GRE Vocab Flashcards 1-3

GRE Resources - Vocabulary Notes Pages 1-3

Page 1

• Anachronism

  • Definition: Something out of place in time.

  • Example: The aged hippie used anachronistic phrases like "groovy" and "far out."

• Abate

  • Definition: To reduce in amount, degree, or severity.

  • Example: As the hurricane's force abated, the winds dropped and the sea became calm.

• Analogous

  • Definition: Similar or alike in some way; equivalent to.

  • Example: The universe is analogous to a mechanical timepiece in the Newtonian construct.

• Abscond

  • Definition: To leave secretly.

  • Example: The patron absconded from the restaurant without paying his bill.

• Abstain

  • Definition: To choose not to do something.

  • Example: She abstained from choosing a mouthwatering dessert.

• Anomaly

  • Definition: Deviation from what is normal.

  • Example: The near-boiling river in Peru is a geological anomaly.

• Abyss

  • Definition: An extremely deep hole.

  • Example: The submarine dove into the abyss to chart previously unseen depths.

• Adulterate

  • Definition: To make impure.

  • Example: The chef made his ketchup last longer by adulterating it with water.

• Antagonize

  • Definition: To annoy or provoke to anger.

  • Example: The child discovered he could antagonize the cat by pulling its tail.

• Advocate

  • Definition: To speak in favor of.

  • Example: The vegetarian advocated a diet containing no meat.

• Aesthetic

  • Definition: Concerning the appreciation of beauty.

  • Example: Followers of the aesthetic movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only true purpose of art.

• Apathy

  • Definition: Lack of interest or emotion.

  • Example: The apathy of voters is so great that less than half the eligible people bother to vote.

• Aggrandize

  • Definition: To increase in power, influence, and reputation.

  • Example: The supervisor sought to aggrandize herself by claiming her staff's achievements as her own.

• Arbitrate

  • Definition: To judge a dispute between two opposing parties.

  • Example: A judge was forced to arbitrate their divorce proceedings.

• Alleviate

  • Definition: To make more bearable.

  • Example: Taking aspirin helps to alleviate a headache.

• Archaic

  • Definition: Ancient, old-fashioned.

  • Example: Her archaic Commodore computer could not run the latest software.

• Amalgamate

  • Definition: To combine; to mix together.

  • Example: Giant Industries amalgamated with Mega Products.

• Ardor

  • Definition: Intense and passionate feeling.

  • Example: Bishop's ardor for the landscape was evident in his passionate descriptions.

• Ambiguous

  • Definition: Doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways.

  • Example: The directions she gave were so ambiguous that we disagreed on which way to turn.

• Articulate

  • Definition: Able to speak clearly and expressively.

  • Example: She is an articulate defender of labor.

• Ameliorate

  • Definition: To make better; to improve.

  • Example: The doctor was able to ameliorate the patient's suffering.

• Assuage

  • Definition: To make something unpleasant less severe.

  • Example: Serena used aspirin to assuage her pounding headache.

Page 2

• Attenuate

  • Definition: To reduce in force or degree; to weaken.

  • Example: The Bill of Rights attenuated the traditional power of governments.

• Caustic

  • Definition: Biting in wit.

  • Example: Dorothy Parker gained her reputation for caustic wit from her clever insults.

• Audacious

  • Definition: Fearless and daring.

  • Example: Her audacious nature allowed her to fulfill her dream of skydiving.

• Chaos

  • Definition: Great disorder or confusion.

  • Example: Many religious traditions state that God created an ordered universe from chaos.

• Austere

  • Definition: Severe or stern in appearance; undecorated.

  • Example: The lack of decoration makes military barracks seem austere.

• Chauvinist

  • Definition: Someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs.

  • Example: The attitude that men are inherently superior to women is common among male chauvinists.

• Banal

  • Definition: Predictable, clichéd, boring.

  • Example: He used banal phrases like "have a nice day."

• Chicanery

  • Definition: Deception by means of craft or guile.

  • Example: Dishonest used car salespeople often use chicanery.

• Bolster

  • Definition: To support; to prop up.

  • Example: The presence of giant footprints bolstered the argument that Sasquatch was in the area.

• Cogent

  • Definition: Convincing and well-reasoned.

