GRE Vocabulary (Best 357)

abate

v. to diminish in intensity

v. to cause to diminish in intensity

aberrant

adj. diverging from the standard type

abjure

v. to reject or renounce

abscond

v. to leave secretly, evading detection

abstain

v. to voluntarily refrain from doing something

acumen

n. keen judgment and perception

admonish

v. scold or to advise firmly

adulterate

v. to contaminate or make impure by introducing inferior elements

advocate

v. to recommend, support, or advise

n. one who advocates

aesthetic

adj. concerned with the nature of beauty and art

affectation

n. fake or artificial behavior, often meant to impress or conceal the truth

aggrandize

v. enlarge or increase, esp. wealth, power, reputation

alacrity

n. promptness and eagerness

alleviate

v. to relieve a problem or ease a burden

amalgamate

v. to combine to or mix together

ambiguous

adj. unclear

adj. open to multiple interpretations

ambivalent

adj. having mixed or contradictory feelings about someone or something

ameliorate

v. to improve or mitigate a situation

amenable

adj. easily convinced or persuaded

anachronism

n. something old-fashioned

n. something appearing in a time period where it does not belong

analogous

n. comparable

n. appropriate for analogy

anoint

v. to choose for a particular office or position

v. to use oil on a person in a religious ceremony

anomaly

n. an exception or unusual case

antipathy

n. strong dislike or hatred

antithetical

adj. contrary to the very nature of

apathy

n. state of total disinterest or unenthusiasm

appease

v. to placate

v. to satisfy (an appetite, a need)

arbitrary

adj. seemingly chosen or designated without reason or purpose

arcane

adj. secret or known only to a select group

archaic

adj. old-fashioned

adj. no longer in the common usage

arduous

adj. difficult, taxing, requiring considerable effort

articulate

adj. exhibiting considerable communication skills, well-spoken

artless

adj. without artifice

adj. natural, untrained

ascetic

adj. austere or self-denying

assuage

v. to provide relief from an unpleasant feeling

v. to satisfy a need or appetite

astonishment

n. total surprise, shock

audacious

adj. very bold or presumptuous

austere

adj. severe, unadorned

avarice

n. greed

aver

v. to assert or allege

banal

adj. boring, cliché

belie

v. give a false impression (intentional or unintentional) in word, appearance, or deed

benign

adj. gentle, harmless

biased

adj. prejudiced, displaying partiality

bolster

v. to shore up or support

bombastic

adj. overblown, theatrical

brazen

adj. bold or open to the point of shocking

adj. shameless

bucolic

adj. pastoral, rustic, countryfied

burgeon

v. flourish, bloom, expand or increase quickly

cacophony

n. loud and chaotic noise

calumny

n. lie or slander

candid

adj. honest, open

canon

n. accepted rules and tenets of a discipline

n. sacred works/scripture; in this sense it is also used to refer to notable literary and artistic works of a culture or discipline

capacity

n. the capability to perform a particular action or fulfill a given function

n. the total amount a container can hold

n. a particular position or role (i.e. “she served in an advisory capacity”)

capricious

adj. mercurial, unpredictable, whimsical

castigate

v. to scold or berate strongly

catalyst

n. something that speeds up a process or causes action

caustic

adj. corrosive

adj. bitterly sarcastic

censure

v. to express intense condemnation

chauvinist

n. someone who believes prejudicially that their own group is the superior one

chicanery

n. trickery or deception

chronological

adj. ordered by time

coalesce

v. to come together, esp. from disparate parts

cogent

adj. clearly laid out and persuasive

commensurate

adj. in accordance with, proportional

compelling

adj. captivating

adj. very persuasive

comprehensive

adj. complete and thorough

condone

v. to approve or allow

confound

v. to confuse or astonish

connoisseur

n. an expert in a particular subject matter area, usually relating to the fine arts or cultural pursuits

consequential

adj. as a result of

adj. significant or memorable

construe

v. to interpret

consumption

n. utilization (esp. of a resource)

