GRE vocab terms

aberration

a deviation from what is normal or expected

acrimony

bitterness and ill will

amalgam

a mixture of multiple things

ambiguous

open to more than one interpretation

ambivalent

mixed or conflicting emotions about something

amenable

easily persuaded

amorphous

shapeless

anomalous

not normal

artful

exhibiting artistic skill;

clever in a cunning way

auspicious

favorable

belie

to give false representation to/misrepresent

betray

to reveal or make known something, usually unintentionally

calumny

making of a false statement meant to injure a person’s reputation

castigate

to reprimand harshly

censure

to express strong disapproval

chastise

to reprimand harshly

commensurate

to be in proportion or corresponding in degree or amount

demur

to object or show reluctance

disinterested

unbiased; neutral

egregious

standing out in a negative way; shockingly bad

enervate

to sap energy from

equivocal

confusing or ambiguous

extant

still in existence

frugal

not spending much money, but spending wisely

galvanize

to excite or in inspire someone to action

gregarious

to be likely to socialize with others

harangue

a long pompous speech; a tirade

iconoclast

somebody who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions

impertinent

being disrespectful;

improperly forward or bold

ingenuous

to be naive and innocent

innocuous

harmless and doesn’t produce any ill effects

intimate

to suggest something subtly

involved

complicated and difficult to comprehend

laconic

describes a person, speech, or style of writing using very few words

mercurial

a person prone to unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood

parochial

narrowly restricted in scope or outlook

parsimonious

extremely frugal; miserly

prevaricate

to speak in an evasive way

prodigal

rashly or wastefully extravagant

profligate

spending resources recklessly or wastefully

qualify

to make less severe;

to limit a statement

restive

restless

undermine

to weaken

upbraid

to scold

venality

the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption

venerate

to respect deeply

veracious

truthful

vindicate

to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof

wanting

lacking

aesthete

one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature

aesthetic

concerned with the appreciation of beauty

apathetic

marked by a lack of interest

audacious

willing to be bold in social situations or take risks

banal

repeated too often;

overfamiliar through overuse

bucolic

relating to the pleasant aspects of the country

chortle

to chuckle, laugh merrily, often in a breathy, muffled way

concede

to acknowledge defeat;

to give over, surrender, or relinquish to the physical control of another

conspicuous

without any attempt at concealment;

completely obvious

cryptic

mysterious or vague, usually intentionally

culminate

reach the highest or most decisive point

culpability

a state of guilt

decorous

characterized by good taste in manners and conduct

deferential

showing respect

dictatorial

expecting unquestioning obedience

didactic

instructive (especially excessively)

diffident

showing modest reserve;

lacking self confidence

dogmatic

highly opinionated, not accepting that one’s own beliefs may not be correct

engender

give rise to

entrenched

fixed firmly or securely

eschew

avoid or stay away from deliberately;

stay clear of

exacerbate

make worse

fortuitous

occurring by happy chance;

having no cause or apparent cause

frivolous

not serious in content or attitude or behavior

gainsay

deny or contradict;

speak against or oppose

gall

the trait of being rude and impertinent;

feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will;

to strongly bother, vex, annoy, exasperate

germane

relevant and appropriate

glut

an excessive supply

gossamer

characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy

impudent

improperly forward or bold

incisive

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

inexorable

impossible to stop or prevent

lambast

criticize severely or angrily

mawkish

overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting

meticulous

marked by extreme care in treatment of details

mitigate

make less severe or harsh;

lessen the severity of an offense

obscure

make unclear;

known by only a few

perfidy

an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of trust

platitude

a trite or obvious remark

predilection

a strong liking

prescience

the power to foresee the future

querulous

habitually complaining

recondite

difficult to penetrate;

incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge

reticent

disinclined to talk, not revealing one’s thoughts

rustic

characteristic of rural life;

awkwardly simple and provincial

superfluous

serving no useful purpose;

more than is needed, desired, or required

topor

inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy

vociferous

conspicuously and offensively loud

volubility

the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously

abstain

choose not to consume or take part in (particularly something enjoyable)

ameliorate

make something bad better