Magoosh 1000 Word GRE Study List

aberrant (Quality/State)

markedly different from an accepted norm.

When the financial director started screaming and throwing food at his co-workers, the police had to come in to deal with his [aberrant] behavior.

aberration (Quality/State)

a deviation from what is normal or expected.

[Aberrations] in climate have become the norm: rarely a week goes by without some meteorological phenomenon making headlines.

abjure (Idea/Belief/Religion)

formally reject or give up (as a belief)

While the church believed that Galileo [abjured] the heliocentric theory under threat of torture, he later wrote a book clearly supporting the theory.

aboveboard (Quality/State)

open and honest.

The mayor, despite his avuncular face plastered about the city, was hardly [aboveboard] -- some concluded that it was his ingratiating smile that allowed him to engage in corrupt behavior and get away with it.

abrogate (Politics/Law)

revoke formally.

As part of the agreement between the labor union and the company, the workers [abrogated] their right to strike for four years in exchange for better health insurance.

abstain (Behavior)

choose not to consume or take part in (particularly something enjoyable)

Considered a health nut, Jessica [abstained] from anything containing sugar--even chocolate.

abstruse (Abstract)

difficult to understand; incomprehensible.

Physics textbooks can seem so [abstruse] to the uninitiated that readers feel as though they are looking at hieroglyphics.

abysmal (Quality/State)

extremely bad.

Coach Ramsey took his newest player off the field after watching a few painful minutes of her [abysmal] performance.

acme (Abstract)

the highest point of achievement.

The new Cessna airplanes will be the [acme] of comfort, offering reclining seats and ample legroom.

adamant (Behavior)

refusing to change one's mind.

Civil rights icon Rosa Parks will forever be remembered for [adamantly] refusing to give up her seat on a public bus — even after the bus driver insisted, she remained rooted in place.

adjudicate (Politics/Law)

to serve as a judge in a competition; to arrive at a judgment or conclusion.

Only those with the most refined palates were able to [adjudicate] during the barbeque competition.

admonish (Behavior)

to warn strongly, even to the point of reprimanding.

Before the concert began, security personel [admonished] the crowd not to come up on stage during the performance.

admonitory (Behavior)

serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective.

At the assembly, the high school vice-principal gave the students an [admonitory] speech, warning them of the many risks and dangers of prom night.

admonitory (Behavior)

serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective.

At the assembly, the high school vice-principal gave the students an [admonitory] speech, warning them of the many risks and dangers of prom night.

advocate (Behavior)

speak, plead, or argue in favor of.

While the senator privately approved of gay marriage, he was unwilling to [advocate] for the cause in a public venue.

advocate (Idea/Belief/Religion)

a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless [advocate] for the rights of African-Americans in the United States.

aesthete (Academics)

one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature.

A true [aesthete], Marty would spend hours at the Guggenheim Museum, staring at the same Picasso.

aesthetic (Academics)

concerned with the appreciation of beauty.

The director, not known for his [aesthetic] sensibilities, decided not to use costumes at all, and put on the play in everyday clothing.

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a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement.

The artist operated according to a peculiar [aesthetic], not considering any photograph to be worth publishing unless it contained a marine mammal.

affable (Behavior)

likeable; easy to talk to.

For all his surface [affability], Marco was remarkably glum when he wasn't around other people.

affluent (Money)

wealthy.

The center of the city had sadly become a pit of penury, while, only five miles away, multi-million dollar homes spoke of [affluence].

afford (Behavior)

provide with an opportunity.

The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro [affords] a panoramic view that encompasses both Tanzania and Kenya.

alacrity (Emotion)

an eager willingness to do something.

The first three weeks at his new job, Mark worked with such alacrity that upper management knew it would be giving him a promotion.

altruism (Quality/State)

the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others.

Albert Schweitzer spent most of his life doing missionary work as a doctor in Africa, seeking no reward, apparently motivated only by altruism.

amalgam (Abstract)

a mixture of multiple things.

The band's music was an [amalgam] of hip-hop, flamenco and jazz, blending the three styles with surprising results.

ambiguous (Academics)

open to more than one interpretation.

