GRE Vocab - From Studying

scrupulous

exact, careful, attending thoroughly to details; having high moral standards, principled.

hidebound

narrow-minded and rigid, especially in opinions or prejudices; stubborn, conservative

patronage

Granting favors, giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support

imperious

arrogant, bossy, overbearing; seeking to dominate; pressing, compelling

subvert

to undermine, disrupt or weaken;

transgressive

violation of accepted, or imposed boundaries, especially those of moral/social acceptability

idiosyncrasy

a quirk; an unusual behavior or characteristic unique to one person or thing --> Synonyms: quirk, peculiarity, eccentricity --> Example Sentence: One _____ of the old house is that the kitchen floor slopes slightly to the left.

anachronism

a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned.

indolent

wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy

insular

isolated; narrow or provincial

cacophony

a loud and unpleasant mix of sounds --> Synonyms: din, racket, discord --> Example Sentence: The city streets were filled with a _____ of sirens, horns, and shouting.

outstripped

excelled; surpassed

"all but" in a sentence means what?

almost; basically

veracity

truthfulness; accuracy --> Synonyms: truthfulness, honesty, accuracy --> Example Sentence: The lawyer questioned the _____ of the witness's statement, pointing out several inconsistencies.

palpable

able to be touched or noticed; obvious --> Synonyms: tangible, perceptible, obvious --> Example Sentence: There was a _____ sense of excitement in the crowd as the countdown to the new year began.

opprobrium

public criticism or public disgrace --> Synonyms: ignominy, infamy, disgrace --> Example Sentence: The company faced public _____ after the environmental disaster.

ignoble

dishonorable; shameful --> Synonyms: despicable, contemptible, base --> Example Sentence: It was an _____ act to betray his closest friends just to get a promotion.

meritorious

worthy, deserving recognition and praise

diffident

shy and lacking in self-confidence --> Synonyms: bashful, modest, sheepish --> Example Sentence: The _____ child stood behind her father, too nervous to speak to the new neighbors.

zealous

enthusiastic; enthusiastic --> Synonyms: fervent, ardent, passionate --> Example Sentence: As a _____ supporter of environmental causes, she volunteers her time every weekend.

demur

to object --> Synonyms: protest, hesitate, dissent --> Example Sentence: While most of the committee agreed with the proposal, one member began to _____ due to budget concerns.

dissemble

to hide one's true feelings, motives, etc. --> Synonyms: deceitful, feign, pretend, camouflage --> Example Sentence: She tried to _____ her disappointment by smiling and congratulating the winner.

"all the more" in a sentence means what?

"even more"

myopic

shortsighted (lit. or fig.); shortsightedness (lit. or fig.) --> Synonyms: nearsighted, narrow-minded, short-sighted --> Example Sentence: The company's _____ focus on short-term profits led them to ignore long-term research and development.

byzantine

excessively complicated; involving devious and secretive methods --> Synonyms: complex, intricate, convoluted --> Example Sentence: The company's _____ structure made it difficult to understand who was really in charge.

comity

friendliness and courteous behavior , social harmony--> Synonyms: courtesy, civility, friendliness --> Example Sentence: The debate was marked by a surprising level of _____ between the two rivals.

probity

integrity; honesty and strong morals --> Synonyms: integrity, rectitude, virtue --> Example Sentence: The judge was widely respected for his unwavering _____.

ephemeral

lasting for a very short time --> Synonyms: fleeting, transient, short-lived --> Example Sentence: The beauty of the blooming flowers is _____, lasting only a few days before they begin to wilt and fade.

progenitor

an ancestor; an originator --> Synonyms: ancestor, forefather, founder --> Example Sentence: This ancient device is the _____ of the modern computer.

pedantic

annoyingly precise; one who makes a show of knowledge, esp. by concerning small errors or emphasizing minor details in an annoying way --> Synonyms: fastidious, meticulous, pompous --> Example Sentence: His _____ insistence on following every single rule, no matter how small, often annoyed his colleagues.

corroborate

to confirm or provide support for (a statement, finding, etc.) --> Synonyms: verify, substantiate, validate --> Example Sentence: The witness was able to _____ the suspect's claim that he was at home during the robbery.

