800 High-Frequency GRE Words Flashcards
abate
decrease, reduce
abdicate
to give a position, right, or power
“abdicate the throne”
abject
pitiful
abjure
abandon formally
“immigrants must abjure allegiances to other countries”
abscission
the act of cutting
abstemious
moderate in appetite
accretion
increase or growth
antonym: abatement
accrue
accumulate
adjunct
attachment
adulterate
to corrupt or make impure
affected
pretentious, phony
affinity
liking
aggrandize
make larger or greater
alchemy
a seemingly magical power or process of transmutation; medieval chemical philosophy based on changing metal into gold
allay
ease, soften, lessen
ambrosia
something delicious, the food of the gods
amenable
open and responsive to suggestion, easily controlled (e.g. amenable children); susceptible
amenity
something that increases comfort
analgesic
medication that reduces pain
anodyne
something that calms or soothes pain
antecedent
precursor
antediluvian
prehistoric
apogee
the point in an orbit farthest away from the body being orbited; apex
apposite
apt
apropos
relevant
arabesque
ornate design; a ballet move
ardour
great emotion or passion
arduous
extremely difficult, laborious
argot
jargon
artefact
item made by human craft
asperity
severity, harshness, irritability
aspersion
slander, rumour
astringent
sharp, severe
arrest
to stop; seize
atavism
reappearance of a characteristic or a trait
avarice
greed
avocation
secondary occupation
avuncular
like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant
bacchanalian
pertaining to revelry, pertaining to drunken festivity
banal
commonplace, trite
bard
poet
bawdy
obscene (think Canterbury Tales)
beautify
bless, sanctify
bedizen
to dress in a vulgar showy manner
behemoth
a huge creature; anything very large and powerful
bifurcate
divide into two parts
blandishment
flattery
blasé
bored because of frequent indulgence, unconcerned
“the student’s blasé attitude towards school”
bovine
cowlike
broach
to mention for the first time
“broach the subject”
bucolic
rustic
cadge
beg
calumny
false accusations, slander
canard
false, deliberately misleading story
cant
insincere talk; jargon, argot
cantankerous
irritable, ill-humoured
captious
faultfinding; (of an argument) intending to entrap (e.g. captious critics)
carnal
of the flesh and body; related to physical appetites (e.g. carnal desires)
carping
to find fault; complain
caste
a hereditary class of the Hindu society or any group of people who inherit exclusive privileges or are perceived as socially distinct; the system of dividing society into classes
castigation
chastisement, criticism
categorically
absolutely, without exception
caucus
smaller group within an organisation
caustic
corrosive, burning; sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way
celestial
sublime, supremely good
centrifugal
acting away from the centre
chasten
to correct by punishment or reproof; to restrain
churlish
rude, boorish
circuitous
roundabout
“circuitous path”
clamour
noisy outcry; to cry out noisily
clique
a small, exclusive group
cloister
to confine, seclude; a monastery
codify
to systematise
cognizant
aware, conscious, informed
collage
an artistic composition of materials pasted over a surface; a collection of diverse elements
compunction
uneasiness caused by guilt
concoct
make up or invent
concomitant
existing concurrently
condone
accept
congenial
similar in tastes and habits; suited to
“the universe is surprisingly congenial to life”
conjugal
pertaining to marriage agreement
contend
assert
contiguous
touching, neighbouring
continence
self-control; abstention from sexual activity
contrite
very sorrowful for a wrong
contumacious
disobedient; rebellious
convivial
sociable
coquette
woman who flirts
cornucopia
state of abundance; horn overflown with fruit and grain
cosmology
theory of the origin and structure of the universe
“Einstein’s cosmology”
cozen
deceive
credence
acceptance of something as true
credo
a statement of belief or principle; creed
daunt
dishearten, discourage, intimidate
dearth
scarcity, paucity
default
fail to act
“defaulting on a loan”
demur
to express doubt
defunct
no longer existing
demotic
pertaining to people
denizen
an inhabitant; a regular visitor
deride
to mock
detraction
the act of taking away; derogatory comment
diaphanous
transparent and fine-textured (of a fabric); insubstantial, intangible, impalpable, vague
“diaphanous dreams”
desuetude
a state of disuse
deterrent
something that discourages or hinders
discomfit
make uneasy, disconcert
discretion
the freedom to act on one’s own
“local authorities should use their discretion in setting the charges”
disseminate
disperse, spread
distrait
inattentive, preoccupied
divest
strip, deprive, rid
divulge
to make known something that is secret (e.g. divulge a secret, divulge information)
doggerel
poor verse
dogmatic
inclined to lay down principles as undeniably true.
