GRE Vocab

Abase

to humble; disgrace

Abate

to reduce in amount, degree, or severity

Abdicate

to give up a position, right, or power

Aberrant

deviating from what is normal or expected

Abeyance

temporary suppression or supension

Abjure

to reject; abandon formally

Abscond

to leave secretly

Abstain

to chose not to do something

Abstemious

moderate in appetite

Abyss

an extreely deep hole

Accretion

a growth in size; increase in amount

Acidulous

sour in taste or manner

Acme

highest point; summit; the highest level or degree attainable

Adulterate

to make impure

Advocate

to speak in favor of

Aerie

a nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling

Aesthetic

concerning the appreciation of beauty

Affected

phony; artificial

Aggrandize

to increase in power, influence, and reputation

Alacrity

speed or quickness

Alleviate

to make more bearable

Amalgamate

to combine; to mix together

Ambiguous

doubtful or uncertain; can be interpreted several ways

Ameliorate

to make better; to improve

Amortize

to diminish by installment payments

Amulet

ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits

Anachronism

something out of place in time

Analgesia

a lessening of pain without loss of consciousness

Analogous

similar or alike insome way; equivalent to

Anodyne

something that calms or soothes pain

Anomaly

deviation from what is normal

Antagonize

to annoy or provoke to anger

Antipathy

extreme dislike

Apathy

lack of interest or emotion

Apocryphal

of questionable authority or authenticity

Apostate

one who renounces a religious faith

Approbation

approval and praise

Arbitrary

determined by chance or impulse

Arbitrate

to judge a dispute between two opposing parties

Archaic

ancient; old-fashioned

Ardor

intense and passionate feeling

Arrogate

to claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right

Articulate

able to speak clearly and expressively

Assail

to attack; assault

Assuage

to make something unpleasant less severe

Attenuate

to reduce in force or degree; weaken,make weak

Audacious

fearless and daring

Augury

prophecy; prediction of events

August

dignified; grandiose

Austere

severe or stern in appearance; undecorated

Axiom

premise; postulate; self-evident truth,univeral principal

Banal

predictable; cliched; boring

Belfry

bell tower; room in which a bell in hung

Bevy

group

Bifurcate

to divide into two parts

Bilk

to cheat; defraud

Blight

to afflict; destroy

Blithe

joyful; cheerful; or without appropriate thought

Bolster

to support; prop up

Bombastic

pompous in speech and manner

Bonhomie

good-natured geniality; atmosphere of good cheer

Boor

crude person, one lacking manners or taste

Burgeon

to grow and flourish

Burnish

to polish

Cabal

a secret group seeking to overturn something

Cacophony

harsh, jarring noise

Calumny

a false and malicious accusation; misrepresentation

Canard

a lie

Candid

impartial and honest in speech

Capricious

changing one's mind quickly and often

Cartography

science or art of making maps

Castigate

to punish or criticize harshly

Catalyst

something that brings about a change in something else

Catholic

universal broad and comprehensive

Caustic

biting in wit

Chaos

great disorder or confused situation

Chauvinist

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

Chicanery

deception by means of craft or guile

Circumspect

cautious; aware of potential consequences

Cloying

sickly sweet; excessive

Coalesce

to grow together to form a single whole

Coffer

strongbox; large chest for money

Cogent

convincing and well-reasoned

Collusion

collaboration; complicity; conspiracy

Condone

to overlook, pardon, or disregard

Connoisseur

a person with expert knowledge or discriminating tastes

Contrite

deeply sorrowful and repentatnt for a wrong

Contumacious

rebellious

Convoluted

intricate and complicated

Corroborate

to support with evidence

Cosset

to pamper; treat with great care

Coterie

an intimate group of persons with a similar purpose

Craven

lacking courage

Credulous

too trusting; gullible

Crescendo

steadily increasing in volume or force

Cupidity

greed; strong desire

Curmudgeon

cranky person, usually old

Debutante

young woman making debut in high society

Declivity

downward slope

Decorous

proper; tasteful; socially correct