arcane

known or understood by few people; secret and mysterious --> Synonyms: obscure, esoteric, mysterious --> Example Sentence: The book contains _____ knowledge about ancient rituals that have been forgotten for centuries.

equivocal

open to more than one interpretation; uncertain; vague; to use deliberately ambiguous or noncommittal language --> Synonyms: ambiguous, uncertain, vague --> Example Sentence: The politician's _____ response left everyone wondering about his true stance on the controversial issue.

parochial

limited in area, scope, or outlook --> Synonyms: provincial, narrow-minded, insular --> Example Sentence: The _____ views of the local council made it hard to introduce new ideas.

inimical

harmful or unfriendly --> Synonyms: hostile, antagonistic, harmful --> Example Sentence: The new regulations were _____ to the growth of small businesses in the region.

attenuate

to weaken, reduce, or make thin; a weakening, a reduction in force, size, or amount --> Synonyms: diminish, mitigate, sap --> Example Sentence: The government implemented new policies to help _____ the effects of the economic recession.

mordant

sharply critical, bitterly sarcastic --> Synonyms: caustic, biting, acerbic --> Example Sentence: The critic's _____ wit made the review both entertaining and devastating to the young author.

soporific

causing sleep or drowsiness, boring --> Synonyms: somnolent, sedative, hypnotic --> Example Sentence: The long, monotonous lecture had a _____ effect on almost everyone in the room.

scintillating

very interesting and exciting; sparkling and brilliant --> Synonyms: dazzling, captivating, brilliant --> Example Sentence: The scientist gave a _____ presentation on the future of deep space exploration.

tendentious

favoring a particular point of view; esp. a controversial one; biased --> Synonyms: biased, partisan, prejudiced --> Example Sentence: The report was criticized for being _____, presenting only one side of the complex issue.

polemical

a strong written or spoken attack on or defense of an opinion, idea, or person; expressing a strong attack on or defense of an opinion, idea, or person --> Synonyms: diatribe, harangue, tirade --> Example Sentence: The author's latest book is a fierce _____ against modern politics.

schism

a split or division, esp. because of disagreement --> Synonyms: rift, fracture, separation --> Example Sentence: The disagreement over doctrine led to a permanent _____ within the church organization.

neophyte

a beginner; a person who is new to something --> Synonyms: novice, beginner, tyro --> Example Sentence: As a _____ in the kitchen, he struggled even with boiling an egg.

betray

to be disloyal; to unintentionally reveal --> Synonyms: deceive, divulge, expose --> Example Sentence: His shaky hands began to _____ his nervous state during the presentation.

conspicuous

obvious; noticeable --> Synonyms: apparent, visible, manifest --> Example Sentence: The bird's bright red feathers made it very _____ against the green leaves.

provincial

narrow-minded and unsophisticated; small-town --> Synonyms: parochial, insular, narrow-minded --> Example Sentence: His _____ attitude made it difficult for him to appreciate the diverse cultures he encountered while traveling.

fecund

fertile --> Synonyms: fruitful, productive, prolific --> Example Sentence: The _____ valley was known for its abundant harvests and variety of crops.

equanimity

mental and emotional calmness and composure; even temper --> Synonyms: serenity, poise, self-control --> Example Sentence: Despite the chaos surrounding him, the captain maintained his _____ and gave clear orders to the crew.

chauvinistic

biased in favor of one's own gender; excessively patriotic --> Synonyms: jingoist, partisan, bigot --> Example Sentence: He was accused of being a _____ for his dismissive comments about women in leadership.

savant

a person of great learning; a scholar --> Synonyms: expert, scholar, genius --> Example Sentence: He is a musical _____ who can play any song perfectly after hearing it only once.

ascetic

harshly self-denying (of pleasure); harshly simple and without comforts or pleasures --> Synonyms: austere, spartan, abstinent --> Example Sentence: The monk lived an _____ life in a small, unadorned cell with only the bare essentials.

precarious

lacking security or stability --> Synonyms: unstable, insecure, risky --> Example Sentence: The company is in a _____ financial position.

chary

cautious --> Synonyms: wary, circumspect, cautious --> Example Sentence: Be _____ of emails asking for your password or personal information.

morose

sulky and unhappy; gloomy --> Synonyms: sullen, gloomy, glum --> Example Sentence: After the team lost the game, the fans were in a _____ mood.

enervate

to cause to feel weak and drained of energy --> Synonyms: exhaust, fatigue, sap --> Example Sentence: The humid heat of the tropical afternoon served to _____ the hikers, forcing them to stop for frequent rests.

inconsequential

not important --> Synonyms: trivial, insignificant --> Example Sentence: The small errors in the report were _____, as the final result was still correct.

facetious

joking or humorous, esp. inappropriately --> Synonyms: flippant, tongue-in-cheek, irreverent --> Example Sentence: His _____ comments during the serious board meeting were not appreciated by the chairman.

elucidate

to clarify; to explain --> Synonyms: clarify, explain, illuminate --> Example Sentence: Could you please _____ your point with a few specific examples so that everyone can understand your reasoning?

exigent

demanding immediate attention; urgent --> Synonyms: pressing, acute, critical --> Example Sentence: The _____ nature of the medical emergency required the doctor to act without a moment's hesitation.

arduous

requiring great effort; difficult and tiring --> Synonyms: strenuous, grueling, laborious --> Example Sentence: Completing the marathon was an _____ task that required months of intense training.

prodigious

impressively large or great --> Synonyms: colossal, immense, monumental --> Example Sentence: The construction of the pyramid was a _____ undertaking that took decades to complete.

adroit

clever; skillful --> Synonyms: adept, deft, nimble --> Example Sentence: He is an _____ negotiator who always manages to get the best deal for his clients.

prowess

great skill or ability --> Synonyms: expertise, mastery, adeptness --> Example Sentence: The athlete's _____ on the basketball court earned him several scholarship offers from top universities.

cloister

to seclude or shut away; a convent or monastery; a secluded place or state --> Synonyms: isolate, sequester, seclude --> Example Sentence: During the final weeks of writing his novel, the author decided to _____ himself in a small cabin in the woods.

precocious

exhibiting qualities or abilities of an adult at an unusually early age --> Synonyms: advanced, gifted, mature --> Example Sentence: The _____ child was already solving complex calculus problems by the age of ten.

paltry

not sufficient; too small --> Synonyms: insignificant, meager, trifling --> Example Sentence: He was offered a _____ sum of money for his hard work.

inordinate

excessive; unusually or disproportionately large --> Synonyms: excessive, extravagant, immoderate --> Example Sentence: She spends an _____ amount of time on social media every day.

pious

devoutly religious, esp. prideful --> Synonyms: devout, religious, spiritual, sanctimonious --> Example Sentence: She is a _____ woman who spends much of her time volunteering for her local church.

proclivity

a tendency, esp. toward something bad --> Synonyms: inclination, penchant, predisposition --> Example Sentence: He has a dangerous _____ for taking unnecessary risks when he is under high pressure.

tenable

able to be maintained or defended --> Synonyms: defensible, justifiable, valid --> Example Sentence: After the new evidence came to light, his theory was no longer considered _____.

obviate

to make unnecessary; to prevent from happening --> Synonyms: preclude, forestall, avert --> Example Sentence: A new software update will _____ the need for manual data entry.

abdicate

to give up a position of power; to reject or abandon (responsibility or duty) --> Synonyms: renounce, relinquish, resign --> Example Sentence: The king decided to _____ the throne in favor of his son.

platitude

an overused and thus uninteresting statement --> Synonyms: cliché, banality, trite remark --> Example Sentence: He offered a series of _____ about hard work and success instead of giving any actual advice.

vapid

boring because showing no intelligence or imagination --> Synonyms: insipid, dull, bland --> Example Sentence: The conversation at the party was _____ and shallow, consisting mostly of gossip and small talk.

perfidious

disloyal and untrustworthy; disloyal; duplicity --> Synonyms: treacherous, duplicitous, deceitful --> Example Sentence: The spy was executed for his _____ acts against the state.

