GRE Vocabular Prep

abeyance State of suspension; temporary inaction

abscond To sneak away

abstemious Indicative of self-denial, particularly with food or drink

abstruse Difficult to comprehend

acquiescent Agreeing without protest

acrid Bitter; harsh

acrimonious Bitter in temper, manner, and speech

acumen Keenness; quickness of intellectual insight

admonition A gentle reproof

affront To deliberately offend, as with a gesture

aggrandize To widen in scope or make bigger or greater

allay To reduce the intensity of

ameliorate To make better or improve

anachronous Out of place in time

articulate Well-spoken, eloquent

artifice Cleverness or skill

artless Without deceit or cunning; sincere

assiduous Persistent, unceasing

astute Keen; wise

austere Unadorned; severely simple

avarice Extreme greed and hoarding

aver To declare or profess

belie To present a false front

beset To surround, as in an attack

blatant Very obvious, offensively loud, or coarsely conspicuous

boon A timely benefit; a blessing

brevity Briefness or conciseness

browbeat To intimidate in an overbearing manner

bumptious Offensively self-assertive; pushy

bungle To perform clumsily or inadequately; botch

burgeon To grow forth; to send out buds

callous Insensitive; indifferent

calumniate To make false and malicious statements about; to slander

candor The quality of being open and sincere

cantankerous Bad-tempered and uncooperative

carp To complain unreasonably

chicanery Trickery, deception, especially through the use of questionable logic

churl A rude, boorish, or surly person

coda Concluding section of a musical or literary piece; something that summarizes

codify To assemble related laws or principles into a systematic collection

cognizant Aware; taking notice

cohort A companion or associate

colloquial Pertaining to common speech

commensurate Corresponding in amount, quality, or degree

complacency A feeling of quiet security; satisfaction

conciliatory A state of seeking to reconcile or make peace

confidante One to whom secrets are confided

congruous Appropriate or fitting

consternation Unsettling dismay or amazement

consummate To bring to completion

contentious Quarrelsome

contrite Penitent, apologetic

contumacious Rebellious

cordial Polite in a pleasant way

corroborate To make more certain; confirm

craven Cowardly

credulity Willingness to behave or trust too readily

cronyism The practice of favoring one’s friends, especially in political appointments

curmudgeon An ill-tempered person

cursory Hasty, superficial, as of a review of something

dearth An inadequate supply; scarcity; lack

debacle A complete collapse or failure

decorum Orderliness and good taste in manners

deferent In a state of giving in out of respect for another person

deleterious Hurtful, morally or physically

delineate To represent by sketch or diagram; to describe precisely in words

depravity The state of being morally bad or evil

deride To ridicule; to make fun of

derision Ridicule

desultory Aimless; haphazard

diatribe Bitter or malicious criticism

didactic For the purpose of teaching

diffidence Lacking confidence

dilatory Causing delay

disconcert To disturb the composure of

discretion Using one’s own judgment; being discreet

disingenuous Insincere, phony

disquiet Lack of calm, peace, or ease

dissemble To disguise or pretend in order to deceive or mislead

dissonant Out of harmony, incongruous

divergent Deviating from a certain course

divest To strip; to deprive, often in terms of property

divulge To tell or make known, generally of something secret or private

doldrums A state of inactivity or low spirits

dupe Someone who’s easily fooled; to fool someone

duplicity Deceitfulness

ebullient Showing great enthusiasm or exhilaration

eclectic Drawn from multiple sources or based on multiple styles

effrontery Shameless boldness; impudence

egregious Seriously bad or wrong

egress Exit

elegy A poem lamenting the dead

elicit To extract (usually information, a reaction, or an emotional response) without the

use of force; to learn through discussion

embellish To beautify or enhance with additional features or information

emulate Imitate

endemic Characteristic of a specific place or culture

enervate To weaken

engender To produce or to make something come into existence

ennui Boredom

ephemeral Short-lived; fleeting

equable Free from many changes or variations

equanimity Evenness of mind or temper

equivocal Ambiguous

equivocate To use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or to

mislead

erudite Very well-educated

eschew To keep clear of, avoid

esoteric Hard to understand; known only by a few

euphemism A nice way of saying something that’s otherwise unpleasant

exacerbate To make sharper or more severe; to make worse

exculpate To free from blame

exigency Urgent situation

expatiate To speak or write at some length on a given topic or theme

expiation The means by which atonement or reparation is made

extenuating The state of explaining or justifying in order to lessen the seriousness of an action

extirpate To root out; to eradicate

extrapolation To infer an unknown from something that’s known

facetious Not intended to be taken seriously

fallacious Illogical

fatuous Idiotic

felicitous Appropriate or suitable for the situation or circumstances

ferret out To track down, discover

fervor Ardor or intensity of feeling

fledgling Inexperienced

foment To instigate or encourage negative behavior, such as violence

forestall To prevent by taking action in advance

frugal Thrifty

fulminate To cause to explode; to detonate

fumble To feel or grope about clumsily

gaffe A social blunder; faux pas

gainsay To contradict or oppose

garrulous Prone to trivial talking

germane Relevant

goad To urge on

grandiloquent Speaking or expressing oneself in a lofty style

grandstand To conduct oneself or perform showily in an attempt to impress onlookers

