GRE VOCAB

recondite

• obscure and difficult to understand

The book is far too _______ to be enjoyed by most.

Synonyms:

• arcane

• obscure

• esoteric

initimated

• subtly suggest or imply

The professor _______ there would be a test next week.

Synonyms:

• insinuate

• hint

• allude to

opaque

• unclear; hard to comprehend

The scientist's _______ explanation left the audience more confused than enlightened.

Synonyms:

• puzzling

• baffling

• inexplicable

---

adjective:

• not able to be seen through

The visual evidence is not reliable given the windows were so _______.

Synonyms:

• blurred

• muddy

• hazy

approbation

• appreciation toward someone

Roman leaders thrived on _______ from the masses.

Synonyms:

• recognition

• commendation

• laudation

inimical

• damaging; hostile in manner or tone

The entire affair has been _______ to our interests.

Synonyms:

• detrimental

• pernicious

• antagonistic

polemical

• giving a strong, controversial opinion

His work is usually _______, but this latest is surprisingly neutral.

Synonyms:

• virulent

• corrosive

• scathing

profundity

• great wisdom or intelligence

James claims to possess _______, but his advice often comes from Google.

Synonyms:

• sagacity

• acuity

• percipience

pedant

• overly concerned with (minor) details

The _______ instruction annoys and frustrates the students.

Synonyms:

• nitpicky

• fastidious

• fussy

impertinent

• disrespectful or inappropriate

His _______ behavior at the meeting shocked everyone.

Synonyms:

• insolent

• brazen

• impudent

---

adjective:

• irrelevant or unrelated to something

Employees kept bringing up _______ issues at the meeting.

Synonyms:

• inapposite

• immaterial

• inapplicable

irresolute

• uncertain or lacking determination

She was _______ about her decision to move abroad.

Synonyms:

• vacillating

• dithering

• faltering

imperious

• having an arrogant or domineering manner

His _______ demeanor was off-putting to his colleagues.

Synonyms:

• peremptory

• overbearing

• officious

prosaic

• straightforward; unoriginal; unimaginative

His speech was _______, devoid of any rhetorical flourish.

Synonyms:

• mundane

• humdrum

• pedestrian

sporadic

• happening occasionally and irregularly

There have been _______ outbreaks of the disease.

Synonyms:

• occasional

• intermittent

• scattered

specious

• seemingly reasonable but actually wrong

Her argument, though _______, convinced many people due to her charisma.

Synonyms:

• misleading

• deceptive

• fallacious

presumptuous

• overstepping boundaries, often in an overconfident way

It would be _______ of me to comment on the matter without knowing all the facts.

Synonyms:

• brazen

• arrogant

• audacious

affected

• a pretense or show meant to impress others

His French accent was an _______ as he had never been to France.

Synonyms:

• artificiality

• posturing

• airs

engendered

• produce or stimulate the development of something

The politician's controversial statement _______ a wave of criticism.

Synonyms:

• give rise to

• induce

• provoke

dissemble

• hide or misrepresent one's true feelings or beliefs

Despite his anger, he had to _______ in order to maintain his composure.

Synonyms:

• feign

• masquerade

• bluff

 

doggedness

• demonstrating tenacity and an unwillingness to give up

Despite the challenges, she pursued her goal with _______ determination.

Synonyms:

• resolved

• pertinacious

• unflagging

probity

• the characteristic of having strong ethical standards

His reputation for _______ in all aspects of his life is well known.

Synonyms:

• integrity

• rectitude

• virtue

pertinacity

• stubbornly holding onto a belief or course of action

Her _______ efforts to get the law changed eventually paid off.

Synonyms:

• assiduous

• resolute

• dogged

chauvinism

• excessively patriotic or biased in favor of a group or cause

His _______ pride in his country blinded him to its flaws.

Synonyms:

• nationalistic

• jingoistic

• prejudiced

reproach

• express criticism towards; reprimand

She was _______ for not trying hard enough during the match.

Synonyms:

• rebuke

• admonish

• censure

malign

• evil and harmful

His _______ influence had a detrimental effect on the team's morale.

Synonyms:

• malevolent

• inimical

• malicious

---

verb:

• speak about someone in a bitter and critical manner

It's unfair to _______ someone based on hearsay and rumors.