contend

v. assert or claim

v. grapple with

contentious

adj. controversial

adj. involving conflict

contrite

adj. remorseful

convoluted

adj. roundabout, not straightforward

copious

adj. plentiful or abundant

cosmopolitan

adj. of or relating to a city or urban area

adj. sophisticated

covet

v. to desire something that does not belong to you

craft

n. cunning

n. skill

craven

adj. cowardly to the point of being shameful

credence

n. belief or trust

credulous

adj. gullible, naïve

decorum

n. appropriate behavior or good manners

deference

n. respect or polite submission

deflect

v. divert or cause to ricochet

deftness

adj. skill, acumen

adj. manual dexterity

delineate

v. to describe very accurately

v. to clearly demarcate a boundary

v. to render an outline

demur

v. to object or raise concerns

denigrate

v. say negative things about, particularly in a defamatory way

deride

v. to mock or ridicule

derivative

adj. imitates another work in a way that is unoriginal or uninspiring

desiccate

v. to dry out completely

v. to suck out the vitality and passion

desultory

adj. halfhearted

adj. inconsistent or random

detachment

n. objectivity or aloofness

determinant

n. a strong factor in an outcome

diatribe

n. a rant or angry speech denouncing someone or something

didactic

adj. educational or with an instructive purpose; often includes an element of moralizing

diffident

adj. shy, timid, or reserved due to a lack of confidence

dilettante

n. someone with an amateur, nonserious interest in something

dirge

n. funeral or mourning lament

n. any sad, slow song

disabuse

v. to dispel someone’s illusions or false impressions about something

discern

v. to perceive

discrepancy

n. inconsistency

disinterested

adj. objective, unbiased

adj. not invested in the outcome

disparage

v. to belittle

disparate

adj. dissimilar to such a degree that comparison is not possible

dispassionate

adj. impartial or cool

disregard

v. to ignore or pay no attention to

dissemble

v. to mislead or conceal the truth, esp. with respect to one’s motives

disseminate

v. to spread widely (esp. information)

dissonance

n. a clash between two elements that don’t blend well

diverge

v. to split apart, esp. a road or path

dogma

n. the official beliefs or tenets of particular sect or group

dupe

v. to deceive or fool

ebullient

adj. cheerful, enthusiastic, excited

eccentric

adj. quirky or unusual

eclectic

adj. composed of a variety of styles, themes, motifs, etc.

efficacy

n. effectiveness

elegy

n. sad poem or song, often in remembrance of someone deceased

elicit

v. to provoke a response

eloquence

adj. persuasive and articulate speech

eminent

adj. well-known, respected, distinguished

empirical

adj. based on evidence

emulate

v. to imitate or attempt to equal in accomplishment

enervate

v. to exhaust or drain of energy

engender

v. to cause or give rise to

enhance

v. intensify, increase, augment

entitlement

n. belief that one deserves things one has not earned

n. the rights one is afforded under the law

ephemeral

adj. short-lived or transient

equable

adj. even-tempered

adj. not given to much change or variation

equivocate

v. to use ambiguous language in order to mislead or deceive

erroneous

adj. incorrect

erudite

adj. learned

eschew

v. avoid or abstain from

esoteric

adj. obscure, arcane

estimable

adj. deserving respect, esteem, and admiration

eulogy

n. memorial speech for one who has passed, normally given at a funeral

exacerbate

v. to make worse

exacting

adj. challenging, demanding, grueling

exculpate

v. to exonerate or vindicate

exigent

adj. urgent or pressing

exonerate

v. to clear of charges of wrongdoing

expatiate

v. to elaborate on something in great detail

explicate

v. to explain in detail

exposition

n. a thorough explanation

n. a public show or fair

extraneous

adj. irrelevant or superfluous

extrapolate

v. to estimate or conjecture about the future based on presently available information or facts

