Cracking the new GRE (2012) Hit Parade Group 4 Flashcards

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1
Q

Acerbic

A

having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting

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2
Q

Aggrandize

A

to increase in intensity, power, influence, or prestige

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3
Q

Alchemy

A

a medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals, esp. base metals into gold.

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4
Q

Amenable

A

agreeable; responsive to suggestion

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5
Q

Anachronism

A

something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context

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6
Q

Astringent

A

having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe

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7
Q

Contiguous

A

sharing a border; touching; adjacent

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8
Q

Convention

A

a generally agreed upon practice or attitude

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9
Q

Credulous

A

tending to believe too readily; gullible

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10
Q

Cynicism

A

an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness

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11
Q

Decorum

A

polite or appropriate conduct or behavior

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12
Q

Derision

A

Scorn; ridicule, contemptuous treatment

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13
Q

Desiccate

A

to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull

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14
Q

Dilettante

A

one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge

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15
Q

Disparage

A

to slight or belittle

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16
Q

Divulge

A

to disclose something secret

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17
Q

Fawn

A

to flatter or praise excessively

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18
Q

Flout

A

to show contempt for, as in a rule or convention

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19
Q

Garrulous

A

pointlessly talkative; talking too much

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20
Q

Glib

A

marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial

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21
Q

Hubris

A

overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance

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22
Q

Imminent

A

about to happen; impending

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23
Q

Immutable

A

not capable of change

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24
Q

Impetuous

A

hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement

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25
Q

Indifferent

A

having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice

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26
Q

Inimical

A

damaging; harmful; injurious

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27
Q

Intractable

A

not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate

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28
Q

Intrepid

A

steadfast and courageous

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29
Q

Laconic

A

using few words; terse

30
Q

Maverick

A

an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party

31
Q

Mercurial

A

characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood

32
Q

Mollify

A

to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity

33
Q

Neophyte

A

a recent convert; a beginner; novice

34
Q

Obfuscate

A

to deliberately obscure; to make confusing

35
Q

Obstinate

A

stubborn; hard-headed; uncompromising

36
Q

Ostentatious

A

characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy

37
Q

Pervade

A

to permeate throughout

38
Q

Phlegmatic

A

calm, sluggish; unemotional

39
Q

Plethora

A

an overabundance; a surplus

40
Q

Pragmatic

A

practical rather than idealistic

41
Q

Presumptuous

A

overstepping due bounds; taking liberties

42
Q

Pristine

A

pure; uncorrupted; clean

43
Q

Probity

A

adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity

44
Q

Proclivity

A

a natural predisposition or inclination

45
Q

Profligate

A

excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant

46
Q

Propensity

A

a natural inclination or tendency; penchant

47
Q

Prosaic

A

dull; lacking in spirit or imagination

48
Q

Pungent

A

characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste

49
Q

Quixotic

A

foolishly impractical

50
Q

Quotidian

A

occurring or recurring daily, commonplace

51
Q

Rarefy

A

to make or become thin, less dense; to refine

52
Q

Recondite

A

hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure

53
Q

Refulgent

A

radiant; shiny; brilliant

54
Q

Renege

A

to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise

55
Q

Sedulous

A

diligent; persistent; hard-working

56
Q

Shard

A

a piece of broken pottery or glass

57
Q

Soporific

A

causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep

58
Q

Sparse

A

thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals

59
Q

Spendthrift

A

one who spends money wastefully

60
Q

Subtle

A

not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern

61
Q

Tacit

A

implied; not easily stated

62
Q

Terse

A

brief and concise in wording

63
Q

Tout

A

to publicly praise or promote

64
Q

Trenchant

A

sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating

65
Q

Unfeigned

A

genuine; not false or hypocritical

66
Q

Untenable

A

indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable

67
Q

Vacillate

A

to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another

68
Q

Variegated

A

multi=colored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color

69
Q

Vexation

A

annoyance; irritation

70
Q

Vigilant

A

alertly watchful

71
Q

Vituperate

A

to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; to berate

72
Q

Volatile

A

readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle; explosive