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GRE Vocab > Common > Flashcards

Common Flashcards

1
Q

Enervate

A

To sap energy from

To exhaust

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2
Q

Undermine

A

To weaken

Compromise

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3
Q

Meticulous

A

Marked by extreme care in treatment of details

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4
Q

Aesthetic

A

Concerned with appreciation of beauty

Set of principles underlying and guiding work of particular artists and moment

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5
Q

Audacious

A

Willing to be bold in social situations

Take risks

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6
Q

Immutable

A

Not able to be changed

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7
Q

Eclectic

A

Comprised of variety of style

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8
Q

Derivative

A

Not original but drawl strongly in something already in existence esp in reference to a creative product

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9
Q

Copious

A

In abundant supply

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10
Q

Opaque

A

Not clearly understood or expressed

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11
Q

Confound

A

To cause confusion

Mistake one thing for another

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12
Q

Garrulous

A

Full of trivial conversation

Excessively talkative

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13
Q

Sporadic

A

Recurring in scattered and irregular, unpredictable instances

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14
Q

Mundane

A

Repetitive and boring, not spiritual

Relating to ordinary world

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15
Q

Bolster

A

Support and strengthen

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16
Q

Anomaly

A

Something that is not normal, standard, expected

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17
Q

Candid

A

Straightforward and honest

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18
Q

Catalyst

A

Something that speeds up an event

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19
Q

Discriminate

A

Recognize and perceive the difference

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20
Q

Malleable

A

Capable of being shaped, bent, drawn out

Easily influenced

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21
Q

Benign

A

Kind

Gentle

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22
Q

Analogous

A

Similar in same respect but otherwise different

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23
Q

Ambiguous

A

Open to more than one interpretation

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24
Q

Amalgam

A

Mixture of multiple things

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25
Q

Ameliorate

A

Make something bad better

Mitigate

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26
Q

Archaic

A

So old as to appear to belong to a different period

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27
Q

Alleviate

A

To relieve a problem

Ease a burden

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28
Q

Anoint

A

To choose for a particular office, position

To use oil on a person in a religious ceremony

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29
Q

Articulate

A

Exhibiting considerable communication skills

Well spoken

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30
Q

Astonishment

A

Total surprise

Shock

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31
Q

Compelling

A

Captivating

Persuasive

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32
Q

Connoisseur

A

Expert in particular subject matter area usu relating to fine art ya or cultural pursuits

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33
Q

Eloquence

A

persuasive and articulate speech

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34
Q

facilitate

A

to make something easier/simpler

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35
Q

fluctuate

A

to shift without apparent pattern

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36
Q

forestall

A

to hold off/try to prevent

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37
Q

impair

A

to hinder/weaken something/someone

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38
Q

perseverance

A

persistence in the face of obstacles

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39
Q

pervasive

A

found everywhere, widespread

often has negative connotation

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40
Q

buoyant

A

lighthearted

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41
Q

abstain

A

restrain from doing or enjoying something

refrain, desist, hold back

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42
Q

artful

A

clever in cunning way

exhibiting artistic skill

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43
Q

amenable

A

easily persuaded

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44
Q

aberration

A

deviation from what is normal or expected

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45
Q

apathetic

apathy

A

lack of interest

absence of emotion or enthusiasm

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46
Q

ascetic

A

practicing self-denial = selflessness

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47
Q

admonish

A

to warn strong, even to the point of reprimanding

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48
Q

arbitrary

A

based on random, groundless decision

capricious, whimsical

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49
Q

austere

A

practicing self-denial
unadorned in style/appearance
harsh in manner of temperament

