GRE Vocab

anomaly

something that is unusual or unexpected

• the student’s poor performance on the latest test was an anomaly since she had previously earned excellent grades

equivocal

not easily understood or explained

• politicians have been known to provide equivocal answers to reporters' questions

lucid

very clear and easy to understand

• the lecture was lucid and straightforward allowing the students to fully grasp the concepts presented

precipitate 

to cause (something) to happen quickly or suddenly 

• unforeseen costs can precipitate a budget crisis

assuage 

to make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense 

• a massage can assuage the soreness in your muscles

erudite

having or showing great knowledge

• high school students often struggle with novels that are more erudite than they are entertaining

opaque 

not able to be seen through; not easily understood 

• medical jargon includes many opaque terms like macro-somic, which describes a newborn who weighs more than 4,000 grams

prodigal 

wastefully extravagant 

• the prodigal prince bought lavish gifts and planned expensive events

enigma

a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand

• scientists continue to research cancer to solve the enigma of its primary cause, which will hopefully lead to a cure

fervid

intensely enthusiastic or passionate

• the child showed a fervid fascination for superheroes, pouring over comic books for hours

placate 

to make (someone) less angry or hostile 

• a parent may decide to placate a baby with a pacifier

zeal

a strong feel of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something

• the great emperor’s crusading zeal led him to conquer many lands

abstain

to restrain oneself for doing or enjoying something

• doctors encourage their patients to abstain from smoking cigarettes

audacious 

a willingness to take bold risk or showing a lack of respect 

• the new CEO pursued audacious initiatives to save the company from bankruptcy 

• the student’s audacious remark earned her a seat in afternoon detention 

desiccate

remove the moisture from (something)

• the heat and energy from the sun can desiccate even the most hearty plants

gullible

easily persuaded to believe something

• the gullible little boy gave his older sister all of this allowance because she told him she would buy a pony for him

laudable

deserving praise and commendation

• providing affordable healthcare for all citizens is a laudable goal

pedant

a person who makes an excessive display of learning

• professor Blackwell, a well-known pedant, required his pre-med students to speak in Latin throughout the entire semester

vacillate 

to waver between different opinions or actions 

• undergraduate students often vacillate among various majors before deciding which degree to pursue 

adulterate

to make (something) impure or weaker by adding something of inferior quality

• many chefs use fresh produce and refuse to adulterate their dishes with canned ingredients

capricious

given to sudden changes of mood or behavior

• the capricious supervisor would hand out raises one day and fire his entire staff the next

engender

to produce, cause, or give rise to (something)

• political debates can engender controversy regarding the subjects discussed

homogenous

of the same or similar kind

• there are very few truly homogenous cultures since social diversity is increasingly widespread

loquacious

tending to talk a great deal

• the loquacious professor was known for his 5-hour lectures

pragmatic 

dealing with the problems that exist in a reasonable and logical way instead of depending on theories 

• a pragmatic approach to legislation can be difficult given the complexities of politics 

volatile

likely to change rapidly and unpredictably

• it is possible for a country’s political climate to remain volatile for decades

apathy

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

• political parties try to engage young voters who are more prone to apathy than older citizens

corroborate 

to confirm or make more certain 

• the scientist was able to corroborate his hypothesis with data gathered from multiple sources 

ephemeral

lasting for a very short time

• an ephemeral moment of victory may last mere seconds, but it can remain as a triumphant memory for decades 

laconic

using few words

• the student’s laconic response suggested that she did not know very much about the topic the professor was discussing

mitigate

make less severe, serious, or painful

• we want to mitigate students’ GRE stress by offering helpful study tools

propriety

the state or quality of being correct or proper

• the students were instructed to behave with the utmost propriety while on their class field trip

advocate

publicly recommend or support

• the governor chose to advocate for a higher minimum wage rather than a tax incentive

cacophony

a harsh, unpleasant mixture of sounds

• the cacophony of the middle school band warming up was nearly unbearable for the audience

enervate

cause (something or someone) to feel drained of energy; weaken

• the boxer used a swift left uppercut to the jaw to enervate his opponent

ingenuous 

innocent and unsuspecting 

• the scam artists preyed on ingenuous nursing home residents 

misanthrope

a person who dislikes humankind

• the neighborhood misanthrope surrounded his yard with barbed wire to keep people away

paradox

a statement that contradicts itself but might be true

• the fact that the retired teacher claimed to hate all pets but adopted seven cats is an intriguing paradox

venerate

regard with great respect

• to venerate the fire chief’s 40 years of service, the department held a special banquet

antipathy 

a strong feeling of dislike

• the students voiced their antipathy for homework very loudly 

deride

to express contempt for; ridicule

• the unreasonable supervise was known to deride his employees on a daily basis 

eulogy

a speech that praises someone, typically some who has recently died

• the rabbi’s eulogy was both heartfelt and inspiring

lethargic

lacking energy

• it’s not uncommon to feel lethargic for weeks or even months after major surgery

obdurate 

stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion 

• the obdurate 3 year old refused to eat any veggies, no matter how they were prepared 

philanthropic

seeking to promote the welfare of others

• the students were grateful to receive financial support from philanthropic organizations that promote education

waver

to go back and forth between choices or opinions

• some citizens vote solely along party lines and never waver in their political decisions

bolster

to support or strengthen

• the prosecutor worked to find evidence that would bolster her case against the defendant

dissonance 

a lack of harmony or agreement 

• the school board’s meeting lasted for hours due to the length debate fueled by dissonance among opinions 

garrulous

excessively talkative

• the garrulous hair stylist talked to each customer for hours at a time

malleable

easily influenced; pliable

• children’s moods are often malleable since children are greatly affected by their surroundings

ostentation

excessive display of wealth

• owning a mansion doesn’t imply ostentation, but traveling exclusively by private jet certainly can

prevaricate 

avoid telling the truth by not directly answering a question 

• during the trial, the lead witness was willing to prevaricate in order to protect his friend