE Test Prep

bombastic

(adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas

requisite

necessary for relief or supply

apocryphal

of questionable authenticity

laconic

brief and to the point

garrulous

full of trivial conversation

ascetic

practicing great self-denial

taciturn

habitually reserved and uncommunicative

tempestuous

(of the elements) as if showing violent anger

demarcation

the boundary of a specific area

execrable

of very poor quality or condition

prolific

bearing in abundance especially offspring

eclectic

selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas

expediency

A means of achieving a particular end, as in a situation requiring haste or caution.

harrowing

extremely painful

prodigious

so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe

stymied

thwarted; stumped; blocked

sidereal

of or relating to the stars or constellations

etiolated

weakened or sickly

circumscribed

restricted or limited

pragmatic

concerned with practical matters

prerogative

A special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence

esconce

put firmly in a position, hide away

ineluctable

impossible to avoid or evade:"inescapable conclusion"

invidious

offensive, hateful; tending to cause bitterness and resentment

plangent

loud and resounding

nugatory

worthless

contentious

involving or likely to cause controversy

denouement

the outcome of a complex sequence of events

antediluvian

so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period

pusillanimous

lacking in courage and manly strength and resolution

jejune

displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity, lacking interest or significance

ludology

the study of games and other forms of play

kinesiology

study of movement

cybernetics

the science of communications and automatic control systems in both machines and living things

disencumber

to free from burdens, to extricate

inherent

in the nature of something though not readily apparent

stipulated

insisted; to make an express demand or arrangement as a condition of agreement

insurgencies

A group that fights against the gov.

demarcates

separates by boundaries, distinguishes

antedates

predating a current time in history

superannuation

the property of being out of date and not current

senescence

the property characteristic of old age

imbibement

to drink, absorb

abscond

to depart clandestinely; to steal off and hide

aberrant

deviating from the norm (noun form: aberration)

alacrity

eager and enthusiastic willingness

anomaly

deviation from the normal order, form, or rule; abnormality

approbation

an expression of approval or praise

arduous

strenuous, taxing; requiring significant effort

assuage

to ease or lessen; to appease or pacify

audacious

daring and fearless; recklessly bold

austere

without adornment; bare; severely simple; ascetic

axiomatic

taken as given; possessing self-evident truth

canonical

following or in agreement with accepted, traditional standards

capricious

inclined to change one's mind impulsively; erratic, unpredictable

censure

to criticize severely; to officially rebuke

chicanery

trickery or subterfuge

connoisseur

an informed and astute judge in matters of taste; expert

convoluted

complex or complicated

disabuse

to undeceive; to set right

discordant

conflicting; dissonant or harsh in sound

disparate

fundamentally distinct or dissimilar

effrontery

extreme boldness; presumptuousness

eloquent

well-spoken, expressive, articulate

enervate

to weaken; to reduce in vitality

ennui

dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or apathy

equivocate

to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent

erudite

very learned; scholarly

exculpate

exonerate; to clear of blame

exigent

urgent, pressing; requiring immediate action or attention

extemporaneous

improvised; done without preparation

filibuster

intentional obstruction, esp. using prolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action

fulminate

to loudly attack or denounce

ingenuous

artless; frank and candid; lacking in sophistication

inured

accustomed to accepting something undesirable

irascible

easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts

laud

to praise highly

lucid

clear, easily understood

magnanimity

the quality of being generously noble in mind and heart, esp. forgiving

martial

associated with war and the armed forces

mundane

of the world; typical of or concerned with the ordinary

nascent

coming into being; in early developmental stages

nebulous

vague; cloudy; lacking clearly defined form