GRE Cards Deck I

Question 1

illiberality

noun

Answer 1

Also illiberal (adj)
Definition: Narrow-mindedness, bigotry; strictness or lack of generosity
Usage: Students protested the illiberality of an admissions policy that made no allowances for those from disadvantaged areas or backgrounds who may not have had access to advanced classes and tutors.
Related Words: Chauvinism (fanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory; undue or biased devotion to any group, cause, etc.), Bigot (obstinately prejudiced person), Xenophobia (fear of foreigners), Jingoism (extreme chauvinism plus warlike foreign policy), Insular (pertaining to an island; isolated; illiberal)
More Info: Illiberal can also mean lacking a liberal arts education (as a person), or not requiring such an education (as a profession).

Question 2

imminent

adj

Answer 2

Definition: Ready to occur, impending
Usage: In the face of imminent war, the nation looked to FDR for reassurance. / Everyone was excited and nervous; Madonna’s arrival was imminent!
Related Words: Imminent can carry the sense of something bad on the horizon, but can also just mean “about to happen.” Ominous means “giving a bad sign about the future.” Portentous can mean “ominous” or simply “very significant, exciting wonder and awe.”
More Info: Don’t confuse imminent with eminent, which means “highly respected.”

Question 3

impair

verb

Answer 3

Definition: Make worse, weaken
Usage: Playing in a rock band without earplugs will almost certainly impair your hearing over time.
Related Words: Exacerbate and Aggravate (make worse or irritate), Mar (damage, spoil, deface), Vitiate (ruin, corrupt)

Question 4

impartial

adj

Answer 4

Definition: Unbiased, fair
Usage: Judge Gonzales removed himself from the case because, having a personal connection to the school where the shooting took place, he did not think he could be appropriately impartial.
Related Words: Disinterested, Dispassionate, and Nonpartisan are all related to being fair and not having a bias or personal stake.
More Info: The root for “part” appears in partisan, partial, and party—just as a member of a political party is rooting for his own side, someone who is partial is on the side of only part of the group, not everyone equally.

Question 5

impede

verb

Answer 5

Definition: Hold back, obstruct the progress of
Usage: I didn’t realize business school would be entirely group work—sadly, there’s always at least one person in every group who impedes the group’s progress more than helps it.
Related Words: Hinder and Hamper are synonyms.
More Info: Impede contains the root “ped” (feet), also occurring in pedestrian, pedal. Impede thus has the sense of shackling the feet, preventing movement.

Question 6

implication

noun

Answer 6

Definition: Act of implying or that which is implied; close connection, esp. in an incriminating way
Usage: When the boss said, “Times are tight around here, I just think you should know,” the implication was that maybe we should start looking for new jobs. / She implicated her boyfriend in the robbery after less than 20 minutes of interrogation.
Related Words: Implicit and Tacit (implied, unspoken)

Question 7

implicit

adj

Answer 7

Definition: Implied, not stated directly; involved in the very essence of something, unquestionable
Usage: He didn’t have to be told to resign; it was implicit in his not getting the promotion that he had no future at the company. / I enjoy ice climbing with my father because, in such a dangerous situation, it’s important to have a partner you trust implicitly.
Related Words: Tacit also means implied, unspoken.
More Info: The antonym of implicit is explicit (direct, clear, fully revealed, or clearly depicting sex or nudity).

Question 8

implode

verb

Answer 8

Definition: Burst inward
Usage: The startup struggled for years before it simply imploded—the management team broke into factions, all the clients were scared off, and employees who hadn’t been paid in weeks began taking the office computers home with them in retribution.
More Info: Implode is, of course, the opposite of explode.

Question 9

inadvertent

adj

Answer 9

Also inadvertently (adv)
Definition: Unintentional; characterized by a lack of attention, careless
Usage: In attempting to perfect his science project, he inadvertently blew a fuse and plunged his family’s home into darkness.
Related Words: Fortuitous (happening by chance; lucky), Fluke (stroke of luck, something accidentally successful)
More Info: To advert is to turn attention to (as in an advertisement). Thus, inadvertent indicates a lack of attention paid.

Question 10

incentive

noun

Answer 10

Also incentivize (verb)
Definition: Something that encourages greater action or effort, such as a reward
Usage: A controversial program in a failing school system uses cash payments as an incentive for students to stay in school.
Related Words: Inducement (motive for action, incentive)

Question 11

inchoate

adj

Answer 11

Definition: Just begun, undeveloped, unorganized
Usage: The first few weeks of language class went well, but her inchoate French was all but useless when she found herself at an academic conference in Quebec.
Related Words: Nascent and Incipient mean “just beginning to exist, or in a very early stage of development.” Inchoate has more of a sense of vagueness. An inchoate idea for a novel probably means you don’t know where to start writing; a nascent project, although just beginning, might be right on track.
More Info: Inchoate comes from the Latin “cohum,” a strap attached to an ox’s yoke; the sense here is “to begin work.”