gregarious Sociable; outgoing

grouse To complain or grumble

guileless Without deceit

gullible Easily deceived

halcyon Calm

haphazard Characterized by a lack of order or planning

harangue A tirade

harbinger Anything or anyone who makes known the coming of a person or future event; an

omen

hedge A barrier or boundary; an act of preventing complete loss of a bet or investment

iconoclast A person who attacks and destroys religious images or accepted beliefs or traditions

ignominious Shameful, disgraceful

imbroglio Entanglement, as in a situation

impartial Objective, open-minded

impecunious Having no money; broke

impede To hinder; to block

impenitent Not feeling regret about one’s sins

imperious Domineering, overbearing; urgent

imperturbable Calm

impervious Impenetrable

impetuous Impulsive

importune To harass with persistent demands

impugn To challenge as false with arguments or accusations

inadvertently Unintentionally

inane A nicer word for describing someone or something as stupid or idiotic

incensed Angered

inchoate Recently begun, not fully developed or organized

inconstant Changeable; fickle; variable

indigent Lacking necessities, such as food, clothing, and shelter

indolence Laziness

ineffable Incapable of being expressed in words; unutterable

inexorable Not subject to change; not able to be persuaded or convinced

ingenuous Innocent, sincere

ingratiating Charming, agreeable

innocuous Harmless

insensible Incapable of perceiving or feeling

insinuate To suggest or hint slyly

insipid Bland

insouciant Free from worry or concern; carefree

intimation Something indicated or made known indirectly

intrepid Fearless and bold

inure To harden or toughen by use, exercise, or exposure

invidious Showing or feeling envy

irascible Easily angered

itinerant Travelling from place to place

jingoism Professing one’s patriotism loudly and excessively

laconic Brief and to the point; concise

lampoon To make fun of; to mock or ridicule

laud To praise

laudable Praiseworthy

licentious Unrestrained by laws or rules, especially those related to sexuality

loquacious Talkative

lucid Easily understood; clear

lugubrious Gloomy, depressing

magnanimity Generosity

malingerer One who feigns illness to escape duty

malleable Pliant; able to be reshaped

masticate To chew or reduce to a pulp

maverick Rebel; nonconformist

mealymouthed Insincere, deceitful

mediocrity The state or quality of being barely adequate

mendacious Untruthful, deceitful

mendicant A beggar or homeless person

meticulous Very thorough and precise

misanthrope One who hates people

mitigate To lessen in intensity; to appease

modicum A small amount

mollify To soothe

morbidity Related to illness or disease, in a certain population or geographical area

mordant Sarcastic; harsh

moribund Near death or extinction

morose Ill-humored; sullen

myopic Shortsighted or narrow-minded

narcissism Excessive fascination with oneself

nefarious Extremely wicked

negate To cancel out; to nullify

neophyte Beginner

nepotism Favoritism on the basis of family relationship

obdurate Stubborn

obfuscate To darken or conceal

obsequious Servile; ready to serve

obviate To make unnecessary

odious Hateful

officious Aggressively authoritative in offering help or advice, especially when dealing with

trivial matters

onus Burden

opprobrium Infamy that results from shameful behavior

ostentation A display of vanity; showiness

painstaking Characterized by being very careful and diligent

panache A grand or flamboyant manner or style

parable A short story designed to teach a lesson

paragon Model of perfection

parsimonious Sparing in spending of money; stingy

pathos Having a quality that rouses emotion or sympathy

paucity Scarcity, insufficiency

pejorative Having a disparaging or derogatory effect

penchant Strong inclination

penurious Excessively sparing in the use of money; extremely stingy

perennial Something long-lasting

perfidy Treachery, betrayal

permeable Penetrable; porous

pernicious Tending to kill or hurt

pervasive Spread throughout

phlegmatic Slow moving; not easily roused to feeling or emotion

pious Religious

placate To soothe; to bring from a hostile state to a calm one

placid Peaceful

platitude Trite or commonplace statement

plethora Excess; abundance

plumb To make vertical; to reach the deepest point

pompous Ostentatiously lofty or arrogant

ponderous Massive, awkward, unwieldy

pontificate Express an opinion in an annoying fashion

porous Full of holes; spongy, absorbent

portend Foretell

precarious Hazardous, perilous

precipitate To hasten the occurrence of

precocious Mature beyond one’s age, typically in respect to mental abilities, talents, or skills