Synonyms:

• defame

• smear

• vilify

salubrious

• promoting health or well-being

The doctor recommended a _______ diet and regular exercise.

Synonyms:

• salutary

• beneficial

• healthful

---

adjective:

• (of a place or accommodation) pleasant

The hotel room was _______.

Synonyms:

• agreeable

• luxurious

• grand

sedulous

• paying attention to details; diligent

With _______ attention to detail, she proofread the entire manuscript.

Synonyms:

• meticulous

• assiduous

• punctilious

dearth

• lack of something in a particular area

There is a _______ of affordable housing in most major cities.

Synonyms:

• scarcity

• shortfall

• want

stern

• hard, harsh, or severe in manner

His _______ demeanor was intimidating to his subordinates.

Synonyms:

• forbidding

• grim

• stringent

irreverent

• lacking proper respect or seriousness

His _______ humor often offended more conservative people.

Synonyms:

• derisive

• insolent

  • impertinent

platitiudes

• a trite or banal remark or statement

Politicians often use _______ to appeal to common sentiments.

Synonyms:

• banality

• truism

  • bromide

indolent

• habitually lazy; averse to activity

He was _______ and rarely helped with household chores.

Synonyms:

• idle

• slothful

  • lackadaisical

insular

• limited in outlook or experience; narrow

Living in a small, rural community can sometimes lead to an _______ worldview.

Synonyms:

• parochial

• provincial

  • myopic

explicable

• able to be explained or understood

The stock market is _______ if you understand economics.

Synonyms:

• comprehensible

• interpretable

  • intelligible

neophyte

• an amateur or novice in a field

As a _______ in gardening, she had a lot to learn about plants and soil.

Synonyms:

• tyro

• initiate

  • fledgling

intrepid

• resolutely fearless; brave

The _______ firefighters rushed into the burning building.

Synonyms:

• dauntless

• mettlesome

  • plucky

evanescent

• vanishing or fading away quickly, like mist or a phantom

Her _______ smile hinted at her fleeting thoughts.

Synonyms:

• ephemeral

• fleeting

  • transitory

decadent

• marked by or indicative of a decline in moral values or cultural standards.

The extravagant party was a display of _______ luxury.

Synonyms:

• dissolute

• depraved

  • corrupt

sagacious

• demonstrating wisdom or sound judgment

The _______ investor rarely made a bad business decision.

Synonyms:

• astute

• penetrating

• perspicacious

egregious

• remarkably bad or shocking, to a conspicuous degree

His refusal to apologize for the _______ error was shocking.

Synonyms:

• appalling

• dreadful

• grievous

pugnacious

• quick to engage in a conflict or argument; combative

His _______ demeanor often got him into heated debates.

Synonyms:

• belligerent

• bellicose

  • truculent

convivial

• demonstrating a jovial nature or a fondness for festivities and companionship

The family reunion was a _______ event with laughter and storytelling.

Synonyms:

• amiable

• cordial

  • genial

conjectural

• pertaining to a guess or inference made with limited data

Without more information, his explanation remained _______.

Synonyms:

• speculative

• putative

  • suppositional

forbear

• refrain or abstain from doing something

She chose to _______ commenting until she had all the facts.

Synonyms:

• eschew

• desist

  • shun

mordant

• biting or sharply critical in thought or expression

His _______ wit often left others feeling a bit stung.

Synonyms:

• trenchant

• caustic

  • acerbic

circumspect

• cautious or wary, especially when considering potential consequences

She was _______ about sharing personal information at work.

Synonyms:

• wary

• chary

  • guarded

boorish

• rude or unrefined in manners or behavior

His _______ behavior at the dinner party embarrassed his wife.

Synonyms:

• coarse

• uncouth

  • discourteous

brook

• to tolerate or endure something, especially an annoyance

She would not _______ any interruptions during her presentation.

Synonyms:

• abide

• stand

  • stomach

fecund

• fertile or highly productive

The _______ soil of the valley yielded bountiful harvests.

Synonyms:

• fruitful

• prolific

  • thriving

edifying

• enlighten or uplift through knowledge; teach

The seminar aimed to _______ attendees about environmental conservation.

Synonyms:

• educate

• cultivate

  • indoctrinate

haphazard

• lacking clear planning, order, or direction

The files were arranged in a _______ manner, making it hard to locate anything.

