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GRE Words > Deck 1 > Flashcards

Deck 1 Flashcards

1
Q

monopolistic

A

relating to a person or businessthathas exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in acommodityorservice

“Not since the 1990s, when Microsoft was taken to task for its monopolistic behaviour, has there been such “intense public scrutiny” of a technology firm in Washington”

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2
Q

minutiae

A

the small, precise, or trivialdetailsof something

“While encouraging its users to overshare minutiae from their own lives, the firm has been guarded in the past about sharing details of how its extensive data-collection machine works and what it tracks beyond the data users provide directly.”

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3
Q

eerily

A

in a strange and frightening manner

“Even in Silicon Valley, which is known for producing eerily predictive algorithms, people find Facebook’s stealthy tracking and targeting of users creepy.”

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4
Q

stealthy

A

behaving, done, or made in a cautious andsurreptitiousmanner, so as not to be seen or heard

“Even in Silicon Valley, which is known for producing eerily predictive algorithms, people find Facebook’s stealthy tracking and targeting of users creepy.”

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5
Q

labyrinthine

A

(ofa network)likealabyrinth; irregular and twisting

(ofa network)likealabyrinth; irregular and twisting

“The Cambridge Analytica scandal gave Mr Zuckerberg a crash course in political diplomacy, but the education of politicians about the opaque, labyrinthine world of digital data is only just beginning.”

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6
Q

Celerity

A

swiftness

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7
Q

Fecklessness

A

idleness, lazy, lacking initiative

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8
Q

Semblance

A

outward appearance

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9
Q

Apathetic

A

don’t care

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10
Q

Irascible

A

ill-tempered; grouchy

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11
Q

Pugnacious

A

Acting in aggressive/belligerent fashion

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12
Q

Clemency

A

mercy

(n. ) leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
(n. ) good weather with comfortable temperatures

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13
Q

Appeasement

A

make you happy/less angry

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14
Q

unwittingly

A

without knowledge or intention

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15
Q

inadvertently

A

without knowledge or intention

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16
Q

ennobled

A

to make noble

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17
Q

stultify

A

(v. ) to deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or worthless
(v. ) to prove to be of unsound mind or demonstrate someone’s incompetence
(v. ) cause to appear foolish

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18
Q

precarious

A

(adj. ) affording no ease or reassurance
(adj. ) not secure; beset with difficulties
(adj. ) fraught with danger

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19
Q

spurious

A

(adj. ) intended to deceive
(adj. ) born out of wedlock
(adj. ) plausible but false

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20
Q

dicey

A

(adj.) of uncertain outcome; especially fraught with risk

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21
Q

wary vs. weary

A

to be skeptical of someone’s motives vs. tired

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22
Q

haughty

A

look down on someone (i’m better than you)

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23
Q

conciliatory

A

making peace with

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24
Q

belied

A

didn’t match up/disguised/gives a false notion

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25
Q

abject

A

(of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree.

(of a person or their behavior) completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing.

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26
Q

opulence

A

luxury/splendor

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27
Q

deign

A

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

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28
Q

ingratiate

A

desperately try to win someone over so that they like you

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29
Q

fawn

A

flatter people to get favor

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30
Q

volatile

A

changing suddenly

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31
Q

vociferous

A

outspoken about an issue you feel passionate about

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32
Q

Notwithstanding

A

despite

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33
Q

cower

A

show fear

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34
Q

bristle

A

show anger

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35
Q

evalsive

A

avoid commitment, especially by responding indirectly

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36
Q

vacillate

A

be undecided/waver between positions

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37
Q

Prevaricate

A

be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information; lie/beat around the bush/not be direct

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38
Q

Renege

A

go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract

e.g., We haven’t yet offered to take care of parking, so we’re not reneging on any responsibility

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39
Q

Churlish

A

rude/ill-mannered

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40
Q

Martinet

A

a strict disciplinarian, especially in the armed forces

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41
Q

Polyglot

A

knowing or using several languages

poly = many; glot = throat

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42
Q

Trite

A

(of a remark, opinion, or idea) overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness

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43
Q

Hackneyed

A

(of a phrase or idea) lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite

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44
Q

Dissembler

A

Liar

Semb: one’s face
(Dis: false)

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45
Q

Aplomb

A

self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation

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46
Q

Berate

A

Scold or criticize

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47
Q

Dissimilitude

A

diversity

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48
Q

Histrionics

A

dramatics

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49
Q

Flamboyance

A

flashy

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50
Q

labyrinthine

A

irregular/twisting

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51
Q

Ignominy

A

public shame or disgrace

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52
Q

superfluity

A

a large number of something

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53
Q

paucity

A

insufficient quantity or number

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54
Q

Miser

A

a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible

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55
Q

Curmudgeon

A

grumpy

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56
Q

perfunctory

A

with minimal effort

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57
Q

steadfast

A

loyal

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58
Q

Unseemly

A

not appropiate

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59
Q

Brusque

A

rude

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60
Q

polemical

A

argumentative attack

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61
Q

confound

A

verb – be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly

verb – mistake one thing for another

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62
Q

tantalizing

A

tease

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63
Q

Abstruse

A

difficult to understand

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64
Q

Pellucid

A

extremely clear

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65
Q

inscrutable

A

obscure

66
Q

decrepit

A

old

67
Q

volatile

A

suddenly changing

68
Q

mechanical

A

adjective – using (or as if using) mechanisms or tools or devices

adjective – relating to or concerned with machinery or tools

adjective – relating to or governed by or in accordance with mechanics

69
Q

contrived

A

verb – put or send forth

verb – make or work out a plan for; devise

verb – come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort

70
Q

volatile

A

liable to change rapidly and unpredictably

71
Q

prowess

A

skill or expertise

bravery in a battle

72
Q

furtive

A

secretive

73
Q

undiminished

A

not lessened

74
Q

subvert

A

verb – cause the downfall of; of rulers

verb – destroy property or hinder normal operations

verb – corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality

verb – destroy completely

75
Q

intractable

A

difficult to deal with

76
Q

pillory

A

attack

e.g., he was pilloried by the press for his

77
Q

lampoon

A

satire

78
Q

balk at

A

refuse to do something

79
Q

balk

A

stop

80
Q

steel

A

verb – cover, plate, or edge with steel

noun – a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard

noun – knife sharpener consisting of a ridged steel rod

verb – get ready for something difficult or unpleasant

noun – an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range

81
Q

coda

A

something at the end of a book or musical piece

82
Q

inimical

A

harmful

83
Q

innocuous

A

not harmful or offensive

84
Q

inclement

A

(of weather) severe

(used of persons or behavior) showing no clemency or mercy

85
Q

sweltering

A

intense heat

86
Q

Intrepid

A

brave

87
Q

Precarious

A

dangerous

88
Q

Bucolic

A

adjective – (used with regard to idealized country life) idyllically rustic

noun – a country person

noun – a short poem descriptive of rural or pastoral life

adjective – relating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle

89
Q

presumptuous

A

failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate

90
Q

perfunctory

A

adjective – as a formality only

adjective – hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough

91
Q

erudite

A

scholarly

92
Q

draconian

A

strict in terms of rules

93
Q

verisimilitude

A

the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true

94
Q

subvert

A

undermine/disrupt the power/authority of

95
Q

notoriety

A

being known for some unfavorable act or quality

96
Q

verisimilitude

A

the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true

97
Q

indelible

A

cannot be removed or erased

98
Q

contempt

A

noun – open disrespect for a person or thing

noun – a manner that is generally disrespectful and contemptuous

noun – lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike

noun – a willful disobedience to or disrespect for the authority of a court or legislative body

99
Q

contrition

A

feeling remorseful

(Church) sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation

100
Q

apathy

A

noun – an absence of emotion or enthusiasm

noun – the trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things generally

101
Q

eminence

A

fame or recognized superiority, especially within a particular sphere or profession

102
Q

debasement

A

noun – being mixed with extraneous material; the product of adulterating

noun – changing to a lower state (a less respected state)

103
Q

heyday

A

period of greatest prosperity or productivity

104
Q

seemly

A

according with custom or propriety (proper)

105
Q

precipitous

A

sudden and steep

106
Q

rudimentary

A

basic, elementary

107
Q

tactical

A

strategic

108
Q

unequivocal

A

no room left for doubt

109
Q

erudite

A

scholarly/having or showing profound knowledge

110
Q

meek

A

adjective – very docile

adjective – evidencing little spirit or courage; overly submissive or compliant

adjective – humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness

111
Q

plucky

A

adjective – marked by courage and determination in the face of difficulties or danger; robust and uninhibited

adjective – showing courage

112
Q

diffident

A

adjective – showing modest reserve

adjective – lacking self-confidence

113
Q

hamstrung

A

made ineffective or powerless

114
Q

hobble

A

hold back

115
Q

snub

A

rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully

116
Q

hasty

A

rushed, without much thought

117
Q

simpering

A

act in an ingratiating manner (try to win someone’s favor by acting in a silly way)

118
Q

snide

A

insult

119
Q

affable

A

friendly

120
Q

derogative

A

expressive of low opinion

121
Q

prevarication

A

noun – a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth

noun – intentionally vague or ambiguous

noun – the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

122
Q

dither

A

delay in making a decision

123
Q

rustic

A

characteristic of the fields or country/rural life

awkwardly simple and provincial

unsophisticated country person

124
Q

ineffaby

A

indescribably

125
Q

visage

A

face

126
Q

physiognomy

A

facial features

127
Q

diminutive

A

small

128
Q

winsome

A

charming/attractive (appearance or character)

129
Q

Accolades

A

praise

130
Q

Punctilious

A

great attention to detail

131
Q

Celeritous

A

swift

132
Q

Remiss

A

laking care or attention to duty; negligent

133
Q

Perfunctory

A

done in a careless fashion

134
Q

Myopic

A

Short sighted

135
Q

Diminish

A

make less

136
Q

Trounce

A

verb – beat severely with a whip or rod

verb – reprimand severely or angrily

verb – come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

137
Q

Legion

A

archaic terms for army/ex-servicemen/military unit

or

vast multitude/numerous/plentiful

138
Q

Immutable

A

not changing

139
Q

Thoroughgoing

A

performed comprehensively and completely; absolute

or

without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers

140
Q

Incontrovertible

A

indisputable

141
Q

inconsequential

A

not important

142
Q

diminutive

A

very small

143
Q

sacerdotal

A

priestly

144
Q

subjugation

A

bringing someone or something under control

145
Q

obeisance

A

deferential respect

146
Q

deferential

A

respectful

147
Q

ingratiating

A

intended to gain approval or favor

148
Q

cupidity

A

greed

149
Q

truculence

A

defiant aggressiveness

150
Q

braggaducio

A

vain/empty boasting

151
Q

anachronism

A

belongs to another time

152
Q

render

A

make

153
Q

sacrosanct

A

sacred

154
Q

aesthetic

A

concerned with beauty

155
Q

recapitulate

A

recap

156
Q

exalt

A

think very highly of

157
Q

subvert

A

undermine/go against something

158
Q

sprawling

A

an ungainly or carelessly relaxed position in which one’s arms and legs are spread out: she fell into a sort of luxurious sprawl.

  • a group or mass of something that has spread out in an untidy or irregular way: a sprawl of buildings.
  • the expansion of an urban or industrial area into the adjoining countryside in a way perceived to be disorganized and unattractive: the growth of urban sprawl.
159
Q

capricious

A

whimsical

160
Q

insatiable

A

can’t seem to get enough

GRE Words (2 decks)

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