The coach told his team, "Move towards that side of the field"; because he did not point, his directions were [ambiguous], and the team had no idea to which side he was referring.

ambivalent (Emotion)

mixed or conflicting emotions about something.

Sam was [ambivalent] about studying for the exam because doing so ate up a lot of his time, yet he was able to improve his analytical skills.

ameliorate (Behavior)

make something bad better.

Three Cups of Tea tells the story of western man who hopes to [ameliorate] poverty and the lack of education in Afghanistan.

amenable (Behavior)

easily persuaded.

Even though she did not like the outdoors, Shirley was generally [amenable] and so her brother was able to persuade her to go camping.

amiable (Behavior)

friendly.

Amy's name was very apt: she was so [amiable] that she was twice voted class president.

amorphous (Quality/State)

shapeless.

His study plan for the GRE was at best [amorphous]; he would do questions from random pages in any one of seven test prep books.

amply (Quantity/Measurement)

more than is adequate.

The boat was [amply] supplied for its year at sea—no man would go hungry or thirst.

amuck (Behavior)

in a frenzied or uncontrolled state.

Wherever the bowl haircut teen-idol went, his legions of screaming fans ran through the streets [amuck], hoping for a glance at his boyish face.

anachronism (Time/Duration)

something that is inappropriate for the given time period (usually something old)

Dressed in 15th century clothing each day, Edward was a walking [anachronism].

analogous (Abstract)

similar in some respects but otherwise different.

In many ways, the Internet's transformative effect on society has been [analogous] to that of the printing press.

anathema (Emotion)

a detested person; the source of somebody's hate.

Hundreds of years ago, Galileo was [anathema] to the church; today the church is anathema to some on the left side of the political spectrum.

anemic (Quality/State)

lacking energy and vigor.

After three straight shows, the lead actress gave an [anemic] performance the fourth night, barely speaking loudly enough for those in the back rows to hear.

animosity (Emotion)

intense hostility.

The governor's [animosity] toward his rival was only inflamed when the latter spread false lies regarding the governor's first term.

anodyne (Behavior)

bland, inoffensive.

Wilbur enjoyed a spicy Mexican breakfast, but Jill prefered a far more [anodyne] meal in the mornings.

anodyne (Quality/State)

something that soothes or relieves pain.

Muzak, which is played in department stores, is intended to be an [anodyne], but is often so cheesy and over-the-top that customers become irritated.

anomalous (Quality/State)

not normal.

According to those who do not believe in climate change, the extreme weather over the last five years is simply [anomalous]—average temps should return to average, they believe.

anomaly (Abstract)

something that is not normal, standard, or expected.

After finding an [anomaly] in the data, she knew that she would have to conduct her experiment again.

antedated (Time/Duration)

precede in time.

Harry was so unknowledgable that he was unaware the Egyptian pharaohs [antedated] the American Revolution.

antic (Behavior)

ludicrously odd.

The clown's [antic] act was too extreme for the youngest children, who left the room in tears.

antipathy (Emotion)

an intense feeling of dislike or aversion.

Maria had an [antipathy] for tour groups, often bolting to the other side of the museum as soon as she saw a chaperone leading a group of wide-eyed tourists.

antiquated (Quality/State)

old-fashioned; belonging to an earlier period in time.

Aunt Betty had [antiquated] notions about marriage, believing that a man should court a woman for at least a year before receiving a kiss.

antithetical (Logic/Reasoning)

sharply contrasted in character or purpose.

His deep emotional involvement with these ideas is, in fact, [antithetical] to the disattachment Buddhism preaches.

apathetic (Emotion)

marked by a lack of interest.

Mr. Thompson was so talented at teaching math that even normally [apathetic] students took interest.

apathy (Emotion)

an absence of emotion or enthusiasm.

Widespread [apathy] among voters led to a very small turnout on election day.

apex (Abstract)

the highest point.

The Ivy League is considered the [apex] of the secondary education system.

aphorism (Academics)

a short instructive saying about a general truth.

Nietzsche was known for using [aphorisms], sometimes encapsulating a complex philosophical thought in a mere sentence.

aphoristic (Academics)

something that is a concise and instructive of a general truth or principle.

