Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

GRE Vocabulary > Common GRE vocab > Flashcards

Common GRE vocab Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
GRE® Vocabulary flashcards Vocab Builder flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

abstain (verb)

A

restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

abyss (noun)

A

a deep or seemingly bottomless chasm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

adept (adj)

A

very skilled or proficient at something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

agog (adj)

A

very eager or curious to hear or see something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

allure (noun)

A

the quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

altruism (noun)

A

the belief in or practice of selfless concern for the well-being of others

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

ambivalent (adj)

A

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

annul (verb)

A

declare invalid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

apathy (noun)

A

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

arbitrary (adj)

A

based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

arbiter (noun)

A

a person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

artless (adj)

A

without guile or deception

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

audacious (adj)

A

showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

austere (adj)

A

having an extremely plain and simple style or appearance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

blight (noun)

A

a thing that spoils or damages something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

blithe (adj)

A

showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

blowhard (noun)

A

a person who blusters and boasts in an unpleasant way

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

bolster (verb)

A

support or strengthen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

bombastic (adj)

A

high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

boycott (noun)

A

a punitive ban that forbids relations with certain groups

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

burlesque (noun)

A

a variety show

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

cacophony (noun)

A

a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

chronic (adj)

A

(of a problem) long lasting and difficult to eradicate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

coda (noun)

A

a concluding event, remark or section

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

confound (verb)

A

prove (a theory, expectation, or prediction) wrong

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

deign (verb)

A

do something that one considers to be beneath one’s dignity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

disingenuous (adj)

A

not candid or sincere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

docile (adj)

A

ready to accept control or instruction; submissive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

doff (verb)

A

remove (an item of clothing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

dote (verb)

A

to be extremely and uncritically fond of

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

endow (verb)

A

provide with a quality, ability, or asset

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

ephemeral (adj)

A

lasting for a very short time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

ethos (noun)

A

the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

facetious (adj)

A

treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

faction (noun)

A

a small, organized, dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

fallow (adj)

A

inactive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

falter (verb)

A

move unsteadily or in a way that shows lack of confidence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

flail (verb)

A

flounder; struggle uselessly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

fluke (noun)

A

unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

forage (verb)

A

(of a person or animal) search widely for food or provisions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

fortuitous (adj)

A

happening by a lucky chance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

fringe (noun)

A

the unconventional, extreme, or marginal wing of a group or sphere of activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

garner (verb)

A

gather or collect (something, especially information or approval)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

gist (noun)

A

the substance or essence of a speech or text

45
Q

gossamer (adj)

A

used to refer to something very light, thin, and insubstantial or delicate

46
Q

grovel (verb)

A

act in an obsequious manner in order to obtain someone’s forgiveness or favor

47
Q

harangue (noun)

A

a lengthy and aggressive speech

48
Q

impetuous (adj)

A

acting or done quickly and without thought or care

49
Q

indictment (noun)

A

a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime

50
Q

inert (adj)

A

lacking vigor

51
Q

ingrate (noun)

A

an ungrateful person

52
Q

insipid (adj)

A

lacking vigor or interest

53
Q

lax (adj)

A

not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful

54
Q

listless (adj)

A

(of a person or their manner) lacking energy or enthusiasm

55
Q

livid (adj)

A

furiously angry

56
Q

loll (verb)

A

sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way

57
Q

lurid (adj)

A

presented in vividly shocking or sensational terms

58
Q

mar (verb)

A

impair the quality or appearance of

59
Q

mince (verb)

A

use polite or moderate expressions to indicate disapproval

60
Q

minion (noun)

A

a follower or underling of a powerful person

61
Q

mirth (noun)

A

amusement, especially as expressed in laughter

62
Q

modest (adj)

A

not excessively, large, elaborate, or expensive

63
Q

morose (adj)

A

sullen and ill-tempered

64
Q

muse (noun)

A

a person or personified force who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist

65
Q

oblique (adj)

A

not explicit or direct in addressing a point

66
Q

opaque (adj)

A

not able to be seen through; not transparent

67
Q

overwrought (adj)

A

(of a piece of writing or a work of art) too elaborate or complicated in design or construction

68
Q

pertain (verb)

A

be appropriate, related, or applicable

69
Q

pine (verb)

A

miss and long for the return of

70
Q

placate (verb)

A

make (someone) less angry or hostile

71
Q

platitude (noun)

A

a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful

72
Q

plethora (noun)

A

a large or excessive amount

73
Q

posit (verb)

A

put forward as fact or as a basis for argument

74
Q

prodigal (noun)

A

a person who leaves home and behaves recklessly, but later makes a repentant return

75
Q

prophetic (adj)

A

accurately describing or predicting what will happen in the future

76
Q

purist (noun)

A

a person who insists on absolute adherence to traditional rules or structures

77
Q

pyre (noun)

A

a heap of combustable material, especially one for burning a corpse as part of a funeral ceremony

78
Q

quack (noun)

A

a person who dishonestly claims to have special knowledge in some field

79
Q

reticence (noun)

A

the quality of not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily

80
Q

rue (verb)

A

bitterly regret (something one has done or allowed to happen)

81
Q

ruminate (verb)

A

think deeply about something

82
Q

stigma (noun)

A

a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person

83
Q

strut (verb)

A

walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait

84
Q

sublime (adj)

A

of very great excellence or beauty

85
Q

surly (adj)

A

bad-tempered and unfriendly

86
Q

syncopation (noun)

A

a displacement of the beat or accents in (music or a rhythm) so that strong beats become weak and vice versa

87
Q

taunt (noun)

A

a remark made in order to anger, wound, or provoke someone

88
Q

tawdry (adj)

A

showy but cheap and of poor quality

89
Q

temperate (adj)

A

relating to or denoting a region or climate characterized by mild temperatures

90
Q

terse (adj)

A

sparing in the use of words

91
Q

tome (noun)

A

a book, especially a large, heavy, scholarly one

92
Q

torrid (adj)

A

full of difficulty or tribulation

93
Q

transgression (noun)

A

an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct

94
Q

treacherous (adj)

A

guilty of or involving betrayal or deception

95
Q

vapid (adj)

A

offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; bland

96
Q

vestige (noun)

A

a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists

97
Q

vilify (verb)

A

speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner

98
Q

viscous (adj)

A

having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid

99
Q

volatile (adj)

A

liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse

100
Q

waffle (noun)

A

lengthy but trivial or useless talk or wirting

101
Q

waft (verb)

A

pass or cause to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air

102
Q

wanton (adj)

A

(of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked

103
Q

whitewash (verb)

A

deliberately attempt to conceal unpleasant facts about (a person or organization)

104
Q

whittle (verb)

A

reduce something in size, amount, or extent by a gradual series of steps

105
Q

winsome (adj)

A

attractive or appealing in appearance or character

106
Q

wizened (adj)

A

shriveled or wrinkled with age

107
Q

wry (adj)

A

using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humor

108
Q

zeal (noun)

A

great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective

GRE Vocabulary (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions