Common GRE Words: C

cacophony

harsh, jarring noise

• The junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable _____ as they tried to tune their instruments

candid

impartial and honest in speech

• The observations of a child can be charming since they are _____ and unpretentious

capricious

changing one’s mind quickly and often

• Queen Elizabeth I was quite _____; her courtiers could never be sure which of their number would catch her fancy

castigate

to punish or criticize harshly

• Many Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in Singapore _____ perpetrators of what would be considered minor crimes in the United States

catalyst

something that brings about change in something else

• The imposition of harsh taxes was the ____ that finally brought on the revolution

caustic

biting in wit

• Dorothy Parker gained her reputation for ____ wit from her cutting, yet clever, insults

chaos

great disorder or confusion

• In many religious traditions, God created ordered universe from ____.

chauvinist

someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs

• The attitude that men are inherently superior to women and therefore must be obeyed is common among male ____

chicanery

deception by means of craft or guile

• Dishonest used car salespeople often use ____ to sell their beat-up old cars

cogent

convincing and well-reasoned

• Swayed by the ____ argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but acquit the defendant

condone

to overlook, pardon, or disregard

• Some theorists believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as ____ an air of lawlessness

convoluted

intricate and complicated

• Although many people bought A Brief History of Time, few could follow its _____ ideas and theories

corroborate

to provide supporting evidence

• Fingerprints ___ the witness’s testimony that he saw the defendant in the victim’s apartment

credulous

too trusting; gullible

• Although some four-year-olds believe in the Easter Bunny, only the most ____ nine-year-olds still believe in him

crescendo

steadily increasing volume or force

• The _____ of tension became unbearable as Evel Knievel prepared to jump his motorcycle over the school buses