Synonyms:

• unsystematic

• indiscriminate

  • arbitrary

comity

• a courteous harmony or mutual respect toward others

The neighboring countries maintained _______ through years of potential conflicts.

Synonyms:

• amicability

• civility

• goodwill

felicitous

• well-suited or apt

Her _______ remarks made everyone at the gathering smile.

Synonyms:

• fitting

• pertinent

• germane

---

adjective

• causing delight or satisfaction

The team's victory came at a felicitous time, boosting morale when it was needed the most.

Synonyms:

• fortunate

• encouraging

• favorable

tact

• skill in handling difficult situations without causing offense

She showed great _______ when mediating the argument between her friends.

Synonyms:

• delicacy

• diplomacy

• discretion

portends

• indicate or warn that something, often unpleasant, is going to happen

The dark clouds _______ an approaching storm.

Synonyms:

• presage

• augur

• foreshadow

eschewed

• intentionally avoid or abstain from

He decided to _______ alcohol for a month.

Synonyms:

• forgo

• abjure

• renounce

nonchalant

• appearing casually calm or indifferent

Despite the chaos around her, she remained _______.

Synonyms:

• collected

• blasé

• insouciant

acumen

• quickness and keenness in understanding and judgment

Her business _______ is evident in the company's continued growth.

Synonyms:

• shrewdness

• acuity

• sharpness

salutary

• beneficial, especially in promoting health or well-being

A morning jog can have a _______ effect on your mood.

Synonyms:

• productive

• valuable

• salubrious

somnolent

• sleepy or drowsy

The lecture's monotone delivery had a _______ effect on the audience.

Synonyms:

• soporific

• enervated

• languorous

spartan

• marked by simplicity, frugality, and avoidance of luxury

The monk's room was _______, with only essential items.

Synonyms:

• austere

• stringent

• ascetic

pervasive

• spreading quickly and in great numbers

The influence of technology is _______ in modern society.

Synonyms:

• prevalent

• rife

• ubiquitous

complacency

• smugly self-satisfied, often without awareness of potential dangers

The team became _______ after their early successes.

Synonyms:

• self-congratulatory

• gloating

• proud

truculent

• aggressively combative or confrontational

The _______ student constantly challenged the teacher's authority.

Synonyms:

• pugnacious

• bellicose

• obstreperous

droll

• amusing in a quirky or unusual way

His _______ anecdotes always made us chuckle.

Synonyms:

• mirthful

• hilarious

• humorous

limpid

• clear, transparent, or easy to understand

The _______ waters of the lake reflected the clear blue sky.

Synonyms:

• lucid

• coherent

• comprehensible

mawkish

overly sentimental in a way that seems exaggerated or insincere

The movie's _______ ending left some audience members rolling their eyes.

Synonyms:

• cloying

• saccharine

• sickly

perfunctory

• done without enthusiasm or effort;

His handshake was _______, lacking warmth.

Synonyms:

• cursory

• desultory

• superficial

churlishly

• rude or lacking good manners

His _______ reply caught everyone off guard.

Synonyms:

• ungracious

• boorish

• loutish

obeisance

• reverence for an individual

The knight paid _______ to the queen.

Synonyms:

• homage

• adoration

• veneration

panacea

• a perfect cure for something

There's no single _______ for the economic challenges we face.

Synonyms:

• cure-all

• elixir

• nostrum

vitiated

• impair or corrupt the quality of something

Excessive use of clichés will _______ the effectiveness of a speech.

Synonyms:

• taint

• contaminate

• sully

tenable

• (of an idea or method) justifiable and rational

His argument was hardly _______ in the face of clear evidence.

Synonyms:

• sound

• plausible

• sustainable

fungible

• interchangeable for another item of a similar type

Oil and cash are considered _______ commodities.

Synonyms:

• exchangeable

• equivalent

• indistinguishable

versimilitude

• appearance or semblance of truth or reality; believability.

The film had an impressive _______ due to its attention to detail.

Synonyms:

• authenticity

• credibility

• lifelikeness

cavalier

• exhibiting an overly casual attitude; unconcerned

His _______ dismissal of the issue upset many.