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50
Q

antithetical

A

sharply contrasted in character/purpose

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51
Q

arcane

A

secret / known only to a select group

enigmatic

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52
Q

appease

A

pacify by accending to the demands of

make peace

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53
Q

arduous

A

demanding considerable mental effort and skill
testing powers of endurance

onerous, taxing, difficult, laborious

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54
Q

antipathy

A

intense feeling of dislike or aversion

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55
Q

avarice

A

greed

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56
Q

advocate

A

speak, plead, argue in favor of

person who pleads for a cause/ propounds an idea

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57
Q

assuage

A

make something intense less severe

to satisfy a need or appetite

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58
Q

artless

A

without cunning or deceit

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59
Q

alacrity

A

an eager willingness to do something

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60
Q

anachronism

A

something that is inappropriate for the given time period

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61
Q

abjure

A

formally reject or give up

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62
Q

ambivalent

A

having mixed feelings/contradictory ideas about something

equivocal; uncertain

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63
Q

abate

A

to diminish in intensity

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64
Q

abscond

A

to leave secretly, evading detection

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65
Q

acumen

A

keen judgment and perception

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66
Q

adulterate

A

to contaminate and make impure by introducing inferior elements

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67
Q

affectation

A

fake/artificial behavior, often meant to impress/conceal the truth

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68
Q

aver

A

to assert/allege/state

declare, maintain, assert, protest

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69
Q

belie

A

give false representation to

misrepresent

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70
Q

bucolic

A

pastoral, rustic, countrified

relating to pleasant aspects of the country

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71
Q

banal

A

repeated too often

overfamiliar through overuse

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72
Q

burgeon

A

grow and flourish

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73
Q

brazen

A

unrestrained by convention/propriety

bod and without shame

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74
Q

calumny

A

making false statement meant to injure one’s reputation

lie
slander

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75
Q

commensurate

A

to be in proportion/corresponding in degree/amount

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76
Q

censure

A

to express strong disapproval

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77
Q

castigate

A

to reprimand harshly

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78
Q

construe

A

interpreted in a particular way

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79
Q

craven

A

pathetically coward

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80
Q

capricious

A

determined by change/impulse/whim rather than necessity/reason

mercurial, unpredictable, whimsical

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81
Q

contrite

A

to be remorseful

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82
Q

cogent

A

clear and persuasive

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83
Q

chauvinist

A

person who believes in the superiority of their group

exaggerated patriotism

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84
Q

credence

A

belief in something

trust

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85
Q

credulity

A

tendency to believe readily

gullible

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86
Q

convoluted

A

highly complex or intricate

roundabout; not straightforward

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87
Q

coalesce

A

fuse or cause to grow together

come together to form one mass/whole

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88
Q

cosmopolitan

A

comprising many cultures
global in reach and outlook

sophisticated; relating to city/urban area

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89
Q

contentious

A

likely to argue

controversial; involving conflict

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90
Q

canonize

A

official declare to be a saint

treat as being above reproach/of great significant

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91
Q

contending

A

struggle to surmount (overcome, stand/be placed on top of)

assert something as a position in an argument

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92
Q

canon

A

accepted rules and tenets of a discipline

sacred works/scriptive, also used to refer to notable literary and artistic works of a culture/discipline

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93
Q

caustic

A

corrosive

bitterly sarcastic

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94
Q

chicanery

A

trickery/deception

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95
Q

condone

A

to approve/allow

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96
Q

covet

A

to desire something that does not belong to you

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97
Q

cacophony

A

loud and chaotic noise

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98
Q

demur

A

to object or show reluctance

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99
Q

dogmatic

A

highly opinionated, not accepting that one’s own beliefs may not be correct

doctrinaire, opinionated

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100
Q

didactic

A

instructive/educational

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101
Q

deferential

A

showing respect

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102
Q

diffident

A

showing modest reserve; lacking self confidence

shy, timid, reserved due to lack of confidence

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103
Q

delineate

A

describe in detail

to clearly demarcate a boundary

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104
Q

decorum

A

propriety in manners and conduct

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105
Q

denigrate

A

charge falsely/ with malicious intent

attack the good name and reputation of someone

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106
Q

dilettente

A

amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and pretends to have knowledge

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107
Q

disseminate

A

cause to become widely known

spread widely

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108
Q

dispassionate

A

unaffected by strong emotion/prejudice

impartial/cool

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109
Q

dupe

A

to trick or swindle

person who is easily tricked/swindled

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110
Q

disparate

A

two things are fundamentally different

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111
Q

deride

A

treat/speak of with contempt

mock/ridicule

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112
Q

diatribe

A

strong verbal attack against a person/institution

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113
Q

disabuse

A

to persuade somebody that his/her belief is not valid

dispel someone’s illusions/false impressions about something

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114
Q

dissemble

A

conceal one’s true motives, usu through deceit

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115
Q

deftness

A

skill, acumen

manual dexterity

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116
Q

dessicate

A

to dry out completely

to suck out the vitality and passion

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117
Q

desultory

A

halfhearted

inconsistent/random

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118
Q

dirge

A

funeral/mourning lament

any sad, slow song

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119
Q

discern

A

to perceive

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120
Q

discrepancy

A

inconsistency

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121
Q

disparage

A

to belittle

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122
Q

dogma

A

the official beliefs/tenets of particular sect/group

123
Q

engender

A

to give rise to

124
Q

eschew

A

avoid and stay away from deliberately

abstain

125
Q

exacerbate

A

make worse

126
Q

eminent

A

standing above others in quality/position

well-known, respected, distinguished

127
Q

ephemeral

A

lasting a very short time

= transient; cursory

128
Q

exacting

A

requiring and demanding accuracy

challenging, demanding, grueling

129
Q

exonerate

A

pronounce not guilty of criminal charge

130
Q

elicit

A

call forth

provoke a response

131
Q

erudite

A

having/showing profound knowledge

learned

132
Q

esoteric

A

confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle

obscure, arcane

133
Q

efficacious

A

producing the intending result

134
Q

eccentric

A

unconventional and slightly strange

135
Q

emulate

A

strive to equal/match, esp by imitating

compete with successfully

136
Q

equivocate

A

to speak vaguely, usu with the intention to mislead and deceive

137
Q

empiricism

A

any method that derives knowledge from experience

based on evidence

138
Q

elegiac

elegy

A

expressing sorrow

sad poem/song, often in remembrance of someone decease

139
Q

extrapolate

A

draw from specific cases for more general cases

to estimate/conjecture about the future based on presently available info/facts

140
Q

ebullient

A

joyously unrestrained

cheerful, enthusiastic, excited

141
Q

estimable

A

deserving of esteem and respect

admiration

142
Q

explicit

explicate

A

stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion/doubt

explain in detail

143
Q

equable

A

even-tempered

not given to much change/variation

144
Q

exculpate

A

to exonerate/vindicate

show/declare that one is not guilty of wrongdoing

145
Q

exigent

A

urgent/pressing

146
Q

expatiate

A

to elaborate on something in great detail

147
Q

exposition

A

thorough explanation

public show/fair

148
Q

extraneous

A

irrelevant

superfluous

149
Q

fortuitous

A

occurring by happy change, having no cause/apparent cause

fortunate; lucky

150
Q

fallacious

A

belief that is based on faulty reasoning = fallacy

151
Q

foment

A

try to stir up public opinion; to foster unrest/discontent

152
Q

fastidious

A

overly concerned with details; fussy

meticulous; invested in cleanliness

153
Q

facetious

A

cleverly amusing in tone

treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor = flippant = glib

154
Q

galvanize

A

to excite/inspire someone to action

155
Q

gregarious

A

likely to socialize with others

genial

156
Q

germane

A

relevant and appropriate

157
Q

gainsay

A

deny/contradict; speak against/oppose

158
Q

guileless

guile

A

free of deceit

craftiness and cunning

159
Q

gauche

A

lacking social polish

unsophisticated and socially awkward

160
Q

glib

A

speaking with ease but without sincerity

161
Q

harangue

A

long pompous speech; tirade

deliver long pompous speech/tirate

diatribe/rant

162
Q

hackneyed

A

lacking significant through having been overused

cliche, trite, banal

163
Q

hedonism

A

pursuit of pleasure

164
Q

innocuous

A

harmless and doesn’t produce any ill effects

165
Q

iconoclast

A

one who attacks cherished beliefs/institutions

166
Q

ingenuous

A

to be naive and innocent

167
Q

intimate

A

to suggest something subtly; to imply

close, particularly private

168
Q

impudent

A

improperly forward/bold

disrespectful

169
Q

implausible

plausible

A

describing a statement that is not believable

believable, reasonable

170
Q

implacable

A

incapable of making less angry/hostile

unforgiving, relentless

171
Q

intransigent

A

unwilling to change one’s beliefs/course of action

uncompromising; obstinate

172
Q

inscrutable

A

not easily understood; unfathomable (incapable of being fully explored or understood)

enigmatic (difficult to interpret/understood; mysterious), incomprehensible

173
Q

inveterate

A

habitual, ingrained

174
Q

inimical

A

hostile (describing conditions and environments)

175
Q

intrepid

A

fearless; bold and adventurous

176
Q

imprudent

imprudence

A

not wise

bad judgment

177
Q

irresolute

A

uncertain how to act or proceed

wishy-washy; hesitant

178
Q

inadvertent

A

happening by chance/unexpectedly/unintentionally

by accident, unintentional

179
Q

insipid

A

dull and uninteresting

bland, uninspired, inane (stupid, silly)