aggrandize

to increase or make (greater, esp. power, wealth, or reputation); an increase; an enhancement in reputation, power, or wealth --> Synonyms: magnify, exalt, amplify --> Example Sentence: The politician was accused of trying to _____ himself at the expense of the taxpayers.

impervious

not affected or hurt by; admitting of no passage or entrance

panache

a stylish, lively, and confident manner --> Synonyms: flair, style, dash --> Example Sentence: She performed the difficult piano concerto with great _____.

libertine

someone who lives without morals; esp. in pursuit of sexual pleasure --> Synonyms: profligate, debauchee, philanderer --> Example Sentence: He was known as a _____, spending his nights in bars and his days sleeping off hangovers.

supplant

to take the place of --> Synonyms: replace, override, displace --> Example Sentence: Electric vehicles are beginning to _____ traditional gasoline cars in many urban centers.

futile

pointless; useless --> Synonyms: useless, vain --> Example Sentence: Their efforts to stop the leak proved to be completely _____.

assail

attack, assault

apostate

a person who abandons a religion, political party, cause, etc. --> Synonyms: defector, traitor, turncoat --> Example Sentence: He was branded an _____ after leaving the church to join a rival religious group.

pernicious

very harmful; esp. in a gradual or not easily noticed way --> Synonyms: detrimental, damaging, deleterious --> Example Sentence: Misinformation can have a _____ effect on public health.

sanguine

optimistic; esp. in a bad situation --> Synonyms: buoyant, cheerful, hopeful --> Example Sentence: Despite the company's financial struggles, the CEO remained _____ about its long-term future.

paucity

a very small or insufficient quantity --> Synonyms: scarcity, dearth, shortage --> Example Sentence: There was a _____ of evidence to support the claims being made.

dearth

a scarcity or lack of something --> Synonyms: shortage, deficiency, paucity --> Example Sentence: There is a _____ of evidence to support the theory at this point in time.

phlegmatic

not easily excited or upset --> Synonyms: stoic, apathetic, cool --> Example Sentence: Despite the crisis, she remained _____, never showing signs of panic.

diatribe

a long, angry speech or written work --> Synonyms: tirade, rant, harangue --> Example Sentence: The editor went on a long _____ against the decline of modern literature.

laconic

using few words --> Synonyms: concise, brief, terse --> Example Sentence: He gave a _____ reply, clearly not wanting to engage in a long conversation.

esoteric

intended for or understood by a small group of people --> Synonyms: obscure, arcane, abstruse --> Example Sentence: The book explores _____ philosophical concepts that are difficult for the average reader to grasp.

analogous / analogue

comparable; similar; something that is similar or comparable to something else --> Synonyms: comparable, parallel, equivalent --> Example Sentence: The wings of a bird are _____ to the flippers of a dolphin in terms of their function.

amalgam

a mixture in which the distinct elements are not lost; to combine into a single entity; to integrate --> Synonyms: blend, mixture, combination --> Example Sentence: The new law is an _____ of several different proposals from both political parties.

petulant

childishly sulky and irritable --> Synonyms: peevish, irritable, cross --> Example Sentence: The _____ child threw a tantrum when he didn't get his way.

convivial

fond of or involving friendly socializing (of a person or atmosphere) --> Synonyms: sociable, genial, festive --> Example Sentence: The holiday party was a _____ affair, with plenty of food, music, and laughter.

aver

to state that something is true --> Synonyms: assert, maintain, claim --> Example Sentence: The witness was able to _____ that she had seen the defendant at the scene of the crime.

gainsay

to deny, dispute, or contradict --> Synonyms: challenge, repudiate, oppose --> Example Sentence: No one could _____ the fact that she was the most qualified candidate for the position.

distill

to extract the essence or most important parts of --> Synonyms: refine, extract, condense --> Example Sentence: The author was able to _____ his years of research into a single, easy-to-read book.

acolytes

a person who follows and assists a leader or important person --> Synonyms: follower, assistant, disciple --> Example Sentence: As a young _____ to the famous chef, she learned the secrets of fine dining.

syncophant

a self-server who tries to gain the favor of others through the use of flattery or by being overattentive