Synonyms:

• offhand

• insouciant

• dismissive

opprobrium

• severe criticism or public shame

He faced _______ for his unethical actions.

Synonyms:

• vilification

• vituperation

• obloquy

canny

• shrewd and cautious

Her _______ investments made her a millionaire.

Synonyms:

• astute

• discerning

• acute

hackneyed

• lacking creativity; derivative and overused

"Love at first sight" is a _______ plot in romance novels.

Synonyms:

• trite

• banal

• pedestrian

onerous

• involving a heavy burden; challenging or difficult

The _______ task of cleaning the entire house was left to her.

Synonyms:

• formidable

• taxing

• Herculean

acrimonious

• bitter and sharp in language or tone

Their divorce was _______, with both parties hurling insults.

Synonyms:

• caustic

• scathing

• astringent

urbane

• refined, sophisticated, and courteous

He was _______ in manner, making everyone feel comfortable.

Synonyms:

• suave

• debonair

• cultivated

exasperated

• severely irritated or angry

She was _______ by the constant interruptions.

Synonyms:

• infuriated

• enraged

• vexed

parsimonious

• extremely frugal or stingy

His _______ habits meant he rarely treated others.

Synonyms:

• miserly

• stinting

• penurious

numinous

• having a spiritual or divine quality

The church had a _______ aura that calmed the visitors.

Synonyms:

• sacred

• otherworldly

• transcendent

pellucid

adjective:

• transparently clear in meaning or style

Her explanations were always _______, making complex ideas easy to grasp.

Synonyms:

• lucid

• unambiguous

• straightforward

---

adjective:

• (of a body of water or substance) transparent and clear

Lake Tahoe is famous for its _______ water.

Synonyms:

• limpid

• translucent

• crystalline

credible

adjective:

• able to be trusted; persuasive

The evidence was _______ enough to support her case.

Synonyms:

• valid

• tenable

• compelling

extraneous

adjective:

• lacking relevance; unnecessary

Please remove any _______ information from the report.

Synonyms:

• immaterial

• inapposite

• incidental

overt

adjective:

• open and observable; not hidden or secret

Her _______ criticism was surprising to many.

Synonyms:

• plain

• manifest

• patent

conciliatory

adjective:

• intended to appease or calm someone down

His _______ gesture helped to resolve the argument.

Synonyms:

• placatory

• pacifying

• mollifying

countenanced

verb:

• accept or permit

He wouldn't _______ any criticism of his decision.

Synonyms:

• tolerate

• endure

• brook

---

noun:

• the look of a person's face or expression

Her _______ fell when she heard the bad news.

Synonyms:

• No great synonyms really.

byzantine

adjective:

• overly complex or intricate

Navigating the _______ regulations required the help of an expert.

Synonyms:

• convoluted

• involved

• serpentine

trenchant

adjective:

• keen and biting; vigorously articulate

She was known for her _______ wit and clever repartees.

Synonyms:

• cutting

• penetrating

• mordant

reticent

adjective:

• keeping one's thoughts and opinions to oneself; reserved or restrained

Though an expert in his field, he was _______ about his own achievements.

Synonyms:

• inhibited

• diffident

• unassuming

torpor

• a state of apathy or lethargy

The long, hot summer days led to a general _______ among the town's residents.

Synonyms:

• inertia

• languor

• idleness

polymathic

• a person with extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge

Leonardo da Vinci was a true _______, excelling in art, science, and engineering.

Synonyms:

• savant

• multi-disciplinarian

• erudite

adroit at

• deft, dexterous, or skillful

The _____ artist created a masterpiece with just a few strokes of paint.

Synonyms:

• agile

• nimble

• quick-witted

virulent

• extremely hostile or malicious; intensely acrimonious

The article had a _____ tone, attacking everyone with a differing opinion.

Synonyms:

• vitriolic

• malevolent

• spiteful

unscrupulous

• without moral principles

The _____ merchant was known to overcharge unsuspecting tourists.

Synonyms:

• amoral

• reprobate

• shameless

propriety

• conformity to established standards of good or proper behavior

In the royal court, one had to act with the utmost _____.

Synonyms:

• decorum

• etiquette

• discretion

veracity

• conformity to truth or accuracy

The journalist questioned the _____ of the politician's claims.

Synonyms:

• exactness

• authenticity

• fidelity