“she was not tempted to be dogmatic about what she believed”
dross
waste, worthless matter; trivial matter
effete
affected, over-refined, and ineffectual; (of a man) weak or effeminate
elixir
a substance believed to have the power to cure ills
Elysian
blissful, delightful
emaciated
abnormally thin
emollient
mollifying, soothing
emulate
imitate
encomium
a formal expression of praise
“an encomium for the retiring general”
entomology
the study of insects
epistemology
a branch of philosophy that examined the nature of knowledge
equable
steady, unvarying, serene
essay
attempt
estimable
respectable
ethnocentric
based on the attitude that one’s group is superior
etiology
causes or origins
eugenics
study of factors that influence the hereditary qualities of the human race and ways to improve these qualities
evince
to show plainly
exact
demand and obtain by authority
execrable
abhorrent, detestable
exhort
urge by strong appeals
expatiate
to speak or write at length
expatriate
exile
expiate
to atone for
explicate
explain
expository
explanatory
extant
existing, not lost
extemporaneous
unrehearsed, spontaneous, impromptu
extirpate
to root up, to destroy
factotum
handyman
fallow
plowed but not sowed, uncultivated
“fallow field”
fauna
animals of a period or region
fetid
malodorous
fetter
bind, confine
fiat
decree, authorisation; arbitrary order
fidelity
loyalty
“pledge fidelity”
filibuster
use of obstructive tactics in a legislature to block passage of a law
finesse
to handle with deceptive or evasive strategy; refine
flora
plants of a region or era
florid
ruddy, reddish; flowery, flamboyant
flourish
embellishments, ornamentations
forbearance
patience
forswear
abjure, renounce
founder
fail, sink, collapse
fracas
a noisy quarrel, kerfuffle
fractious
quarrelsome
fresco
a painting done on plaster
frieze
ornamental band on a wall
froward
stubbornly contrary, obstinately disobedient
fulminate
to attack loudly, denounce
fulsome
so excessive as to be disgusting
gambol
frolic, leap playfully
gauche
coarse and uncouth; clumsy
geniality
cheerfulness; kindliness; sociability
gerrymander
to divide an area into voting districts in a way that favors a political party
glib
fluent but insincere
gossamer
light and delicate, like cobwebs
grouse
to complain
halcyon
peaceful (e.g. halcyon days, halcyon years)
hermetic
tightly sealed; magical
“hermetic traditions”
heterodox
unorthodox
hirsute
covered with hair
homeostatis
the automatic maintenance of an organism’s temperature, chemical balance, etc. within itself
homily
sermon; tediously moralising lecture
imbroglio
complicated situation, entanglement
immutable
unchangeable, unyielding
impecunious
poor
antonym: opulent
impinge
strike; encroach, intrude
imprecation
curse
“uttering imprecations”
impute
to relate to a particular cause or source; to assign as a characteristic
“scientists impute intelligence to chimpanzees”
incursion
sudden invasion
ineluctable
inevitable
inert
unable to move; lacking vigour
ingenuous
naïve and trusting; lacking sophistication
insouciant
indifferent, uncaring
interdict
prohibit (e.g. interdicted goods); to confront and halt the activities, advance, or entry of
internecine
deadly to both sides
“an internecine conflict”
interpolate
insert
interregnum
interval between reigns; gap in continuity
intimate
to make known subtly and indirectly
introspective
contemplating one’s own feelings and thoughts
inveigh
disapprove, protest vehemently
inveterate
confirmed, deeply-rooted, incorrigible (e.g. an inveterate iconoclast, inveterate gambler)
invidious
likely to provoke ill will, offensive
“invidious comparisons between racial groups”
irresolute
unsure how to act, weak, equivocating
itinerant
unsettled (e.g. itinerant workers, itinerant salesperson)
inveigle
to win over by flattery or coaxing, cajole
jaundiced
having a yellow discoloration of the skin; affected by hostility, resentment, or envy