Sometimes I can't stand Nathan because he tries to impress everyone by being [aphoristic], but he just states the obvious.

aplomb (Emotion)

great coolness and composure under strain.

Nancy acted with [aplomb] during dangerous situations—she once calmly climbed up an oak tree to save a. cat.

apocryphal (Academics)

being of questionable authenticity.

The web is notorious for sandwiching [apocryphal] stories between actual news.

apogee (Abstract)

the highest point.

The [apogee] of the Viennese style of music, Mozart's music continues to mesmerize audiences well into the 21st century.

apostate (Idea/Belief/Religion)

a person who has abandoned a religious faith or cause.

An [apostate] of the Republican Party, Sheldon has yet to become affiliated with any party and dubs himself an independent.

apothegm (Academics)

a short, pithy instructive saying.

Winston Churchill is famous for many [apothegms], but this might be his most famous: "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.".

apotheosis (Idea/Belief/Religion)

exaltation to divine status; the highest point of development.

As difficult as it is to imagine, the [apotheosis] of Mark Zuckerberg's career, many believe, is yet to come.

appease (Behavior)

pacify by acceding to the demands of.

Neville Chamberlain, the British prime minister during WWII, tried to [appease] Hitler and in doing so sent a clear message: you can walk all over us.

appreciable (Quantity/Measurement)

large enough to be noticed (usually refers to an amount).

There is an [appreciable]difference between those who say they can get the job done and those who actually get the job done.

apprehension (Emotion)

fearful expectation.

Test day can be one of pure [apprehension], as many students worry about their test scores.

approbatory (Behavior)

expressing praise or approval.

Although it might not be her best work, Hunter's new novel has received generally [approbatory] reviews.

appropriate (Behavior)

to allocate.

The committe [appropriated] the funds to its various members.

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to give or take something by force.

The government appropriated land that was occupied by squatters, sending them scurrying for another place to live.

appurtenant (Behavior)

supply added support.

In hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas are appurtenant, helping climbers both carry gear and navigate treacherous paths.

arbitrary (Quality/State)

based on a random, groundless decision.

One of the [arbitrary] decrees in place during the emperor's rule is that all citizens pay him weekly homage at his palace. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE.

arcane (Academics)

requiring secret or mysterious knowledge.

Most college fraternities are known for [arcane] rituals that those hoping to the join the fraterntiy must learn.

arch (Behavior)

to be deliberately teasing.

The baroness was [arch], making playful asides to the townspeople; yet because they couldn't pick up on her dry humor, they thought her supercilious.

archaic (Quality/State)

so old as to appear to belong to a different period.

Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in [archaic] English that was right out of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice—needless to say, she didn't have many friends.

arduous (Quality/State)

demanding considerable mental effort and skill; testing powers of endurance

In order to deal with the [arduous] cross-country journey, truck drivers often survive on a string of caffeinated drinks, staying awake for up to 30 hours at a time.

arrant (Quality/State)

complete and wholly (usually modifying a noun with negative connotation)

An [arrant] fool, Lawrence surprised nobody when he lost all his money in a pyramid scheme that was every bit as transparent as it was corrupt.

arriviste (Behavior)

a person who has recently reached a position of power; a social climber.

The city center was aflutter with [arrivistes] who each tried to outdo one another with their ostentatious sports cars and chic evening dress.

arrogate (Politics/Law)

seize and control without authority.

Arriving at the small town, the outlaw [arrogated] the privileges of a lord, asking the frightened citizens to provide food, drink, and entertainment.

artful (Academics)

exhibiting artistic skill.

Picasso is generally considered the most [artful] member of the Cubist movement.

artful (Behavior)

clever in a cunning way.

Bernie Madoff's [artful] Ponzi scheme stole billions of dollars from investors and is considered the largest financial fraud in U.S. history.

artifice (Behavior)

cunning tricks used to deceive others.

The mayoral candidates both spent much of the campaign accusing each other of [artifices] designed to mislead the voting public.

artless (Behavior)

without cunning or deceit.