facetious

adj. glib or flippant

facilitate

v. to make something easier or simpler

fallacious

adj. relying on a fallacy and thus incorrect/misinformed

fastidious

adj. meticulous

adj. invested in cleanliness

fluctuate

v. to shift without apparent pattern

foment

v. to foster unrest or discontent

forestall

v. to hold off or try to prevent

fortuitous

adj. fortunate and lucky

frugal

adj. economical, thrifty

gainsay

v. deny or oppose

galvanize

v. to prod someone into action

garrulous

adj. talkative

gauche

adj. socially inept, inappropriate, or awkward

germane

adj. relevant to the matter at hand

glib

adj. talking volubly, but carelessly or insincerely

gregarious

adj. sociable, genial

guile

n. craftiness and cunning

hackneyed

adj. cliché, trite, banal

harangue

n. diatribe or rant

hedonism

n. the pursuit of pleasure

hierarchical

adj. arranged in rank order or hierarchy

homogenous

adj. uniform, identical

hyperbole

n. obvious exaggeration for effect

iconoclast

n. a person who attacks traditional religious and cultural institutions

ideological

adj. relating to a particular belief system or theory

imminent

adj. about to happen

immutable

adj. unchangeable

impair

v. to hinder or weaken someone or something

impediment

n. barrier, hindrance, or obstruction

imperturbable

adj. remaining calm under any circumstance

implacable

adj. unforgiving

adj. relentless

implicit

adj. implied or insinuated without being directly stated

imprudence

n. bad judgment

impudent

adj. disrespectful

inadvertent

adj. by accident or unintentional

Inchoate

adj. rudimentary, in the beginning stages

inconclusive

adj. indeterminate or unresolved

indebted

adj. owing money

adj. owing gratitude to someone or something

indefatigable

adj. cannot be made tired

indolent

adj. lazy

adj. idle

infer

v. to conclude from implicit evidence (as opposed to explicit facts)

ingenuous

adj. naïve or innocent

inimical

adj. harmful or hostile

Innocuous

adj. harmless

inscrutable

adj. enigmatic, incomprehensible

insipid

adj. bland, uninspired, inane

insular

adj. tight-knit and isolated; uninterested in matters outside one’s immediate sphere

intensive

adj. concentrated and in-depth

intermediary

n. a go-between

intimate

adj. close (as in a relationship)

adj. particularly private

v. to imply

intractable

adj. unmanageable

adj. stubborn or obstinate

intransigent

adj. uncompromising, obstinate

intrepid

adj. bold and adventurous

inveterate

adj. ingrained, habitual

invulnerable

adj. indestructible, impervious to harm

irascible

adj. irritable, testy, touchy

irresolute

adj. wishy-washy, hesitant

laconic

adj. taciturn, reserved, succinct

laud

v. to praise

laudable

adj. praiseworthy

litigation

n. legal proceedings

loquacious

adj. talkative

lucid

adj. clear and coherent

luminous

adj. full of light

magnanimity

n. generosity and nobility of spirit

maladroit

adj. clumsy, awkward, inept

malign

adj. evil or harmful

v. to speak negatively about someone or something

malleable

adj. pliant or pliable

adj. easily influenced

maverick

n. an unorthodox person or rebel

mendacity

n. untruthfulness, dishonesty

mercurial

adj. easily changeable, fickle

meticulous

adj. paying close attention to detail

misanthrope

n. person who hates humanity

mitigate

v. to  improve a painful, unpleasant, or negative situation

modest

adj. not boastful

adj. not overly showy

mollify

v. placate

monotony

n. boredom and repetition

mundane

adj. everyday, boring

munificent

adj. very generous

naïve

adj. inexperienced or gullible

nascent

adj. just beginning or in the early stages

neglect

v. to abandon or leave uncared-for

nonplussed

adj. confused and baffled

notoriety

n. fame for doing something negative or criminal

nuance

n. subtle shades of difference

obdurate

adj. stubborn, obstinate

obscure

adj. mysterious or not well-known

v. to cover something up or make it more difficult to perceive

obsequious

adj. overly fawning and helpful in a way that is disingenuous

obstinate

adj. stubborn, uncompromising

obviate

v. to forestall the need for something

v. to prevent

occlude

v. to block or obstruct

occult

n. the mystical and supernatural

offset

v. to counterbalance or counteract

olfactory

adj. relating to smell or the sense of smell

omniscience

n. the quality or state of being all-knowing

onerous

adj. difficult or burdensome

opaque

adj. not see-through; blocking light

opportunism

n. the practice of taking advantage of opportunities as they arise without particular concern for morality or ethics

opprobrium

n. criticism or condemnation

oscillate

v. to swing back and forth between two points, poles, or positions

ostentatious

adj. overly showy in a way that is gaudy or vulgar

outstrip

v. to overtake or outrun

overshadow

v. to literally cast a shadow over

v. to appear more notable than

painstaking

adj. attentive to detail, meticulous

partial

adj. incomplete

partisan

n. a devoted supporter of a group, cause, or person

patent

adj. blatant, obvious

paucity

n. scarcity, poverty

pedantic

adj. overly concerned with irrelevant detail, fussy

pedestrian

adj. boring, monotonous, run-of-the-mill

perfidy

n. treachery or deceit

perfunctory

adj. done without much effort, care, or thought

peripheral

adj. on the edge or periphery; not centrally important

permeate

v. to pervade or penetrate throughout

perseverance

n. persistence in the face of obstacles

peruse

v. to read something carefully and closely

v. to read something informally or quickly

(context is critical for this word!)

