GRE Verbal Reasoning Vocabulary

plausible

(argument or statement)seeming reasonable or probable; (or a person) skilled at producing persuasive arguments, especially ones intended to deceive; adjectives: credible, reasonable, believable

temperance

abstinence from alcoholic drinks; the quality of moderation or self-restraint

eminence

fame or recognized superiority, especially within a particular sphere or profession (important/ influential/ distinguished individual; a piece of rising ground (or a slight projection from the surface part of the body

notorious

famous or well known; typically for something bad; infamous

tumultuous

making a loud of confused noise; uproarious; excited, confused, or disorderly

providential

occurring at a favorable time; opportune; involving divine foresight or intervention

dispassionate

not influenced by strong emotion, and so able to be rational and impartial; unemotional/ emotionless, nonchalant, cool, collected, calm, unruffled; objective

imperceptible/ imperceptibly

impossible to perceive /in a way that is so slight, gradual, or subtle as not to be perceived.

precarious/ precariously

not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse; dependent on chance or uncertainty/ adjective: uncertain/insecure/dangerous/ unsafe

relent/ relentlessly

abandon or mitigate a harsh intention or cruel treatment; become less severe or intense/ in an unceasingly intense or harsh way

ameliorate

to make something bad or unsatisfactory better; to improve

ascertain

find something out for certain; to make sure of/ adjectives: to verify/confirm

exacerbate

to aggravate, worsen, intensify

rife

of common occurrence, widespread.

affability

the quality of having a friendly and good-natured manner; friendliness, amiability; pleasantness.

reverence

deep respect for someone or something; high esteem, high regard

fastidious

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

didactic

intended to teach something; particularly in having moral instruction as a motive

inconoclasm

the action of attacking or assertively rejecting cherished beliefs and institutions or established values or practices

polemical

expressing or constituting a strongly critical attack on or controversial opinion about someone or something. AdjectivesL critical, hostile, bitter

erroneous

wrong, incorrect

capricious

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior; inconstant, variable, random, irregular

acerbic

sharp and forthright (satirical, cutting, sarcastic); tasting sour or bitter

exacting

making great demands on one’s skill, attention, or other resources; tough, stringent, challenging

scathing

witheringly scornful; severely critical; devastating, extremely critical

diffidence

modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence

frugality

the quality of being economical with money or food; carefulness, good management

thrift

the quality of using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully

illiberal

opposed to liberal principles; restricting freedom of thought or behavior; uncultured or unrefined; not generous, mean

miserliness

excessive desire to save money; extreme meanness

parsimony

extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources

convoluted

extremely complex and difficult to follow intricately folded, twisted, or coiled

fanciful

overly imaginative and unrealistic; highly ornamental or imaginative in design

inconsequential

not important or significant

disquieting

inducing feelings of anxiety or worry; unease, concern, distress, alarm

belies

fails to give a true notion or impression of something; disguises

injudicious

showing very poor judgement

frivolous

not having any serious purpose or value

imperious

assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant, and domineering

penitential

relating to or expressing penitence or penance

austerity

sterness or severity of manner or attitude

prolix

using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy

impetuous

acting or done quickly and without thought or care; moving forcefully or rapidly; impulsive; torrential, uncontrolled

prodigal

adj: spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant; having or on a lavish scale
n: a person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way

intractable

hard to control or deal with; unmanageable

taciturn

reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little; untalkative

volubility

the quality of talking frequently, readily, or incessantly

loquacious

tending to talk a great deal; talkative

pellucid

translucently clear; lucid in style or meaning; easily understood; clear or pure in tone (music)

extraneous

irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with, external, alien, foreign

intrinsic

innate

peripheral

related to or situated on the edge of periphery of something; secondary or minor importance; not an integral part of something

eclipse

to obscure, a loss of significance, power, or prominence in relation to another person or thing

placid

not easily upset or excited; calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity

restive

unable to keep still, difficult to control; restless

vociferate

shout, complain, or argue loudly or vehemently