GRE Vocab

affability

friendliness, the quality of being friendly and easy to talk to

ameliorate

to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming

didacticism

teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson, a philosophy that emphasizes instructional and informative qualities in literature, art, and design

fastidious

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail, excessively careful

iconoclasm (iconoclast)

the action of attacking or assertively rejecting cherished beliefs and institutions or established values and practices.

the rejection or destruction of religious images as heretical; the doctrine of iconoclasts.

polemic

a strong verbal or written attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another, also may be a controversial opinion about someone (can also be used as an adj)

capricious

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior, likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly, mercurial

exacting

extremely demanding, tryingly or unremittingly severe in making demands, making great demands on one's skill, attention, or other resources

acerbic

sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone, can also mean bitter in taste

diffidence

shyness; lack of confidence

illiberal

narrow-mindedness, bigotry; strictness or lack of generosity, opposed to liberal principles; restricting freedom of thought or behavior.

florid

excessively decorated or embellished, very flowery in style, tinged with red/flushed

belie

to give a false impression of, fail to give a true notion of, to contradict

"his lively, alert manner belied his years"

"the notebooks belie Darwin's later recollection"

austerity

sternness or severity of manner or attitude, extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance, asceticism

prolixity

tedious wordiness; unduly prolonged or drawn out, the fact of using too many words and therefore being boring or difficult to read or listen to, verbosity

prodigal

(adj.) spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant ; lavishly or generously abundant; OR having or giving something on a lavish scale.

(n.) one who is wasteful and self-indulgent

"prodigal habits die hard"

"the dessert was crunchy with brown sugar and prodigal with whipped cream"

"he hated rich prodigals who lived useless, imprudent lives"

taciturn

(adj.) habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little

volubility

the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously, the quality of being talkative, wordy, or glib

prosaic

(adj.) dull, lacking in distinction and originality; ordinary, unimaginative, having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty

hackneyed

used so often as to lack freshness or originality, worn out from too much use : commonplace

Placid

calm, peaceful, (of a person or animal) not easily upset or excited, (especially of a place or stretch of water) calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity.

restive

restless, (of a person) unable to keep still or silent and becoming increasingly difficult to control, especially because of impatience, dissatisfaction, or boredom

vociferous

loud and noisy; compelling attention, making a loud outcry, clamorous

circumscribed

restricted or limited, to be closed within bounds

indecorous

lacking good taste; improper

unseemly

not suitable; inappropriate or improper, not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation

recalcitrant

stubbornly disobedient, resisting authority, can also be a noun

recondite

exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding, (of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse

feckless

(adj.) lacking in spirit and strength; ineffective, weak; irresponsible, unreliable

scintilating

sparkling or shining bightly; brilliantly and excitingly clever or skillful

veracious

honest; truthful, speaking or representing the truth.

efflorescence

Blooming of flowers, state of flowering

acquisitive

(adj.) excessively interested in acquiring money or material things, able to get and retain ideas or information (maybe)

clangorous

having a loud resonant metallic sound, characterized by or making a continuous loud banging or ringing sound, (clangor is noun)

impecunious

having little or no money

assiduous

persistent, attentive, diligent, showing great care and perseverance

dissemble

(v.) to disguise or conceal, deliberately give a false impression

abstruse

difficult to understand, recondite; esoteric

hortatory

encouraging; inciting, urging to some course of conduct or action

extant

still in existence; surviving

penchant

a strong attraction or inclination, a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something.

harbinger

a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another

cursory

hasty, not thorough, rapidly and often superficially performed or produced : hasty

prefunctory

done without care, superficial, (of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection.

shrewd

clever, having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute.

sanguine

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

equivocal

open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous

ambivalent

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

irresolute

indecisive, showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain

bucolic

pertaining to the countryside; rural; rustic

canny

careful, having or showing shrewdness and good judgment, especially in money or business matters.

adroit

clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.

impetus

driving force; impulse; stimulus, something that arouses action or activity

boon

a timely benefit; a blessing, a gift, a thing that is helpful or beneficial.

hidebound

strongly opinionated; narrow-mindedly stubborn, unwilling or unable to change because of tradition or convention

refuse

waste material, garbage

surly

bad-tempered and unfriendly

prudent

acting with or showing care and thought for the future

deft

neatly skillful and quick in one's movements

sacrosanct

(especially of a principle, place, or routine) regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with.

expurgate

remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable from (a text or account).

foible

a weak point, failing, minor flaw, a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character.

premonitory

conveying a forewarning, giving warning

laudatory

(of speech or writing) expressing praise and commendation.

provincial

local/regional, concerning a particular area

or

limited in knowledge of the world; narrow-minded

obstinate

stubborn; unyielding, stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.

loquacious

very talkative

stanch

to stop the flow of (general blood from a wound)

accentuate

make more noticeable or prominent

alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness, physical quickness coupled with eagerness or enthusiasm

rhapsody

an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling.

an epic poem, or part of it, of a suitable length for recitation at one time.

byword

a person or thing cited as a notorious and outstanding example or embodiment of something.

devolve

to pass on (something, such as responsibility, rights, or powers) from one person or entity to another

deleterious

harmful, injurious

substantive

real, having a solid basis; having a firm basis in reality and therefore important, meaningful, or considerable

sycophant

a flatterer; one who fawns on others in order to gain favor, a self-server who tries to gain the favor of others through the use of flattery or by being overattentive

blithe

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

happy or joyous

phlegmatic

calm and unemotional in temperament

vituperation

bitter and abusive language

bemused

confused; bewildered

prescience

knowledge of events or actions before they happen; foresight

ephemeral

fleeting, lasting a very short time

perspicacity

keenness in observing, understanding and judgment; the quality of having a ready insight into things; shrewdness.

fickleness

Changeability, especially as regards one's loyalties or affections

Spurious

not genuine; false

disinterested

not influenced by considerations of personal advantage

having or feeling no interest in something.

mollify

to soothe in temper or disposition, to calm or make less severe

egotism

the practice of talking and thinking about oneself excessively because of an undue sense of self-importance, conceit

auspicious

conducive to success; favorable, showing or suggesting that future success is likely

pugnacious

quarrelsome, fond of fighting, having a combative nature

maladroit

clumsy; unskillful, ineffective or bungling, inept

conciliatory

intended or likely to placate or pacify, intended to gain goodwill or favor or to reduce hostility

predilection

A preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something, an established preference for something

occlude

to obstruct or block, stop, close up

can also mean conceal

propitiate

to conciliate; to appease, to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of

presage

(of an event) be a sign or warning that (something, typically something bad) will happen. to foretell; indicate in advance, an omen

can be a noun or verb

dilatory

tending to delay or procrastinate, slow to act

or

intended to cause delay

indefatigable

persisting tirelessly

impugn

dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of (a statement or motive), to call into question; to attack as false

extol

praise enthusiastically