pervasive

adj. found everywhere, widespread; often has a negative connotation

phenomena

n. things that happen

phlegmatic

adj. cool and unruffled

pith

n. the essential substance of something

placate

v. to calm, esp. an angry or upset person

plastic

adj. easily shaped or molded

adj. made of plastic

platitude

n. a trite or cliché statement

plausible

adj. believable, reasonable

plethora

n. a surplus or overabundance of something

plummet

v. to fall quickly and far

polarize

v. to cause a sharp division between two groups

polemical

adj. angry, hostile, harshly critical

pragmatic

adj. practical

precarious

adj. uncertain or unstable

preceded

adj. went before

precipitate

v. to cause

adj. hastily and not well-considered

n. particulate matter formed within a solution

precursor

n. a forerunner

prescient

adj. knowing things before they happen, prophetic

presumptuous

adj. overly familiar; invades social boundaries

prevail

v. to succeed, esp. with respect to vanquishing an opponent

v. to convince or persuade

prevaricate

v. to evade or deceive without outright lying

pristine

adj. untouched, clean, pure

probity

n. integrity and honor

prodigal

n. a reckless spender

prodigious

adj. enormous, immense, gigantic

profligate

adj. extravagant and wasteful, esp. in an immoral way

proliferate

v. to multiply and spread rapidly

propitiate

v. to obtain special favor from someone, esp. a powerful person or deity, by performing a pleasing action

v. to appease someone who is angry

propriety

n. appropriateness, manners, decorum

prospective

adj. potential or likely

adj. applicable to the future

qualification

n. credential

n. a modifying statement

quotidian

adj. relating to the everyday or mundane

rationalize

v. to attempt to justify with reasons that are only superficially valid

reconcile

v. to bring into harmony

v. to repair a relationship

recondite

adj. arcane or obscure

refute

v. to rebut or disprove

relentless

adj. never stopping, constant

relevant

adj. relating to the topic or issue at hand

reproach

v. to scold or express criticism

repudiate

v. to renounce or disown

rescind

v. to take back or retract (an offer or statement)

respectively

adv. in the sequential order previously given

reticent

adj. hesitant to speak

adj. introverted or silent

reverent

adj. solemn and respectful

rhetoric

n. the art of effective communication (written or verbal)

salubrious

adj. health-promoting

sanction

v. to give official permission

v. to impose a penalty for a particular action

n. punishments imposed for breaking a regulation

satiate

v. to completely satisfy (with respect to hunger or appetite)

secular

adj. of or relating to the world or worldly matters (as opposed to religious ones)

sediment

n. material that settles at the bottom of a body of water

sedulous

adj. dedicated and careful

simultaneous

adj. occurring at the same moment

solicitous

adj. considerate, attentive

soporific

adj. makes sleepy

sparse

adj. scattered or scarce

adj. austere and unadorned

specious

adj. spurious; appearing true but actually false

sporadic

adj. occasional or scattered

spurious

adj. fake or false

stolid

adj. calm and dependable

subjective

adj. open to personal interpretation; not based in objective fact

substantiate

v. to corroborate or give evidence of something

subversive

adj. meant to undercut established institutions or norms

sufficient

adj. enough for a given purpose

superbly

adv. excellently

supine

adj. laying back with the face upward (opposite position to prone)

supplant

v. to overtake or replace

sycophant

n. a fawning, insincere admirer

synthesize

v. to combine disparate parts into a coherent whole

tacit

adj. unspoken; implicit

taciturn

adj. reticent or reserved; tending towards silence

temperance

n. moderation and restraint, sometimes used to specifically describe abstinence from alcohol

tenuous

adj. weak, flimsy, insubstantial

timorous

adj. meek or timid

tirade

n. an angry rant

torpor

n. tiredness, lethargy

tortuous

adj. winding or twisty

adj. complicated

tractable

adj. can be easily influenced or managed

transient

adj. passes quickly; short-lived

ubiquitous

adj. ever-present or universal

unadorned

adj. plain; unembellished

undermine

v. to weaken or compromise

underscore

v. to line underneath for emphasis

v. to emphasize

untenable

adj. weak or unsupportable, esp. with respect to an opinion or situation

vacillate

v. to shift between multiple options or opinions

venality

n. the state of being capable of being bribed

venerate

v. to give a high degree of respect; may border on worship

veracity

n. Truth and factual accuracy

verbose

adj. long-winded; loquacious

vexation

n. state of being frustrated, irritated, or concerned.

volatile

adj. easily changeable or extreme; unstable

whimsical

adj. fanciful or capricious

zeal

n. passion or fervor