1000 GRE Words

A collection of vocabulary flashcards for study.

abase

Degrade or humble; to lower in rank, status, or esteem.

abate

Reduce, diminish.

abdicate

Formally give up the throne (or some other power or responsibility).

aberrant

Abnormal, deviant.

abeyance

Temporary suspension, inactivity.

abhor

Detest, regard with disgust.

abjure

Give up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun (especially formally or under oath).

abrasive

Rough, suitable for grinding or polishing; causing irritation or annoyance.

abreast

Side-by-side; keeping up with, staying aware of, or remaining equal in progress with.

abridge

Reduce or lessen; shorten by omitting parts while retaining the main idea.

abscission

Cutting off; sudden termination; the separation of leaves, petals, or other parts from a plant or animal.

abscond

Depart suddenly and secretively.

abstain

Hold back, refrain (especially from something bad or unhealthy); decline to vote.

abyss

A deep and vast space or cavity; anything profound or infinite.

accede

Agree, give consent; assume power.

accretion

Gradual increase; an added part or addition.

acerbic

Sour; harsh or severe.

acidulous

Slightly acid or sour; sharp or caustic.

acme

Summit, peak, highest point.

activism

The practice of pursuing political or other goals through vigorous action.

acumen

Keen, quick, accurate insight or judgment.

adhere

Stick (to), such as with glue, or to a plan or belief.

admonish

Mildly scold; caution, advise, or remind to do something.

adulterate

Make impure by adding inappropriate or inferior ingredients.

adumbrate

Give a rough outline of; foreshadow; reveal only partially.

adverse

Opposing, harmful.

advocate

Speak or argue in favor of (verb); a person who pleads for a cause (noun).

aerie

Dwelling or fortress built on a high place; the nest of a bird of prey.

aesthetic

Concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste.

affable

Warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable.

affectation

Fake behavior adopted to give a certain impression.

aggrandize

Make greater; exaggerate.

aggregate

Gather together, amount to (verb); made up of constituent parts (adj).

alacrity

Cheerful or speedy willingness.

albeit

Although, even though.

alienate

Cause to become unfriendly; hostile.

alleviate

Lessen, make easier to endure.

aloof

Distant physically or emotionally; reserved; indifferent.

amalgamate

Blend, merge, or unite.

ambiguous

Not clear, hard to understand; open to having several meanings.

ambivalent

Uncertain; unable to decide.

ameliorate

Improve; make better or more bearable.

amortize

Gradually pay off a debt.

anachronism

Something that is not in its correct historical time.

analgesia

Pain relief; inability to feel pain.

analogous

Comparable, corresponding in some way.

anarchy

Absence of law or government; chaos.

annul

Make void or null; cancel.

anodyne

Medicine that relieves pain (noun); soothing (adj).

anoint

Rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred.

anomaly

Deviation from what is common.

antagonize

Make hostile or unfriendly.

antedate

Be older than; precede in time.

antithetical

Directly opposed; opposite.

apathy

Not caring; absence of feeling.

apocryphal

Of questionable authenticity; false.

apostate

Person who deserts a party, cause, religion.

apostle

Pioneer of a reform movement.

apposite

Highly appropriate, suitable, or relevant.

apprise

Inform, give notice to.

approbation

Praise or approval, especially formal approval.

appropriate

Set aside or authorize for a particular purpose.

arbiter

Judge, umpire, person empowered to decide matters at hand.

arcane

Known or understood by only a few; obscure.

archaic

Characteristic of an earlier period.

ardent

Very passionate, devoted, or enthusiastic.

arduous

Very difficult, strenuous.

arrogate

Claim or take presumptuously without right.

articulate

Using language in a clear way (adj); speak distinctly (verb).

artifact

Any object made by humans.

artless

Free of deceit or craftiness; natural.

ascertain

Find out with certainty.

ascetic

Abstinent or austere in lifestyle.

ascribe

Assign or credit to a certain cause.

aseptic

Free from germs.

asperity

Rigor, severity; harshness or sharpness of tone.

aspersions

Damaging remarks, defamation.

assail

Attack violently, assault.

assiduous

Persevering, diligent.

assuage

Make milder, relieve.

attenuate

Weaken or thin out.

attuned

In harmony.

audacious

Very bold or brave.

augment

Make larger.

augury

Telling the future through supernatural means.

august

Venerable, majestic.

austere

Severe in manner or appearance.

autonomous

Self-governing, independent.

avarice

Insatiable greed.

aver

Declare or affirm with confidence.

avid

Enthusiastic, dedicated.

axiom

Self-evident truth requiring no proof.

balk

Refuse to proceed or do something.

balloon

Swell or puff out.

banal

Lacking freshness and originality.

bane

Something that ruins or spoils.

base

Morally low; of little or no value.

baying

Howling in a deep way.

belie

Contradict or misrepresent.

beneficent

Doing good.