“a jaundiced view of the world”
jibe
agree
“make sure that the documents jibe”
jocose
fond of joking, jocular, playful
junta
a group of people united in political intrigue
labile
likely to change
lambaste
to thrash verbally or physically
lascivious
lustful
lethargic
inactive
liberal
broad-minded; generous, lavish, tolerant
antonym: stringent
libertine
one without moral restraint
libido
sexual desire
Lilliputian
extremely small
limn
draw; describe
limpid
clear, transparent
“the limpid pond”
litany
lengthy recitation; repetitive chant
literati
scholarly or learned persons, erudites
litigation
legal proceedings
lucre
money, profit
lustrous
shining
“the lustrous stars”
Machiavellian
crafty, cunning, double-dealing
machination
plot, scheme
maelstrom
whirlpool (e.g. the maelstrom that was WWII); turmoil
malign
speak evil of
megalomania
delusions of power or importance
menagerie
a variety of animals kept together
mendicant
beggar
“a mendicant monk”
meretricious
plausible but false, specious; gaudy, garish
metaphysics
a branch of philosophy that investigates the ultimate nature of reality
“to sceptics, metaphysics is an arbitrary search for a chimerical truth”
mettle
courage; endurance
mettlesome
full of courage and fortitude
microcosm
a small system having analogies to a larger system
militate
to work against
minatory
threatening, menacing
“minatory troop concentrations on the border”
miscellany
mixture of writings on various subjects
miscreant
villain; criminal
monolithic
solid and uniform, constituting a single unified whole
motley
multicoloured; made up of many parts
multifarious
diverse, multi-faceted
necromancy
black magic
neologism
new word or expression
nexus
connection
nonplussed
bewildered
nostrum
supposed cure; and ineffective remedy
nugatory
trifling, invalid
“nugatory information”
obsequy
funeral ceremony
odyssey
a long, adventurous voyage
oligarchy
a form of government in which power belongs to only a few leaders
ornithologist
scientist who studies birds
overweening
arrogant, presumptuous, overbearing (e.g. overweening pride, overweening ambition)
paean
song of joy or triumph; fervent expression of joy
pallid
lacking colour or liveliness
panegyric
elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise
patois
regional dialect; nonstandard speech; jargon
pellucid
transparent, easily understood
“pellucid style”;
translucent
peregrination
wandering from place to place
peremptory
imperative, imperious
“the general spoke in a peremptory tone”
perigee
point in an orbit that is closest to the body being orbited
antonym: apogee
petulant
rude, querulous
“petulant child”
physiognomy
facial features
piquant
appealingly stimulating, pleasantly pungent
pique
feeling of hurt pride
placid
calm, phlegmatic
plaintive
melancholy, mournful
“plaintive cries of the widows”
plumb
examine deeply
“plumb the depths of despair”
plutocracy
a society ruled by the wealthy
poseur
poser
prate
to talk idly, chatter
prattle
meaningless, foolish talk
synonym: gossip
precept
principle
precipitate
rash, hasty, sudden
“precipitate action”;
to throw down from a height
preempt
forestall; take priority over, supersede
prehensile
capable of grasping
“prehensile tails”
premonition
warning
presage
foretell; indicate in advance
preternatural
supernatural
prevaricate
quibble; evade the truth
primordial
original
prohibitive
preventive, forbidding
“prohibitive price”
provident
providing for future needs; frugal, thrifty
antonym: spendthrift, prodigal
punctilious
careful in observing rules of ceremony or behaviour
quagmire
difficult situation (e.g. legal quagmire); marsh
quail
to cower, lose heart
“the defendant quailed when the judge entered the room to announce his sentence”
qualified
limited, restricted
qualm
an uneasy feeling on the rightness of an action; a sudden feeling of nausea or faintness
quibble
fight over insignificant details
quorum