preeminent A step above others; distinguished, renowned

prescience Knowledge of events before they happen

presentiment A feeling or impression that something is about to happen

prevaricate To use ambiguous language for the purpose of deceiving

proclivity Natural inclination

prodigal Wasteful or lavish

prodigious Immense

profound Deep, significant

prognosticate To predict something in the future

proliferate To grow rapidly

propensity Natural inclination

propitious Presenting favorable conditions

prosaic Commonplace or dull

protean Changeable in shape or form

prudence Cautious wisdom

puerile Childish

pugnacious Quarrelsome or combative

pungent Stinging; sharp in taste or smell

pusillanimous Cowardly; fainthearted

qualms Misgivings; uneasy fears

quibble Minor objection or complaint

quiescence Being quiet or still; inactivity

quintessential The perfect representation of something

quixotic Idealistic; romantic to a ridiculous degree

recant To formally withdraw a statement

recondite Beyond ordinary knowledge or understanding; profound

redress To set right by compensation or punishment

repose The state of being at rest

reprobate A sinful and depraved person

repudiate To refuse to have anything to do with

rescind To repeal, revoke, or void

respite Interval of rest

reticent Reluctant or inclined to silence

reverent Respectful

rout To drive out; to stampede

rueful Causing sorrow or pity

ruminate To chew over and over again; to think over, ponder

sagacious Wise

salacious Lustful; sexually indecent

salubrious Healthful

sanguine Cheerfully confident; optimistic; bloody, ruddy, or reddish

scanty Scarce in quantity or amount

secrete To hide away

sedulous Persistent in effort or endeavor

seethe To be in a state of excitement or agitation

seminal Influencing future developments

shard Fragment

shirk To avoid

shoddy Not genuine; inferior

sinuous Curving in and out

skeptic Doubter

skepticism Doubt or disbelief

skittish Lively; restless

slander Defamation

slothful Slow-moving, lazy

solecism A minor mistake in grammar or usage; a breach of good manners

solicitous Worried or concerned; eager to receive approval from others

sonorous Loud, deep, or resonant, as a sound

soporific Causing sleep

spate A sudden, almost overwhelming outpouring

specious Seemingly reasonable but incorrect

spendthrift Someone who wastes money

spurious Not genuine

stentorian Extremely loud

stigma A token of disgrace

stint A period of time (noun); to be thrifty (verb)

stipulate To make specific conditions

stolid Dull; impassive

stratify To form or place in layers

striated Marked with parallel bands

strut A pompous walk

sublime Supreme or outstanding; elevated

subterfuge Evasion

supercilious Showing careless contempt; arrogant

superfluous More than what’s needed

supersede To replace or supplant

supine Lying on one’s back face upward

sybarite A person devoted to luxury and pleasure

sycophant A self-seeking, servile flatterer

tacit Understood

taciturn Stern; silent

tangential Only slightly connected or related

tantamount Equivalent in significance, effect, or value

tawdry Showy, in a cheap way

temerity Recklessness

tempestuous Stormy; impassioned

tenacious Holding fast

tendentious Having or showing a definite tendency, bias, or purpose

tenuous Thin; slim

tepid Lukewarm

thrall A state of being enslaved or held captive physically, mentally, or morally

thwart To frustrate

tilt To lean forward, as if to attack

timidity Lacking in self-assurance or courage

tirade A long, passionate speech against something

titillate To excite or arouse

titular Holding a position in name (title) only without the power or responsibility that

usually comes with that position

torpid Dull; sluggish; inactive

tortuous Abounding in irregular bends or turns; unpleasantly complicated

tractable Docile; easily controlled or shaped

transgression Violation; sin

transience A temporary state

transmute To change

transpire To happen, to be revealed

trepidation Nervous feeling; fear

truculence Ferocity

truculent Harsh, brutal

turgid Inflated, overblown, or pompous; literally swollen to the point of being firm

tutelage The act of training or being under instruction

tyro Beginner, novice

umbrage Sense of having been injured

unassuaged Not soothed or relieved

uncouth Clumsy; rude

undermine To weaken or derail

unerringly Without fail

ungainly Awkward; clumsy

unruly Disobedient

untenable Indefensible

upbraid To reproach as deserving blame

urbanity Refined courtesy or politeness

vacillate To waver; to fluctuate

vagabond Wanderer

vainglorious Excessive; pretentious

valorous Courageous

vantage Position giving advantage

vapid Having lost quality and flavor; dull; lifeless

variegated Many-colored

vehement Forceful

veneer A thin covering to improve the appearance of something

venerate To look upon with deep respect

veracious Truthful

verbiage Use of many words

verbose Wordy

vestigial Occurring or persisting as a rudimentary or degenerate structure

viable Capable of living or succeeding

vicissitude Change of condition or circumstances, generally of fortune

vigor Strength; stamina; power

virulence Intense sharpness of anger; intensity

visage Face, especially in terms of its features or expression

viscous Sticky; gluey

vituperate Overwhelm with wordy abuse

vociferous Making a loud outcry

volatile Changeable; explosive

volition A willful choice or decision

voluble Fluent; talkative

welter Turmoil (noun); to roll, tumble, or toss about (verb)

whet To sharpen or stimulate

whorl A circular or spiral arrangement

winsome Attractive; charming

wreak Inflict

writhe Twist

yore Time past

zeitgeist Intellectual and moral tendencies of any age