GRE Vocabulary 1
abound | be present in large quantities | adulterate | damage the quality of; corrupt | abate | descrease in intenstiy; lessen | abstain | avoid taking part in something | aloof | not warm or friendly; impersonal | admonish | sternly counsel against something | appease | satisfy or calm someone down | accentuate | give emphasis or draw attention | boorish | rude or unrefined in manners or behavior | acumen | quickness and keening in understanding |
amorphous | lacking structure; unclear | advocate | support; be in favor of | abjure | strongly reject (an idea); forgo | approbation | appreciattion toward someone | clangor | a disturbingly loud noise | aesthetic | pertaining to beauty or the appreciation thereof | arbitrary | determined by chance, not reason | conjectural | pertaining to a guess made with limited data | brook | tolerate or endure something | antithesis | the direct opposite or contrast |
austere | avoiding luxury; strict; plain | aggrandize | enhance one's power or standing | anomalous | differing from what is normal; atypical | cherish | greatly love or protect something | conventional | adhering to established practices or accepted standards | affectation | a pretense or show meant to impress others | archaic | very old or old-fashioned | convivial | demonstrating fondness for festivities | circumspect | cautious or wary; exhibiting care | ascribe | atrribute something to a particular cause |
belie | give a flase impression; disprove | alacrity | eagerness to do something | antipathy | profound hostility or hatred | corroborate | lend support to; bolster | debunk | prove a belief or idea false | alleviate | lessen the intensity or severity of something | clamorous | characterized by a loud noise | decadent | displaying excessive indulgence | comity | mutual respect or a courteous harmony | befuddled | confused, bewildered, or perplexed |
capricious | having varying moods; fickle | ambivalent | having conflicting emotions; unsure | arcane | comprehended by very few people; secret | disparate | different or contrasting | diminutive | exceptionally small in size or stature | analogous | comparable or similar in some respect | dearth | lack of something in a particular area | egregious | remarkably bad or shocking | commensurate | comparable in size extent, or degree | eschew | intentionally avoid or abstain from |
cerebral | related to the brain; intellectual | ameliorate | improve a bad feeling or bad situation | arduous | very challenging; needing great effort | emulate | imitate someone or something | discernible | able to be recognized or understood | bolster | lend support or boost | explicable | able to be explained or understood | evanescent | vanishing or fading away quickly | cordial | characterized with warmth or sincerity | esoteric | understood by a few or a small group of people |
congenial | friendly and likeable; agreeable | amenable | receptive to change; open | artless | lacking adornment; unskilled; naive | enervate | sap the energy out of someone; fatigue | enigmatic | difficult to understand; mysterious | chauvinistic | excessively patriotic or biased in favor of a group or cause | hyperbole | exaggeration to make a point or be funny | flamboyant | characterized by a showy or audacious display | deleterious | having a harmful effect; dangerous | evasive | indirect; avoiding confrontation |
conspicuous | easily noticed; obvious | anachronistic | of the wrong time or era | ascetic | (of life) very strict and lacking luxury | ephemeral | extremely shortlasting | estranged | emotionally distanced from someone | connoisseur | a discerning expert in matters of taste | immutable | not capable of being changed | forestall | prevent somethign by taking strategie action in advance | dichotomy | a split into two contrasting parts | exculpate | clear from blame or guilt |
cursory | lacking effort; without care | audacious | bold; unafriad of risks; rude | assuage | decrease a negative feeling | fervid | excessively energetic or eager | extravagant | excessive, especially in terms of cost | dissemble | hide or misrepresent one's true feelings or beliefs | indefatigable | excessively energetic or eager | gainsay | deny or refute an assertion or argument | edify | enlighten or uplight through knowledge | expedite | accelerate or speed up a process or action |
daunting | scary; seeming impossible | avaricious | greedy; always wanting more | betray | unknowingly disclose or reveal | garrulous | tending to talk too much; wordy | fanciful | higly imaginative; unrealistic | dogged | demonstrating tenacity and persistence | indolent | habitually lazy; averse to activity | galvanize | inspire or stir up to heightened activity | elicit | extract a reply or action; provoke | fastidious | showing great attention to detail; hard to please |
deify | look up to someone or something as a god | banal | unoriginal and dull; lacking creativity | bucolic | associated with tranquil rural life | incendiary | provocative; causing conflict | frivolous | lacking in seriousness or importance | dupe | trick or deceive someone | insular | limited in outlook or experience; narrow | indiscriminate | lacking selectivity or judgement | erudite | posessing great knowledge | feign | pretend or simulate; mislead |
didactic | meant for teaching; educational | benign | harmless; having little effect; kind | burgeon | quickly increase or grow; skyrocket | inimical | damaging; hostile in manner or tone | heterogeneous | composed of varying, diverse elements | empirical | based on observations or expereince rather than theory | intransigent | refusing to compromise; stubborn | innocuous | harmless, having no ill effect | fecund | fertile or highly productive | furtive | sneaky or secretive especially due to guilt |
disseminate | distribute or circulate broadly | brazen | shameless and excessively forward | cacophonous | extremely noisy; grating | intimate | subtly suggest or imply | imperious | having an arrogant or domineering manner | engender | produce or stimulate the development of something | intrepid | resolutely fearless; brave | momentary | lasting for a brief moment or interval | feeble | weak; deficient in strength | hamper | obstruct or hinder progress |
feasible | likely to be achieved; practical | calumny | slander and defamation | canonize | treat like a god; declare as a saint | invigorate | provide energy or vitality to | impertinent | disrespectful or inappropriate | entitled | assuming oneself to be deserving of special treatment or privileges | irreverent | lacking proper respect or seriousness | mundane | commonplace or ordinary | felicitous | well-suited or apt; causing delight | indispensable | completely necessary; essential |
flout | break a rule without guilt | candid | honest; without deception | censure | strongly criticize or disapprove | mitigate | diminish negative feelings or situation | invasive | infringing on other's privacy; harmful | pertinacious | firmly holding onto an opinion or course of action | loathe | dislike greatly, often with disgust | nettlesome | causing irritation or annoyance | forbear | refrain from doing something | lament | express deep sorrow or regret |
homogeneous | composed of similar parts; alike | castigate | scold someone harshly | chicanery | using decpetion to attain a certain goal | obsolete | no longer useful; outmoded | irresolute | uncertain or lacking determination | presumptuous | overstepping boundaries, often in an overconfident way | malign | (a) evil and harmful (v) vilify or smear | nullify | to render ineffective, cancel out or invalidate | haphazard | lacking precise plan, order, or direction | myopic | short-sighted; lacking creativity |
humdrum | boring; unlikely to excite | caustic | (of speech) hostile and bitter | coalesce | bring elements together; unite | opaque | unclear; hard to comprehend | laudable | worthy of admiration or praise | probity | the characteristic of having strong ethical standards | malleable | changeable or flexible | obviate | sidestep or bypass a potential problem | hodgepodge | a mixture of different things | nonchalant | appearig casually calm or indifferent |
insipid | without flavor; lacking energy | construe | understand something subjectively | cogent | persuasive and clear; compelling | paradigmatic | representing the standard example | lax | not diligent or careful; casual | proliferate | rapidly increase or multiply in number | neophyte | an amateur or novice in a field | omnipresent | existing or seeming to exist everwhere at once | impede | obstruct or hinder progress | partial | prejudiced or biased toward one side |
loquacious | likely to talk a lot; wordy | contrite | feeling regretful or guilty | compelling | attracting attention; persuasive | pedantic | overly concerned with (minor) details | marginalize | treat someone or something as insignificant | specious | seemingly reasonable byt actually wrong | plastic | capable of being molded or modeled | oust | displace or efect from a position or place | impetuous | rash or hasty in action or decision | pensive | deep in thought |
misanthropic | having a distaste for humans and society | convoluted | difficult to understand or follow | contend | compete; argue a certain point of view | placid | calm; free from activity or irritation | panache | a stylish and confident manner | spurious | not genuine, false or fake | platitude | a trite or banal remark or statement | palpable | tangible, perceptible, or clearly noticeable | irascible | easily angered or irritated | portend | warn that something, often umpleasant, is going to happen |
misnomer | a misleading or inaccurate name | covet | strongly desire; yearn for | copious | existing in great supply; abundant | polemical | giving a strong, hostile opinion | plodding | moving slowly or laboriously | subjective | influenced by personal feelings or opinions | prescient | possessing foresight of upcoming events | perfidy | act of betrayal or unfaithfulness | mercenary | motivated mainly by desire for monetary | provincial | narrow in perspective; not sophisticated |
negligent | lacking care or attention | craven | lacking braverly; weak-kneed | cosmopolitan | (of a city) highly diverse; worldly | precipitate | cause to happen; rushed; sudden | prosaic | straightforward and unimaginative | subvert | undermine the power and authority of a system or institution | pristine | in its original, unspoiled state | profuse | abundant, occurring in large amounts | meticulous | exhibiting great care to detail | rudimentary | basic or elementary; in the earliest stages of development |
obsequious | excessively submissive to authority | decorum | politeness and proper behavior | deference | high regard and respect; esteen | profundity | great wisdom or intelligence | remedial | serving to correct or cure something | timorous | displaying nervousness or a lack of confidence | reproach | express criticism towards; reprimand | pugnacious | quick to engage in a conflict; combative | mordant | biting or sharply critical in thought | salutary | beneficial, especially in promoting health |
placate | decrease someone's anger | deft | highly proficient; skilled | desultory | unplanned; without enthusiasm | prophetic | able to correctly prefict the future | restive | demonstrating difficulty in staying still | tortuous | marked by numerous twists or turns | robust | able to withstand adverse conditions | sagacious | demonstrating wisdom or sound judgement | outstrip | surpass or do better than | sever | cut off or put an end to |
proclivity | a fondess or liking for something | demur | hesitiate or object; express doubt | diffident | reserved or shy; without confidence | prudent | wise in decision-making | sporadic | happening occasionally and irregularly | tractable | easily managed or controlled | salubrious | promoting health or well-being | sanguine | optimistic, particularly in a difficult situation | precarious | uncertain and likely to cause danger | slight | treat with disrespect or neglect; insult |
puerile | immature and childish | derivative | copying someone's work; based on | dilatory | slow and unhurried; meant to stall | punctilious | highly concerned with details or manners | stigmatize | label or mark as disgraceful | transient | not lasting, enduring, or permanently; transitory | sanction | (v1) authorize; permit (v2) penalize; punish | scant | hardly sufficient, meager, or minimal | quirky | unusual in an endearing way | somnolent | sleepy or drowsy; needing rest |
quixotic | excessively visionary; unfeasible | desiccate | dry out; remove all moisture | equivocate | speak evasively; avoid taking a stance | recondite | obscure and difficult to understand | undermine | weaken or sabotage, often subtly | ubiquitous | being everywhere at once | sedulous | paying attention to details; diligent | skullduggery | sneaky or dishonest actions | repudiate | reject or refute to accept something | stoic | unaffected by pain; showing no emotion |
spendthrift | someone who spends money recklessly | diatribe | an angry rant; verbal abuse | polarize | separate into two opposing groups | scrupulous | careful with details; moral and honest | utterly | completely and without exception | underscore | emphasize or show the importance of something | soporific | causing sleep or lethargy | trivial | of minor significance or value | tact | skill in handling situations politely | supersede | replace or take the place of |
taciturn | of few words; speaking little | incredulous | doubtful and disbelieving | prodigal | carelessly wasteful; extravagant | tranquil | peaceful; free from activity | weary | feeling tired or exhausted | venal | open to bribery or corruption | stern | hard, harsh, or severe in manner | utilitarian | emphasizing functionality over aesthetics | trifling | lacking significant or importance | tout | promote or praise energetically |
wary | exercising caution; careful | ingenuous | naive and lacking experience | verbose | excessively talkative; wordy | vacillate | go back and forth with one's view | zealous | marked by fervent partisanship | venerate | regard with deep respect or reverence | tendentious | showing a definite bias or purpose | vapid | uninteresting, lacking flavor or spark | turbulent | full of conflict or chaos | wane | decrease in power, size, or intensity |
abhor | detest or regard with deep hatred | acrimonious | bitter and sharp in language | affinity | a natural liking for a person, thing, idea |
boisterous | energetic, noisy, and lively | belligerent | argumentative or threatening | altruistic | show concern for other's welfare |
chivalrous | honorable, polite and kind towards women | beneficent | charitable, producing good results | baroque | overly detailed or ornamental |
churlish | rude or lacking good manners | canny | shrewd and cautious; clever | byzantine | excessively complicated |
clandestine | secretive; avoiding attention | cavalier | exhibiting a casual attitude; unconcerned | compromise | weaken or diminish in quality or value |
complacent | smug or self-satisfied | distressed | experiencing irritation or sadness | conciliatory | intended to appease or calm someone |
cumbersome | large, heavy, slow, or complicated | dwindling | decreasing steadily in size or quantity | countenance | accept or permit something |
debilitating | weakening or impairing strength | eclipse | overshadow or surpass | covert | hidden, or not openly practiced |
deliberate | think over or discuss carefully | encyclopedic | thorough; comprehensive | credible | able to be trusted; persuasive |
droll | amusing in a quirky or unusual way | exacerbate | make a situation or condition worse | diffuse | spread or disperse widely |
eccentric | deviating from normal behavior | exasperated | severely irritated or angry | documentary | based on real events or facts |
fractious | quarrelsome and irritable; unruly | fungible | interchangeable for another item | exhaustive | thorough and comprehensive |
limpid | transparent, or easy to understand | hackneyed | lacking creativity; derivative and overused | exhilarating | intensely exciting and happy |
mawkish | showing emotion overly sentimental | incongruous | out of place or lacking harmony | extraneous | lacking relevance; unnecessary |
obeisance | reverence or an individual | interchangeable | capable of being used in place of each other | fervor | intense enthusiasm toward something |
ostentatious | showy or designed to impress | laconic | economical with words; quiet | futile | incapable of achieving anything |
panacea | a perfect cure for something | lucrative | producing a significant amount of money | illusory | unreal or based on illusion |
perfunctory | done without enthusiasm | magisterial | possessing great authority | invidious | likely to cause resentment; unfair |
perilous | risky and hazardous | onerous | involving a heavy burdan; challenging | lethargic | sluggish; tired or having little energy |
pervasive | spreading quickly in great numbers | opprobrium | severe criticism or public shame | metaphorical | symbolic rather than literal |
preclude | prevent something from occurring | parsimonious | extremely frugal or stingy | mimic | imitate or copy someone |
predilection | preference or bias towards something | peripheral | of marginal importance; minor | numinous | having a spiritual or divine quality |
rapacious | excessively greedy or grasping | provocative | causing irritation, often intentionally | obscure | making something unclear and vague |
relish | take great pleasure or delight in | renounce | firmly reject or give up | overt | observable; not hidden or secret |
satirical | using humor or irony to criticize | tempestuous | unrestrained and turbulent | pellucid | transparent; clear and understandable |
sham | false, fake, or not genuine | tenable | (of an idea or method) justifiable and rational | perpetuate | make something continue |
skirt | go around or avoid something | transgression | a violation of a law, rule, or social norm | rational | based on clear thought or reason |
sluggish | lacking energy; slow and listless | urbane | refined, sophisticated and courteous | scathing | harshly or bitterly critical; vitriolic |
spartan | marked by simplicity or frugality | verisimilitude | semblance of truth; believability | subtle | delicate or slight; not obvious |
truculent | aggressively combative | vitiate | impair or corrupt the quality of something | superficial | not profound or thorough |