Despite the president's seemingly [artless] speeches, he was a skilled and ruthless negotiator.

artlessness (Quality/State)

the quality of innocence.

I, personally, found the [artlessness] of her speech charming.

ascendancy (Politics/Law)

the state that exists when one person or group has power over another.

The [ascendancy] of the Carlsbad water polo team is clear--they have a decade of championships behind them.

ascetic (Idea/Belief/Religion)

practicing self-denial.

His [ascetic] life is the main reason he inspired so many followers, especially since he gave up wealth and power to live in poverty.

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one who practices great self-denial.

Historically, [ascetics] like Ghandi are often considered wise men partially because of their restraint.

ascribe (Abstract)

attribute or credit to.

History [ascribes] The Odyssey and The Illiad to Homer, but scholars now debate whether he was a. historical figure or a fictitious name.

askance (Behavior)

with a look of suspicion or disapproval.

The old couple looked [askance] on the teenagers seated next to them, whispering to each other, "They've got rings through their noses and purple hair!".

asperity (Behavior)

harshness of manner.

The editor was known for his [asperity], often sending severe letters of rejection to amateur writers.

assail (Behavior)

attack in speech or writing.

In the weekly paper, the editor [assailed] the governor for wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars in public projects that quickly failed.

assiduously (Behavior)

with care and persistence.

The top college football program recruits new talent [assiduously], only choosing those who were the top in their county.

assuage (Behavior)

make something intense less severe.

Her fear that the new college would be filled with unknown faces was [assuaged] when she recognized her childhood friend standing in line.

atavism (Abstract)

a reappearance of an earlier characteristic; throwback.

Much of the modern art movement was an [atavism] to a style of art found only in small villages through Africa and South America.

attenuate (Quality/State)

to weaken (in terms of intensity); to taper off/become thinner.

Her [animosity] towards Bob attenuated over the years, and she even went so far as to invite him to her party.

audacious (Behavior)

willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks.

As all of the other campers cowered in their tents, Bill, armed only with a flashlight, [audaciously] tracked down the bear that had raided their food.

audacity (Behavior)

aggressive boldness in social situations.

She surprised her colleagues by having the [audacity] to publically criticize the findings of an distinguished scientist.

augment (Abstract)

enlarge or increase; improve.

Ideally, the restaurant's [augmented] menu will expand its clientele and increase its profits.

auspicious (Quality/State)

favorable, the opposite of sinister.

Despite an [auspicious] beginning, Mike's road trip became a series of mishaps, and he was soon stranded and penniless, leaning against his wrecked automobile.

austere (Behavior)

harsh in manner of temperament.

The principal of my elementary school was a cold, [austere] woman; I could never understand why she chose to work with children.

austere (Idea/Belief/Religion)

practicing self-denial.

His lifestyle of revelry and luxurious excess could hardly be called [austere].

austere (Quality/State)

unadorned in style or appearance.

Late Soviet architecture, although remaining largely [austere], moved into experimental territory that employed previously unused shapes and structures.

autocratic (Behavior)

offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power.

The manager was finally fired for his autocratic leadership, which often bordered on rude and offensive.

autocratic (Politics/Law)

characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty.

The last true [autocratic] country is certainly North Korea; nowhere does a leader exercise the absolute control over all aspects of a people the way that Kim Jong-un does.

autonomously (Politics/Law)

In an autonomous or self-governing manner.

Many of the factory workers are worried about being replaced by machines and computers that will work completely [autonomously].

avarice (Money)

greed (one of the seven deadly sins)

The Spanish conquistadors were known for their [avarice], plundering Incan land and stealing Incan gold.

avaricious (Money)

excessively greedy.

Since [avaricious] desire is similar to gluttony or lust--sins of excess--it was listed as one of the seven deadly sins by the Catholic church.

avert (Behavior)

ward off or prevent.

The struggling videogame company put all of its finances into one final, desperate project to avert bankrupcy.

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turn away.

Afraid to see the aftermath of the car crash, I [averted] my eyes as we drove by.

avid (Emotion)

marked by active interest and enthusiasm.

Martin is an [avid] birdwatcher, often taking long hikes into remote mountains to see some rare eagle.