Question 12

incipient

adj

Answer 12

Definition: Just beginning; in a very early stage
Usage: The movie producer was devastated when, due to legal trouble over the screenplay, the incipient project was crushed before it had even begun shooting.
Related Words: Nascent (synonym), Inchoate (just begun, undeveloped, unorganized)
More Info: The “in” here means “on,” and the remainder of the word shares a root with capable.

Question 13

incongruous

adj

Answer 13

Definition: Out of place, inappropriate, not harmonious
Usage: Among the student artwork posted in the halls, Angelina’s submission was incongruous, a dark, gruesome, and even worldly work amidst the happy family portraits and other childish drawings.
Related Words: Heterogeneous (different in type, incongruous), Conspicuous (standing out)
More Info: Incongruous is, of course, related to congruent, as in “congruent triangles” (those that are identical).

Question 14

inconsequential

adj

Answer 14

Definition: Insignificant, unimportant; illogical
Usage: You wrote a bestselling book and got a stellar review in the New York Times—whatever your cousin has to say about it is simply inconsequential. / Given that your entire essay is about Hamlet’s relationship with his mother, your thesis that Hamlet’s relationship with Laertes drives the plot is inconsequential —that is, it does not follow as a consequence of the evidence you’ve provided.
Related Words: Negligible, Null, and Nil mean “nothing, or too insignificant to matter.”

Question 15

incorporate

verb

Answer 15

Definition: Combine, unite; form a legal corporation; embody, give physical form to
Usage: When a business incorporates, it becomes a separate legal entity—for instance, the business can declare bankruptcy without the owners doing so. / Local legend has it that ghosts can incorporate on one night of the year and walk among the living.
Related Words: Incarnate (embodied, personified; put into concrete form, embody, take on a human body)
More Info: Incorporate contains the Latin “corpus” (body), also found in corpse (dead body), corpulent (fat), and even “Marine Corps.”

Question 16

indeterminate

adj

Answer 16

Definition: Not fixed or determined, indefinite; vague
Usage: The results of the drug trial were indeterminate; further trials will be needed to ascertain whether the drug can be released. / The lottery can have an indeterminate number of winners—the prize is simply divided among them.
Related Words: Ambiguous (not clear, hard to understand, open to having several meanings or interpretations)

Question 17

indifferent

adj

Answer 17

Definition: Not caring, having no interest; unbiased, impartial
Usage: Do whatever you want—I’m indifferent. I won’t even notice.
Related Words: Apathy (not caring; absence of feeling; lack of interest or concern)
More Info: The presence of “different” in indifferent comes from the sense of “not differing, neither good nor bad.”

Question 18

inform

verb

Answer 18

Definition: Inspire, animate; give substance, essence, or context to; be the characteristic quality of
Usage: Her work as an art historian is informed by a background in drama; where others see a static tableau, she sees a protagonist, a conflict, a denouement. / Marjorie’s desire to work in forensics is informed by a family history in the police department.
More Info: Of course inform most commonly means “impart knowledge to”; thus, many students are confused when they see the word used in other ways on the GRE.

Question 19

ingenuous

adj

Answer 19

Definition: Genuine, sincere, not holding back; naive
Usage: Multi-level marketing scams prey on the ingenuous, those who really think there’s someone out there who just wants to help them get rich.
Related Words: Guileless and Artless are near-synonyns. An Ingenue is a young—presumably innocent—actress or other female performer.
More Info: The “gen” in ingenuous is the same root as in genuine, and the two words are very similar in meaning. Don’t misread ingenuous as ingenious, which means “brilliant” (an ingenious idea).

Question 20

ingrained

adj

Answer 20

Definition: Deep-rooted, forming part of the very essence; worked into the fiber
Usage: Religious observance had been ingrained in him since birth; he could not remember a time when he didn’t pray five times a day.
Related Words: Inculcate (teach persistently, implant [an idea] in a person)
More Info: The “grain” root is related to using plant parts for dye; something ingrained is suffused into the very fiber, like dye.

Question 21

inherent

adj

Answer 21

Definition: Existing as a permanent, essential quality; intrinsic
Usage: New research seems to support the idea that humans have an inherent sense of justice—even babies become upset at puppet shows depicting unfairness, and are gratified at seeing the “bad” puppets punished.
Related Words: Innate (inborn)

Question 22

innocuous

adj

Answer 22

Definition: Harmless, inoffensive
Usage: While it’s quite acrid in here, fortunately the fumes that come from our factory are completely innocuous—you don’t need a face mask unless you’d like one.
Related Words: Benign (harmless, favorable)
More Info: The rare word nocuous means “harmful.” Innocuous can also have the sense of “boring, insignificant,” as in something so harmless as to lack interest.

