GRE Vocab

abound

to be present in large quantities

amorphous

lacking structure, unclear

capricious

having varying moods, fickle

congenial

1. (of a person) likable and friendly, often due to shared interests

2. (of a thing) enjoyable because it aligns with one's tendencies

cursory

lacking effort, without care

deify

look up to someone or something as a god

disseminate

distribute or circulate broadly

flout

break a rule without guilt

humdrum

boring; unlikely to excite

loquacious

likely to talk a lot, wordy

misanthropic

having a distaste for humans and society

obsequious

excessively submissive to authority

placate

decrease someone’s anger or other negative emotion

proclivity

a fondness or liking for something

puerile

immature and childish

quixotic

excessively visionary, unfeasible

taciturn

of few words, speaking little

adulterate

damage the quality of, corrupt

aggrandize

enhance one’s power or standing

alacrity

eagerness to do something

ambivalent

having conflicting emotions; unsure

ameliorate

improve a bad feeling or bad situation

amenable

(of a person) receptive to change; open

(of a thing) responsive to

anachronistic

of the wrong time or era

avaricious

greedy; always wanting more

brazen

shameless and excessively forward

calumny

slander and defamation

candid

honest, without deception

castigate

scold someone harshly

caustic

1. (of speech) hostile and bitter

2. (of a chemical) corrosive; acidic

construe

understand something subjectively

contrite

feeling regretful or guilty

convoluted

difficult to understand or follow

covet

strongly desire, yearn for

craven

lacking bravery, weak-kneed

deft

highly proficient, skilled

demur

1. hesitate or object; express doubt

2. hesitation

derivative

based on someone else's work (often used in a negative sense)

desiccate

dry out; remove all moisture

diatribe

an angry rant, verbal abuse

incredulous

doubtful and disbelieving

ingenuous

naive and lacking experience

abate

decrease in intensity, lessen

abjure

strongly reject (an idea), forgo

austerity

sternness or severity of manner or attitude, extreme plainness and simplicity of style of appearance

jejune

naive, simplistic, and superficial

belie

1. (of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict.

2. fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray.

desultorily

in a way that is without a clear plan or purpose and shows little effort or interest

staunchly

in a very loyal and committed manner

vitiate

1. spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of

2. destroy or impair the legal validity of

uncouth

1. (of a person or their appearance or behavior) lacking good manners, refinement, or grace

2. (of a place) uncomfortable, especially because of remoteness or poor conditions

arresting

striking, eye-catching

recriminate

make counteraccusations

chicanery

using deception to attain a certain goal

prodigal

1. carelessly wasteful; extravagant

2. a person who is excessively wasteful

antipathy

profound hostility or hatred

craven

lacking bravery, weak-kneed

gainsay

deny or refute an assertion or argument

nettlesome

causing irritation or annoyance

convivial

demonstrating a jovial nature or a fondness for festivities and companionship

sagacious

demonstrating wisdom or sound judgment

skullduggery

sneaky or dishonest actions

apprise

inform, notify, or advise

beguile

charm or deceive in a captivating way

boon

a good thing, a blessing or a benefit

crescendo

the loudest or highest point of something

ossify

harden or become unchanging

pastiche

a work that either imitates the style of multiple other works or combines elements from various works

recluse

a person who lives in self-imposed isolation

scintillating

brilliantly or impressively clever, exciting, amusing or witty

veracity

conformity to truth or accuracy

bridle

control or restrain

feckless

without skill, ineffective, incompetent

providential

occurring at a favorable time, opportune

iconoclasm

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

2. the rejection or destruction of religious images as heretical

polemical

expressing or constituting a strongly critical attack on or controversial opinion about someone or something

florid

elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated

lionization

the act of treating someone as if they are a celebrity or a person of great importance, often to an excessive degree

sartorial

relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress

panache

flamboyant confidence of style or manner.

fortuitous

happening by chance or accident rather than by design

dissimilar

not alike, different

exacting

trying or unremittingly severe in making demands

thrift

careful management of money

fanciful

overimaginative and unrealistic

disinterestedness

lack of self-interest

volubility

the quality of talking fluently, readily or incessantly, talkativeness

penitential

expressing deep sorrow and regret

intractable

hard to control or deal with

prolixity

the state or quality of being unnecessarily or tediously wordy, verbosity

impetuous

acting or done quickly without thought or care

taciturnity

the quality of being reserved or reticent in conversation

pellucidity

the quality of being clear and transparent

prosaic

commonplace, unromantic

circumscribed

restricted within limits

indecorous

not in keeping with good taste and propriety; improper

unseemly

not proper or appropriate

preclude

prevent from happening; make impossible

reticent

not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily

reclusiveness

a disposition to prefer solitude and isolation