  • Example: The jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant after the cogent argument of the defense.

• Bombastic

  • Definition: Pompous in speech and manner.

  • Example: The ranting of the radio talk-show host was mostly bombastic.

• Condone

  • Definition: To overlook, pardon, or disregard.

  • Example: Some theorists believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as condoning lawlessness.

• Convoluted

  • Definition: Intricate and complicated.

  • Example: Few could follow the convoluted ideas in "A Brief History of Time."

• Cacophony

  • Definition: Harsh, jarring noise.

  • Example: The junior high orchestra created an unbearable cacophony.

• Corroborate

  • Definition: To provide supporting evidence.

  • Example: Fingerprints corroborated the witness's testimony.

• Candid

  • Definition: Impartial and honest in speech.

  • Example: The observations of a child can be charming since they are candid.

• Credulous

  • Definition: Too trusting; gullible.

  • Example: Only the most credulous nine-year-olds still believe in the Easter Bunny.

• Capricious

  • Definition: Changing one's mind quickly and often.

  • Example: Queen Elizabeth I was quite capricious; her courtiers could never be sure of her favor.

• Crescendo

  • Definition: Steadily increasing volume or force.

  • Example: The crescendo of tension became unbearable as Evel Knievel prepared for his jump.

• Castigate

  • Definition: To punish or criticize harshly.

  • Example: Many Americans are amazed at how harshly authorities in Singapore castigate minor crimes.

• Decorum

  • Definition: Appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety.

  • Example: The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the decorum appropriate for a visit to the palace.

Page 3

• Deference

  • Definition: Respect, courtesy.

  • Example: The young law clerk treated the Supreme Court justice with utmost deference.

• Disparate

  • Definition: Fundamentally different; entirely unlike.

  • Example: Although the twins appear identical, their personalities are disparate.

• Deride

  • Definition: To speak of or treat with contempt; to mock.

  • Example: The awkward child was often derided by his cooler peers.

• Dissemble

  • Definition: To present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions.

  • Example: The villain could dissemble no longer; he admitted the deed.

• Desiccate

  • Definition: To dry out thoroughly.

  • Example: The cow's carcass became completely desiccated after lying in the desert.

• Dissonance

  • Definition: A harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds.

  • Example: Cognitive dissonance is the inner conflict produced when beliefs are contradicted.

• Desultory

  • Definition: Jumping from one thing to another; disconnected.

  • Diane had a desultory academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in three years.

• Diatribe

  • Definition: An abusive, condemnatory speech.

  • Example: The trucker bellowed a diatribe at the driver who had cut him off.

• Diffident

  • Definition: Lacking self-confidence.

  • Example: Steve’s diffident manner during the job interview stemmed from his nervous nature and lack of experience in the field.

• Dupe

  • Definition: To deceive; a person who is easily deceived

  • Example: Bugs Bunny was able to dupe Elmer Fudd by dressing up as a lady rabbit.

• Dilate

  • Definition: To make larger; to expand

  • Example: The pupils of your eyes dilate to let in more light in a darkened room.

• Eclectic

  • Definition: Selecting from or made up from a variety of sources

  • Example: Budapest's architecture is an eclectic mix of Eastern and Western styles.

• Dilatory

  • Definition: Intended to delay

  • Example: The congressman used dilatory measures to delay the passage of the bill.

• Efficacy

  • Definition: Effectiveness

  • Example: The efficacy of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced.

• Dilettante

  • Definition: Someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic

  • Example: Jerry's friends were such dilettantes that they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week.

• Dirge

  • Definition: A funeral hymn or mournful speech

  • Example: Melville wrote "A Dirge for James McPherson" for a Union general's funeral.

• Elegy

  • Definition: A sorrowful poem or speech

  • Example: Thomas Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" urges readers to endure life.

• Disabuse

  • Definition: To set right; to free from error

  • Example: Galileo's observations disabused scholars of the notion that the Sun revolved around the Earth.

• Eloquent

  • Definition: Persuasive and moving, especially in speech

  • Example: The Gettysburg Address is moving due to its eloquent words.

• Discern

  • Definition: To perceive; to recognize

  • Example: It is easy to discern the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping.