Common GRE Vocab Set #2

Question 1

amalgamate

Answer 1

to mix or blend together in a homogenous body

Question 2

ameliorate

Answer 2

to make better or improve

Question 3

anecdote

Answer 3

a short account of an interesting incident

Question 4

archipelago

Answer 4

a large group of islands

Question 5

artifice

Answer 5

cleverness or skill

Question 6

ascetic

Answer 6

given to severe self-denial; practicing excessive abstinence

Question 7

assiduous

Answer 7

persistent; unceasing

Question 8

astute

Answer 8

keen; wise

Question 9

audacious

Answer 9

fearless

Question 10

austere

Answer 10

unadorned; severely simple

Question 11

aver

Answer 11

to avouch, justify, or prove

Question 12

banal

Answer 12

trite; commonplace; boring

Question 13

base

Answer 13

the underlying concept of a system of theory

Question 14

beset

Answer 14

to surround; to reinforce

Question 15

blatant

Answer 15

offensively loud

Question 16

bolster

Answer 16

to support; to reinforce

Question 17

bombastic

Answer 17

using inflated language; pompous

Question 18

boon

Answer 18

a timely benefit

Question 19

brevity

Answer 19

briefness or conciseness

Question 20

browbeat

Answer 20

to intimidate in an overbearing manner

Question 21

bumptious

Answer 21

offensively self-assertive; pushy

Question 22

bungle

Answer 22

to perform clumsily or inadequately; botch

Question 23

burgeon

Answer 23

to grow forth; to send out buds

Question 24

cacophony

Answer 24

a disagreeable, harsh, or discordant sound or tone

Question 25

callous

Answer 25

insensitive; indifferent

Question 26

calumniate

Answer 26

to make false and malicious statements about

Question 27

candor

Answer 27

to be open and sincere

Question 28

chicanery

Answer 28

use of trickery to deceive

Question 29

churl

Answer 29

a rude, boorish, and surly person

Question 30

coda

Answer 30

concluding section of a musical or literary piece; something that summarizes

Question 31

cognizant

Answer 31

aware; taking notice

Question 32

colloquial

Answer 32

pertaining to common speech

Question 33

complacency

Answer 33

a feeling of quiet security

Question 34

confidante

Answer 34

one to whom secrets are confided

Question 35

congruous

Answer 35

appropriate or fitting

Question 36

consternation

Answer 36

panic

Question 37

contentious

Answer 37

quarrelsome

Question 38

contrite

Answer 38

feeling regret and sorrow for one’s sins or offenses; penitent

Question 39

contumacious

Answer 39

rebellious

Question 40

corroborate

Answer 40

to make more certain; confirm