GRE Flashcards
Abate
to reduce or lessen
Aberration
a deviation or departure from the norm
Abeyance
temporary inactivity or suspension
Abjure
to forswear or abstain from; to give up
Abrade
to wear down or rub away the surface of somthing
Abridge
to reduce the length of or diminish in scope
Abrogate
to end or do away with something
Abscond
to withdraw and hide, typically to avoid arrest
Absurd
extremely ridiculous or completely lacking reason
Abysmal
very profound or deep; very bad
Accretion
a gradual increase in the amount or size of something
Acquisitive
characterized by a strong desire to gain or retain information or objects
Acrid
harsh or bitter taste or smell
Acute
quick and precise, intense, sharp, keen
Adhere
to stick fast; to remain in support of
Adroit
showing skill and experience
Aesthetic
appealing to the senses because it is beautiful
Affinity
natural attraction; inherent similarity
Alienate
to isolate oneself from others or another person from oneself
Ambiguous
unclear or capable of having more than one meaning
Ambivalent
characterized by uncertainty; unable to decide between opposites
Amenable
responsive to suggestion; willing
Amiable
friendly and pleasant
Anachronism
something existing or happening out of its time in historical order
Annotate
to provide with extra notes or comments
Anomaly
something that is different from the norm
Apathy
a lack of any emotion or concern
Ardor
intense feelings; passion
Articulate
to clearly explain, the quality of being able to speak clearly
Ascribe
to attribute to a specific source; to assign a characteristic
Asperity
roughness or severity
Assay
an analysis or examination; to examine
Assert
to demonstrate power; to defend a statement as true
Assiduous
characteristic of careful and persistent effort
Assimilate
to make similar to incorporate into
Assuage
to lessen or ease
Aver
to declare as true; to maintain
Aversion
strong dislike
Banish
to force to leave
Benevolence
an inclination to be kind or charitable
Bequest
the act of passion on; something that is passed on
Bereft
deprived or despndent
Blithe
carefree or joyous; casual
Bolster
a narrow cushion; to support or strengthen
Brazen
bold or shameless
Burgeoning
thriving or growing rapidly
Cadge
to beg
Capricious
impulsive; prone to sudden change
Castigate
to punish or criticize severely
Censure
a formal criticism or intense disproval
Chronicle
a detailed narrative
Circumspect
mindful of potential consequences
Coalesce
to unite or come together
Coerce
to force or threaten someone into acting a certain way
Cogent
convincing and reasonable
Coherence
the quality of being logical and clear
Coincidental
occurring by chance
Commensurate
corresponding in size, degree, or duration
Complaisant
showing a willingness to please
Conducive
contributive, favorable
Consternation
alarm or fear
Convivaial
festive and sociable
Cordial
friendly
Corroborate
to confirm, to substantiate with evidence
Countenance
facial features or epcression
Credulous
easily deceived; believing too readily
Culmination
completion or climax
Culpable
deserving of blame; guilty
Debilitate
to weaken or impair
Decry
to denounce or criticize
Defamation
a malicious or abusive attack on one’s character
Delve
to deeply search through
Demise
to end of existance
Denigrate
to speak ill of
Depict
to represent or describe
Deplore
to condemn; disapprove of or regret
Derision
use of ridicule to show contempt (disrespect)
Desultory
inconsistent and irregular
Diatribe
an abusive, insulting verbal attack
Didactic
intended for the purposes of moral teaching or instructing, even when such instruction is not necessary or welcome
Dilate
to make larger
Diligent
continuously putting in great effort
Disabuse
to free someone of believing something that is untrue
Discern
to differentiate or distinguis; to perceive
Disconcerting
unsettling
Dislodge
to remove
Disparity
the state of being different or unequal
Dissemble
to disguise or conceal
Dissident
one who disagrees; disagreeable
Dissipate
to drive away
Dissonance
lack of harmony
Divest
to get rid of
Docile
easy to train or teach
Dubious
unsure, skeptical
Eccentic
one who deviates from the norm
Eclectic
combing elements from many different sources or styles
Effrontery
rude and presumptuous behavior
Egregious
noticeably bad or offenscive
Eloquent
very clear and precise
Elucidate
to clarify
Emanicpation
the act of freeing
Emollient
softening or soothing
Emulate
to follow an admirable example; imitate
Endorse
to support or sign
Engender
to give rise to; originate
Enigmatic
puzzling
Entity
a discrete unit or being
Enumerate
to state things in a list
Ephemeral
temporary
Equivoval
uncertain or ambiguous
Erudite
leaned; having great knowledge
Esoteric
understood by few; mysterious
Espouse
to choose to follow or support something
Estimable
admirable; deserving of esteem
Euphemism
an inoffensive expression substituted for one that is deemed offensive.
Exacerbate
to intensify bitterness or violence
Excoriate
to denounce
Exculpate
to remove blame
Exhort
to urge or try to persuade
Exigent
demanding immediate attention; urgent
Expliacte
to explain or make comprehensible
Expunge
to get rid of or erase
Extant
currently existing
Extenuating
partially justifiable