Top 101 High Frequency GRE Words

Laconic (adj.)

brief and to the point; effectively cut short

Insipid (adj)

lacking taste or flavor

pragmatic (adj)

concerned with practical matters

iconoclast (noun)

someone who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions

arduous (adj)

difficult to accomplish, hard to endure

profligate (adj.)

recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources

ameliorate (v.)

make, become better

obsequious (adj)

obedient or attentive to an excessive degree

capricious (adj)

given to sudden behavior change

fortuitous (adj)

happening by accident or chance

orthodox (adj)

conforming to all the tradition beliefs and religious practices

alacrity (noun)

lively and cheerful readiness

pellucid (adj)

translucently clear

corroborate (v.)

confirm or give support to

magnanimous (adj)

very generous or forgiving

scrupulous (adj)

diligent, thorough, and extremely careful

prolific (adj)

fruitful present in large number

dogmatic (adj)

dictatorial, opinionated

placate (v.)

make (someone) less angry or hostile

mercurial (adj.)

subject to sudden of unpredictable changes of mood, temperamental

exacerbate (v.)

infuriate, make worse

redundant (adj.)

redundant, superfluous

hackneyed (adj.)

unoriginal and trite

prudent (adj)

acting with or showing care and thought

belie (v.)

disguise or contradict

esoteric (adj)

mysterious, obscure

cacophony (n)

a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

impetuous (adj)

acting or done quickly without thought or care

idiosyncrasy (noun)

a way of thought peculiar to and individual

extant (adj)

in existence; surviving

obscure

not discovered or known about; uncertain

didactic (adj)

not discovered or known about; uncertain

pithy (adj)

brief, to the point

copious (adj)

abundant in supply or quantity

ostentation (adj)

pretentious and vulgar display intended to impress, show off

adulterate (v)

alter or debase, often for profit

vociferous (adj)

loud and clamorous

taciturn (adj)

reserved or uncommunicative in speech

obdurate (adj)

refuse to change one's opinion; stubborn

garrulous (adj)

excessively talkative

misanthrope (n)

person who hates others

lionize (v)

to treat someone as a celebrity

imminent (adj)

about to happen

frivolous (adj)

trivial, silly

benign (adj)

gentle, kindly

dissonance (n)

lack of harmony, disagreement

inculpate (v)

accuse or blame

docile

compliant, submissive

sporadic (adj)

ocurring at irregular intervals, scattered or isolated

prevaricate (v)

deceive; stretch the truth

chicanery (n)

deception, trickery

gainsay (v)

deny or contradict

eulogy

praise, exclamation

belligerent (adj)

hostile and aggressive

dispassionate

unfeeling, impartial

providential (adj)

lucky, ocurring at a favorable time; opportune

diffidence (n)

hesitancy; lack of confidence

fractious (adj)

irritable and quarrelsome

malign (adj)

hurtful, injurious

disparate (adj)

essentially different in kind, not allowing comparison

plausible (adj)

seeming reasonable or probable

sanguine (adj)

optimistic or positive

venerate (v)

regard with respect

trite (adj)

silly, commonplace

succinct (adj)

brief, to the point

ingenious (adj)

clever, original, and inventive

meticulous (adj)

very careful and precise

erudite (adj)

well educated, cultured

bolster (v)

support or strengthen

anachronism (n)

error in time placement

trivial (adj)

of little value or importance

advocate (n)

person supporting an idea or cause publicly

conspicuous (adj)

obvious, easily seen

innocuous (adj)

harmless and inoffensive

audacious (adj)

reckless, daring

tumultuous (adj)

confused or disorderly

reticent (adj)

secretive, quiet

fervid (adj)

intensely enthusiastic or passionate

enervate (v)

weaken or wear out

prodigal (adj)

wastefully extrvagant

auspicious (adj)

conducive to success; favorable

soporific (adj)

tending to induce drowsiness or sleep

engender (v)

cause or give rise to

loquacious (adj)

tending to talk a great deal; talkative

equivocate (v)

to avoid giving a clear or direct answer to a question

inimical (adj)

tending to obstruct or harm

superfluous (adj)

extra, unnecessary

fastidious (adj)

very careful and attentive

recalcitrant (adj)

disobedient, ncontrollable

ephemeral (adj)

momentary, passing

pusillanimous (adj)

lacking courage, fearful

vacillate (v)

go back and forth, be indecisive

ambivalent (adj)

having mixed feelings, conflicting

enigma (adj)

difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious

euphoric (adj)

intense excitement and happiness

pedant (n)

a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details

profound (adj)

very great or intense; thoughtful

inchoate

undeveloped, beginning

lethargic (adj)

lazy sluggish

deride (adj)

make fun of; insult