180
Q

irascible

A

quickly aroused to anger

irritable, testy, touchy

181
Q

inarticulate

A

without/deprived of the use of speech or words

182
Q

inchoate

A

only partly in existence, imperfectly formed

rudimentary, in the beginning stages

183
Q

impediment

A

hindrance/obstruction in doing something

184
Q

ideological

A

relating to particular belief system/theory

185
Q

imminent

A

about to happen

186
Q

imperturbable

A

remaining calm under any circumstances

187
Q

implicit

A

implied/insinuated without being directly stated

188
Q

indefatigable

A

cannot be made tired

189
Q

indolent

190
Q

infer

A

to conclude from implicit evidence

191
Q

insular

A

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

192
Q

intractable

A

unmanageable

stubborn/obstinate

193
Q

laconic

A

using very few words

taciturn, reserved, succinct

194
Q

laudable

A

worthy of high praise

195
Q

lucid

A

transparently clear; easily understandable

196
Q

litigation

A

legal proceedings = process of taking legal action

197
Q

loquacious

198
Q

mitigate

A

make less severe/harsh

lessen the severity of an offense

ameliorate

199
Q

mercurial

A

prone to unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood

fickle; easily changeable

200
Q

mollify

A

to make someone angry less angry

placate

201
Q

magnanimous

A

noble and generous in spirit, esp. toward rival/someone less powerful

202
Q

munificent

A

very generous

203
Q

mendacity

A

tendency to be untruthful

204
Q

maverick

A

someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action

unorthodox person/rebel

205
Q

maladroit

adroit

A

clumsy; awkward; inept

skillful, adept, dexterous

206
Q

misanthrope

A

hater of mankind

207
Q

malign

A

evil in nature/effect

malevolent

208
Q

nonplussed

A

unsure how to act/respond

confused and baffled

209
Q

nuance

A

subtle difference in meaning/opinion/attitude

subtle shades of difference

210
Q

notoriety

A

state of being famous/well known for some bad quality/deed

211
Q

nascent

A

just beginning/in the early stages

212
Q

ostentatious

A

intended to attract notice and impress others

tawdry/vulgar

213
Q

obsequious

A

attentive in an ingratiating/servile manner

attempt to win favor from influential people by flattery

214
Q

obdurate

A

unable to be persuaded/moved emotionally; stubborn; unyielding

obstinate

215
Q

obstinate

A

resistant to guidance/discipline
stubbornly persistent

stubborn, uncompromising

216
Q

obscure

A

not discovered/known about; uncertain

keep from being seen/conceal

217
Q

obviate

A

to forestall the need for something

to prevent

218
Q

occlude

A

to block/obstruct

219
Q

occult

A

mystical and supernatural

220
Q

offset

A

counterbalance and counteract

221
Q

omniscience

A

quality/state of being all-knowing

222
Q

onerous

A

difficult/burdensome

223
Q

opprobrium

A

criticism/condemnation

224
Q

outstrip

A

to overtake/outrun

225
Q

prodigal

A

rashly/wastefully extravagant

reckless spender

226
Q

profligate

A

spending resources recklessly/wastefully

someone who spends resources recklessly/wastefully

227
Q

prevaricate

A

to speak in an evasive way

to evade/deceive without outright lying

228
Q

prescience

prescient

A

power to foresee the future = foresight

prophetic; knowing things before they happen

229
Q

platitude

A

trite; obvious remark

230
Q

perfidy

A

act of deliberate betrayal; breach of trust

treachery; deceit

231
Q

pedantic

A

marked by narrow focus on/display of learning esp. its trivial aspects

232
Q

pragmatic

A

guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory

233
Q

pedestrian

A

lacking imagination

boring, monotonous

234
Q

polemic

A

strong verbal/written attack on someone/thing

angry, hostile, harshly critical

235
Q

placate

A

cause to be more favorable inclined; gain the good will of

less angry/hostile

236
Q

precariously

A

in a way that is not securely in position and is likely to fall or collapse

in a way that is uncertain/dependent on chance

uncertain/unstable

237
Q

peruse

A

to read very carefully and closely

to read something informally/quickly

(context is critical)

238
Q

paucity

A

lack of something

scarcity, poverty

239
Q

pristine

A

unspoiled, untouched

immaculately clean and unused

240
Q

precedent

A

an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time

model, example

241
Q

presumptuous

A

excessively forward

overly familiar, invades social boundaries

242
Q

prevail

A

be widespread in a particular area of a particular time
be current to succeed esp. with respect to vanquishing an opponent

prove superior

to convince/persuade

243
Q

precipitate

A

hasty/rash

to cause to happen

244
Q

perfunctory

A

done routinely and with little interest/care

cursory

245
Q

propitiate

A

to placate/appease

to obtain special favor from someone, esp a powerful person/deity; performing a pleasing action

