GRE Missed Vocab

transitory

temporary or short-lived, not lasting long.

feckless

lacking initiative or effectiveness; ineffective.

implacable

unable to be appeased or placated; relentless.

apposite

relevant or appropriate for a particular situation.

congenial

pleasant and suitable; agreeable.

lionized

to give a lot of public attention and approval to someone; to treat as a celebrity.

outstripping

to surpass or exceed, especially in quantity or performance.

jocund

cheerful and lighthearted.

intransigent

refusing to compromise or change one's position.

perfunctory

done as a routine duty; superficial.

contemporaneous

existing or occurring at the same time; contemporary.

skittish

easily frightened or excitable; unpredictable.

hapless

characterized by misfortune or bad luck; unfortunate.

anachronistic

belonging to a period other than that being portrayed; out of place in time.

unassailable

impossible to dispute or attack; undeniable.

truculent

eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.

artful

clever or skillful, especially in a cunning way; characterized by trickery or deception.

buttress

a structure or support that strengthens or reinforces something, often used in architecture to stabilize a wall.

juxtaposes

places two or more things side by side to compare or contrast them.

zealous

showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.

officious

excessively eager to offer unwanted assistance or advice, often in a meddlesome manner.

unscrupulous

having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.

reprobate

a morally unprincipled person or a person rejected by God.

conjectural

based on or involving conjecture; not based on solid evidence or facts.

sanguine

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

ingenuous

innocent and unsuspecting; candid or frank.

esoteric

intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge.

arcane

understood by few; mysterious or secret.

blithe

showing a casual or cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper; carefree.

galvanize

to shock or excite someone into taking action.

burnish

to polish or make something shiny, often by rubbing.

inchoate

just begun and not fully formed or developed; rudimentary.

winsome

attractive or appealing in a charming way, often in a childlike or innocent manner.

effusive

expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner.

ephemeral

lasting for a very short time; transitory.

venerate

to regard with great respect or reverence, often relating to the treatment of someone revered or holy.

harangue

a lengthy and aggressive speech or lecture.

quandary

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

inapposite

not relevant or not appropriate to a particular situation; unsuitable.

lassitude

a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy.

animus

a feeling of ill will or animosity toward someone; hostility.

alacrity

a cheerful readiness or promptness to respond.

ennui

a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement.

melange

a mixture or medley of different elements.

impetuous

acting quickly and without thought or care; impulsive.

canonize

to officially declare a deceased person as a saint or to regard someone as immensely important or influential.

curtail

to reduce in extent or quantity; to impose a restriction.

abstruse

difficult to understand; obscure.

penetrable

capable of being pierced or entered; accessible.

malfeasance

wrongdoing or illegal actions, especially by a public official.

precocious

having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual.

estimable

worthy of great respect or admiration; highly regarded.

august

having a magnificent or dignified appearance, inspiring reverence and admiration.

eccentric

deviating from the usual or recognized pattern; unconventional in behavior or style.

benificent

generous or doing good, often in a charitable way.

unprecedented

never done or known before; unparalleled.

unparalleled

without equal; unmatched in quality or extent.

ineluctable

inevitable; certain to happen.

zealous

having great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause.

boon

a beneficial or helpful thing.

byzantine

complex or intricate, often with excessive detail.

capricious

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

primitive

related to an early stage of development; basic or unsophisticated.

crude

or unrefined in nature; pertaining to an early stage of development.

venal

capable of being bought or corrupted; mercenary.

panache

distinctive and stylish flair or elegance in manner or appearance.

bluster

to speak or act with noisy swagger; to boast in a loud or aggressive manner.

languid

displaying a lack of energy or vitality; slow and listless.

contentious

causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.

prosaic

having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty; commonplace.

gainful

providing a beneficial or profitable return; yielding money or advantage.

sanctimonious

making a show of being morally superior to others; hypocritically pious.

pious

devoutly religious; having a sincere and virtuous manner, often associated with a sense of morality.

pliant

easily bent or flexible; adaptable to change.

implacable

not capable of being appeased or significantly changed; relentless.

buttress

a support or reinforcement, often used to strengthen a wall or structure.

demur

to raise doubts or objections; to hesitate.

belie

to contradict or show something to be false; to expose.

censure

to express severe disapproval or criticism.

fortitude

courage in facing pain or adversity; mental strength.

equanimity

mental calmness and composure, especially in difficult situations.

pedantry

excessive concern with minor details or rules; meticulousness.

poignant

evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; deeply touching.

erratic

irregular or unpredictable in behavior or performance.

befuddling

causing confusion or perplexity; bewildering.

prolix

too lengthy; verbose in speech or writing.

wayward

difficult to control or predict; tending to behave erratically.

treatise

a written work that systematically discusses a particular subject, often scholarly in nature.

ostensible

Seemingly true based on outward appearances, but potentially masking the actual truth. This term highlights situations where motives or explanations appear credible while concealing true intentions. For example, "The ostensible purpose of the government meeting was to discuss community development, but many believed it was just a cover for discussing budget cuts."

utilitarian

Relating to a philosophy that promotes maximizing utility or happiness for the greatest number of people. Utilitarianism often evaluates actions based on their outcomes to achieve the overall good.

majeure

A term used in legal contexts to refer to events that are beyond a party's control, which may excuse them from obligations due to unforeseen circumstances, commonly known as "force majeure."

transient

lasting for a very short time; temporary.

captious

tending to find fault or raise objections; critical.

specious

superficially plausible, but actually wrong or misleading; deceiving.

indelible

lasting or permanent, often referring to marks or memories that cannot be erased.

nettles

irritates or annoys; to provoke.

avant-garde

new and experimental ideas or methods, particularly in art and culture.

ramifications

consequences or outcomes that arise from an action or decision, often complex and multifaceted.

quixotic

exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.

soporific

tending to induce drowsiness or sleep.