GRE Vocab Group 17

acclaim

praise or approve enthusiastically

ascertain

find out or learn with certainty

assertive

confident and direct in claiming one’s rights or expressing ideas

bogus

fake or not genuine

cataclysmic

causing great disruption or upheaval

circumscribe

limit or restrict something narrowly

complementary

enhancing or perfecting when combined with something else

contentious

causing or likely to provoke disagreement

disingenuous

pretending to be sincere or straightforward

divulge

disclose or reveal information

dogmatic

insisting on one’s ideas without being open to others

fallacious

based on mistaken beliefs

foolhardy

recklessly daring or rash

hinder

obstruct or delay progress

impair

weaken or damage something

impugn

challenge the truth or honesty of something

incessant

constant or unending

inclined

feeling a tendency or preference towards

inveterate

deep rooted or long established

miserly

reluctant to spend or share

patent

clear or obvious; a government grant giving an inventor exclusive rights

petulant

irritable or impatient, especially over minor issues

pithy

expressing ideas in a concise, meaningful manner

pliant

flexible or easily influenced, willing to agree with others or be easily controlled

sanctimonious

pretending to be morally superior

sound

based on reason, sense, or judgment; to measure the depth or determine the quality

tarnish

make or become less valuable or respected; damage or harm done to something

tepid

showing little enthusiasm

upbraid

criticize or scold severely

vexation

the state of being annoyed or frustrated