GRE Words Set 6

quandary

a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation

quirky

characterized by peculiar or unexpected traits

quixotic

exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical

rallying

the action or process of coming together to support a person or cause

ramble

talk or write at length in a confused or inconsequential way

rationalize

attempt to explain or justify behavior or an attitude with logical reasons, even if these are not appropriate

recondite

little known, abstruse

recrudesce

to break out or appear again after a period of dormancy

redemption

the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil

redouble

make or become much greater, more intense, or more numerous

redundant

unnecessarily repetitive

refuge

the state of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or difficulty

rein

keep under control; restrain

rejuvenate

give new energy or vigor to; revitalize

relish

great enjoyment

remedial

giving or intended as a remedy or cure

replicate

make an exact copy of; reproduce

repudiate

refuse to accept; reject

residual

remaining after the greater part or quantity has gone

resolute

admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering

restive

unable to remain still, silent, or submissive, especially because of boredom or dissatisfaction

restrain

prevent someone or something from doing something; keep under control or within limits

resurgent

increasing or reviving after a period of little activity, popularity, or occurrence

reverence

deep respect for someone or something

rhapsody

an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling

ridicule

subject to contemptuous and dismissive language or behavior

row

dispute

ruinous

disastrous or destructive

ruminate

think deeply about something s

salubrious

health-giving; healthy

sanguine

optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation

sartorial

relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dresss

scanty

small or insufficient in quantity or amount

scathe

harm; injure

schism

a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief

scintillating

brilliantly and excitingly clever or skillful

scornful

feeling or expressing contempt or derision

scrupulous

adhering strictly to standards of ethics or morality; punctilious

scrutinize

examine or inspect closely and thoroughly

scuffle

to take part in a brief, confused fight among a few people

flattery

excessive and insincere praise, given especially to further one’s own interests

self-righteous

having or characterized by a certainty, especially an unfounded one, that one is totally correct or morally superior

serendipity

the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way

sham

am imitation that is passed as genuine; counterfeit

shirk

avoid or neglect a duty or responsibility

shrewd

having or showing sharp powers or judgement; astute

sinister

giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen

skeptic

a person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions

skittish

nervous or excitable; easily scared

slighted

insult someone by treating or speaking of them without proper respect or attention

snare

catch or trap someone

sparing

moderate; economical

sporadic

occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated

spurious

not being what it purports to be; false or fake

stanched

stop or restrict a flow of blood from a wound

staple

main or important, especially in terms or consumption

startling

very surprising, astonishing, or remarkable

stigmatize

describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval

stimulate

encourage or arouse interest or enthusiasm in

stingy

ungenerous

stun

astonish or shock someone so that they are temporarily unable to react

substantiate

provide evidence to support or prove the truth of

subtle

especially of a change or distinction so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe

subversion

the undermining of the power and authority of an established system or institution

sullen

a sulky or depressed mood

superfluous

unnecessary, especially through being more than enough

supersede

take the place of a person or thing previously in authority or use; supplant

supplement

a thing added to something else in order to complete or enhance it

supplication

the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly

surly

bad-tempered and unfriendly

surrogate

substitute, especially a person deputizing for another in a specific role or office

susceptible

likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing

sycophant

a person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage

synoptic

of or forming a general summary or synopsis

syntactical

of or relating to or conforming to the rules of syntax

synthesize

to bring together or combine to form a whole

taciturn

reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little

tactless

having or showing a lack of skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues

temperate

showing moderation or self-restraint

tendentious

expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one

tepid

showing little enthusiasm

thrift

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

timorous

showing and suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence

tranquil

free from disturbance; calm

transcend

surpass a person or achievement

transgression

an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offense

transitory

not permanent

trifle

a thing of little value or importance tr

trite

lacking originality or freshness; dull on account of overuse

trivial

of little value or importance

ubiquitous

present, appearing, or found everywhere

uncultivated

not highly educated or socially adept

undemonstrative

not tending to express feelings, especially of affection, openly

undermine

lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, especially gradually or insidiously

underscore

emphasize

understate

describe or represent something as being smaller or less good or important than it really is

undo

unfasten, untie, or lossen

unintelligible

impossible to understand

unmistakeable

not able to be mistaken for anything else; very distinctive

unprecedented

never done before or known before