number of members necessary to conduct a meeting
raconteur
witty, skilful storyteller
rail
to criticise with bitter or abusive language
raiment
clothing
ramification
consequence
rebus
puzzle in which pictures or symbols represent words
redoubtable
formidable; arousing fear; worthy of respect
“the redoubtable prosecutor”
refulgent
brightly shining
“a refulgent diamond”
regale
entertain
remonstrate
object, protest
renege
to go back on one’s word
reparation
compensation
repine
complain
reproach
blame
riposte
a retaliatory action or retort
rubric
established mode of procedure or conduct, protocol; title or heading; category
rue
regret
salacious
lascivious, lustful
salutary
beneficial
sartorial
pertaining to tailors or clothing
saturnine
gloomy; sluggish
satyr
a creature that is half-man, half-beat with the horns and legs of a goat; a man who has a strong sexual desire
sedition
behaviour prompting rebellion, fomentation of discontent
sedulous
diligent, assiduous
sensuous
relating to the senses, operating through the senses, sensual
servile
submissive, obedient
“the king’s servile citizens”
sextant
navigational device that determines latitude and longitude
sidereal
relating to the stars
simian
apelike, relating to apes
sinecure
well-paying job that requires little or no work
singular
unique, extraordinary, odd
sinuous
winding, complex
sobriety
seriousness
sodden
thoroughly soaked, saturated
“sodden field”
solicitous
eager, attentive, concerned
soliloquy
monologue
solvent
able to meet financial obligations
somatic
relating to or affecting the body, corporeal
“somatic functions”
sordid
filthy, contemptable and corrupt
staccato
marked by abrupt, clear-cut sounds
stanch
to stop or check the flow of
stentorian
extremely loud
“the stentorian speaker”
stratify
divide into layers or strata
striated
marked with thin, shallow grooves or channels
strictures
negative criticism; something that restrains
strident
loud, unpleasantly noisy; harsh
stultify
to impair or reduce to uselessness
substantive
essential, pertaining to the substance
“substantive evidence”
subsume
include, incorporate
subversive
intended to undermine or overthrow
stupefy
to dull the senses
succour
relief; help in time of distress or want
suffrage
the right to vote
sundry
various
supine
lying on the back; marked by lethargy
supplant
replace, substitute
suppliant
pleading, begging, imploring, beseeching
supplicant
one who asks humbly and earnestly
syllogism
a form of deductive reasoning that has a major argument, a minor argument, and a conclusion
“X is Y;Y is Z; therefore, X is Z”
sylvan
relating the woods or forest
tautology
unnecessary repetition, redundancy
tenet
belief, doctrine
timbre
the characteristic quality of sound produced by an instrument or voice, tone colour
toady
flatterer, yes-man
tome
book, usually large and academic
tout
promote or praise energetically
travail
arduous work, tribulations, anguish
travesty
parody
tremulous
trembling, quivering; frugal; timid
trepidation
fear and anxiety
tryst
rendezvous (between lovers)
tumid
swollen, distended
turbid
opaque; in a state of great confusion; muddy
turgid
swollen, bloated, distended, tumid; pompous
tutelary
guarding
“tutelary spirits”
undulating
moving in waves
“undulated terrain”
untenable
indefensible
untoward
not favourable, adverse; unruly, troublesome
usury
lending money at exorbitant, unreasonably high rates
vacuous
void, empty; lacking intelligence; purposeless
valedictory
pertaining to a farewell
“valedictory performance”
vapid
tasteless, dull, prosaic
variegated
varied
“variegated species”
vaunt
boast
venal
bribable, corruptible
vexation
puzzlement, confusion; irritation, annoyance
vindictive
vengeful
virtuoso
master (musician)
vitiate
to impair the quality of, make inoperative, stultify; morally corrupt
vivisection
dissection, surgery, or painful experiments performed on live animals for scientific purposes