246
Q

probity

A

integrity, strong moral principles

247
Q

patent

A

glaringly obvious

blatant

248
Q

pith

A

most essential part of something

249
Q

phlegmatic

A

showing little emotion

cool and unruffled

250
Q

painstaking

A

attentive to detail, meticulous

251
Q

partisan

A

devoted supporter of a group, cause, person

252
Q

permeate

A

pervade/penetrate throughout

253
Q

phenomena

A

things that happen

254
Q

plastic

A

easily shaped/molded

255
Q

plethora

A

surplus/overabundance of something

256
Q

polarize

A

to cause sharp division between two groups

257
Q

propriety

A

appropriateness, manners, decorum

258
Q

qualify

qualification

A

to make less severe, to limit

credential, modifying statement

259
Q

quotidian

A

found in ordinary course of events

mundane

260
Q

recondite

A

difficult to penetrate, incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding/knowledge

arcane, obscure

261
Q

reticent

A

disinclined to talk, not revealing one’s thoughts

hesitant to talk, introverted/silent

262
Q

reconcile

A

make compatible with

restore friendly relations between
to bring into harmony

263
Q

refute

A

to prove to be false/incorrect

to rebut/disprove

264
Q

reverent

A

feeling/showing profound respect/veneration; solemn

265
Q

rescind

A

cancel officially

to take back/retract

266
Q

repudiate

A

reject as untrue/unfounded

to renounce/disown

267
Q

reproach

A

to express criticism towards

268
Q

relentlessly

A

in an unceasingly intense/harsh way

never stopping, constant

269
Q

rhetoric

A

the art of effective communication

270
Q

supplant

A

take the place/move into the position of

overtake/replace

271
Q

spurious

A

plausible but false

fake

272
Q

soporific

A

inducing mental lethargy, sleep-inducing

273
Q

subversive

subvert

A

in opposition to an established system/institution

meant to undercut established institutions/norms

undermine the power and authority of

274
Q

sanction

A

give authority/permission to

legal penalty for a forbidden action

275
Q

sycophant

A

person who tries to please someone in order to gain personal advantage

having sense of right and wrong; principled

276
Q

specious

A

based on pretense; deceptively pleasing

plausible but false
spurious

277
Q

stolid

A

having/revealing little emotions/sensibility

calm, dependable

278
Q

sedulous

A

done diligently and carefully

279
Q

solicitous

A

showing hovering attentiveness

considerate; attentive

280
Q

salubrious

A

health-promoting

281
Q

satiate

A

to completely satisfy

282
Q

secular

A

of or relating to the world/worldly matters

nonreligious

283
Q

spouse

A

scattered/scarce

austere and unadorned

284
Q

substantiate

A 
to corroborate (give support)
give evidence of something
285
Q

supine

A

laying back with the face upward

prone, recumbent, prostrate

morally slack

286
Q

torpor

A

inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor/energy

tiredness

287
Q

temperance

A

trait of avoiding excesses = abstinence from alcoholic drinks

288
Q

tortuous

A

marked by repeated turns and bends

not straightforward, complicated

289
Q

tractable

A

readily reacting to suggestions and influences; easily managed

easy to deal with; easy to control/influence

290
Q

taciturn

A

habitually reserved and incommunicable

reticent/reserved; tending towards silence

291
Q

timorous

A

timid by nature/revealing fear and nervousness

meek

292
Q

transient

A

lasting a very short time

293
Q

tirade

A

angry speech

294
Q

tacit

A

unspoken; implicit

295
Q

tenuous

A

weak, flimsy, insubstantial

296
Q

underscore

A

to give extra weight to

emphasize

297
Q

unadorned

A

plain, unembellished

298
Q

venerate

A

to respect deeply; may border on worship

299
Q

veracious

veracity

A

truthful

truth and factual accuracy

300
Q

venality

A

condition of being susceptible to bribes/corruption

301
Q

vacillate

A

be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions/courses of action

302
Q

vexation

A

state of being frustrated, irritated, concerned

303
Q

whimsical

A

determined by impulse/whim rather than by necessity/reason

304
Q

zeal

A

passion/fervor (intense and passionate feeling)

GRE Vocab (4 decks)

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