Barron GRE Vocab (words) Flashcards
ambivalence
state of having conflicting emotional attitudes
derivative
simple; unoriginal
proscribe
to condemn; forbid; outlaw
assiduous
diligent; hard working
causality
relationship between cause/effect
efficacy
effectiveness; efficiency
denigrate
to slur someone’s reputation
diffuse
to spread out
effrontery
shameless boldness; presumptuousness
impermeable
impossible to penetrate
mendacious
dishonest
negate
cancel out; nullify
piety
devoutness
lucid
bright; clear; intelligible
quibble
to argue over insignificant and irrelevant details
quiescent
inactive; still
sanction
to approve; ratify; permit
capricious
fickle; constantly changing one’s mind
confound
baffle; mix up; perplex; confuse
plethora
excess; overabundance
reverent
expressing deep respect; worshipful
burnish
to polish
dogmatic
stating opinions without proof; dictatorial in one’s opinions
elicit
to provoke; draw out
intransigence
stubbornness; refusal to compromise
gouge
to tear out; scoop out; overcharge
torpor
lethargy; dormancy; sluggishness
conciliatory
overcoming distrust or hostility
recant
to retract a statement or opinion
qualified
limited; restricted
antipathy
strong dislike; hostility
engender
to cause; produce; bring about
inadvertently
carelessly; unintentionally
reproach
to find fault with; blame
skeptic
one who doubts
tractable
obedient; yielding
viscous
thick, syrupy, and sticky
austere
stern; undecorated
euphemism
use of agreeable/inoffensive language in place of unpleasant/offensive language
erudite
learned, scholarly, bookish
perfunctory
superficial; not thorough; performed as only a duty; indifferent
ambiguous
unclear or doubtful in meaning;
impassive
showing no emotion
perfidious
willing to betray one’s trust; faithless; disloyal; untrustworthy
platitude
stale, overused expression
digression
act of straying from the main point
iconoclastic
attacking cherished traditions
plasticity
pliability; condition of being able to be shaped or formed
imperturbable
not easily disturbed
paragon
model of excellence or perfection
oscillate
move back and forth
penury
extreme poverty
empirical
derived from observation or experiment
indeterminate
uncertain; indefinite
conundrum
riddle; puzzle with no solution
soporific
causing sleep or lethargy
connoisseur
person possessing expert knowledge or training
commensurate
proportional
diatribe
bitter verbal attack
garrulous
very talkative, wordy
propensity
inclination; tendency
abeyance
temporary suppression or suspension
goad
to prod; urge on
admonish
caution or reprimand
aggregate
amounting to a whole; total
alacrity
cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed
dirge
funeral hymn
implacable
inflexible; incapable of being pleased
implicit
implied; understood but not stated
subpoena
notice ordering someone to appear in court
propitiate
to win over; appease
volatile
tending to vary frequently; fickle
supersede
to replace, especially to displace as inferior or antiquated
bombastic
pompous in speech and/or manner
indigence
poverty
loquacious
talkative
insinuate
to suggest; say indirectly; imply
artless
guileless; natural
zealot
one who is fanatically devoted to a cause
idolatry
idol worship; blind or excessive devotion
ameliorate
to improve
fawning
seeking favor through flattery
pragmatic
practical (as opposed to realistic)
deference
respect, courtesy
penchant
inclination
disparate
dissimilar
venerate
to adore; honor; respect
mitigate
to soften; to lessen; to cause to become less harsh, severe, or painful; alleviate
hyperbole
purposeful exaggeration for effect
stint
to be sparing
disinterested
unprejudiced; objective
opprobrium
public disgrace; contempt
desultory
random; disconnected; rambling
officious
too helpful; meddlesome
autonomous
self-governing; independent
implode
violently collapse inward
precarious
uncertain (p)
magnanimity
generosity; nobility
tangential
peripheral; digressing
diffidence
shyness; lack of self confidence
endemic
inherent; belonging to an area
felicitous
suitably expressed; appropriate; well-chosen
neophyte
novice; beginner
analogous
similar or comparable
disjointed
lacking order or coherence; dislocated
buttress
reinforce or support
foment
arouse or incite
onerous
burdensome; troublesome
disparage
to belittle
harangue
long, pompous speech; tirade
rescind
to cancel
immutable
unchangeable
esoteric
hard to understand; understood by only a few
exacerbate
to make worse
pristine
untouched; uncorrupted
emulate
to copy; try to equal or excel
inchoate
not fully formed; disorganized
insularity
narrow-mindedness; isolation
presumptuous
rude; improperly bold
truculence
aggressiveness; ferocity