Question 23

intelligible

adj

Answer 23

Definition: Able to be understood, clear
Usage: You are doing a disservice to all music by listening through those horrible speakers! None of the lyrics are even intelligible! I’ll bet you have no idea what this song is even about!
Related Words: Legible applies to handwriting and means “able to be read.” Intelligible can be used for speech, writing, or ideas. Lucid means clear and applies to people as well as ideas. As in, “After brain surgery, it will take awhile for the anesthesia to wear off and for her to become lucid. Then we can test whether her handwriting is intelligible, which will help pinpoint any loss of functioning.”

Question 24

intractable

adj

Answer 24

Definition: Difficult to control, manage, or manipulate; hard to cure; stubborn
Usage: That student is positively intractable! Last week, we talked about the importance of staying in your seat during the lesson—this week, she not only got up mid-class, but she actually scrambled on top of a bookcase and refused to come down! / Back injuries often result in intractable pain; despite treatment, patients never feel fully cured.
Related Words: Intransigent, Obdurate, and Obstreperous are also used to describe people who are stubborn and hard to control.
More Info: The antonym of intractable is tractable, meaning “compliant.” The root “tract” means “manage or handle” (and originally “drag about”) and also appears in tractor, distract, retract, and, of course, tract (a stretch of land).

Question 25

intrepid | adj

Answer 25

Definition: Fearless, brave, enduring in the face of adversity Usage: Intrepid explorers Lewis and Clark led the first U.S. expedition to the West Coast, facing bitter winters and rough terrain. Related Words: Hardy (bold, brave, capable of withstanding hardship, fatigue, cold, etc.), Fortitude (strength in facing adversity), Grit (firmness of mind, esp. during hardship; courage) More Info: The antonym trepid means frightened and trepidation means fear or alarm. The USS Intrepid is a decommissioned Naval aircraft carrier docked in NYC as a museum. As a rule, if it’s the name of a ship, it’s probably something good (even the Titanic was meant to be positive—“titanic” means very large).

Question 26

intrinsic | adj

Answer 26

Definition: Belonging to the essential nature of a thing Usage: Despite all this high-tech safety equipment, skydiving is an intrinsically dangerous proposition. / Communication is intrinsic to a healthy relationship. Related Words: Innate (inborn), Inherent (existing as a permanent, essential quality; intrinsic) More Info: The antonym extrinsic means “not forming part of a thing, extraneous, coming from the outside.” Intrinsic motivation is wanting to do something due to interest in the task itself; extrinsic motivation is wanting to do something for a reward, to earn a grade, to avoid punishment, etc.

Question 27

iconoclast (noun) Also iconoclastic (adj)

Answer 27

Definition: Attacker of cherished beliefs or institutions Usage: A lifelong iconoclast, Ayn Rand wrote a controversial book entitled The Virtue of Selfishness. Related Words: Maverick (lone dissenter, person who takes an independent stand), Heterodox (unorthodox) More Info: The original iconoclasts were Eastern Orthodox or Protestant Christians who opposed the Catholic use of icons in worship. In extreme cases, they would physically smash icons in churches.

Question 28

idolatry | noun

Answer 28

Definition: Idol worship; excessive or unthinking devotion or adoration Usage: After a year in an education Ph.D. program, she’d had enough with the idolatry of Howard Gardner and his theory of multiple intelligences—“Gardner isn’t a god,” she would say, “and you simply can’t learn calculus through movement or interpersonal skills.” Related Words: Veneration and Reverence refer to deep admiration and respect. Apotheosis is deification, the process of making someone into or like a god. Lionization is treating someone as a celebrity. More Info: An idol (forbidden in many religions) is a representation of an object of worship.

Question 29

idyllic (adj) Also idyll (noun)

Answer 29

Definition: Presenting a positive, peaceful view of rural life (as poetry or prose); pleasant in a natural, simple way Usage: An action-packed vacation wasn’t their style—for their honeymoon, they enjoyed a quiet idyll in a cabin in the woods, just watching the deer and enjoying nature. Related Words: Bucolic, Pastoral, Georgic, and Arcadian are all words relating to a positive view of rural life and songs or poems on that theme. More Info: As a noun, an idyll can be a poem on an idyllic theme, or a carefree or romantic span of time, such as one spent in peaceful nature.

Question 30

ignoble | adj

Answer 30

Definition: Not noble; having mean, base, low motives; low quality Usage: What you have done may not be illegal, but it surely is ignoble—people who don’t read the user agreement surely do not expect that, by clicking “I Agree,” they have signed up for a Jelly of the Month club! Related Words: Ignominious (disgraceful, humiliating, contemptible) More Info: The Latin “ig” is simply a variation on “in,” meaning “not.”

Question 31

imbue | verb

Answer 31

Definition: Permeate or saturate, as dye in a fabric; influence throughout Usage: After shearing the sheep and spinning the yarn, the next step is to imbue the yarn with dye. / His poems are imbued with a sense of longing for a lost homeland. Related Words: Infuse, Suffuse, and Pervade also mean “spread throughout.” Inculcate means to teach persistently, implant (an idea) in a person, as in “to inculcate morals in children.”

Question 32

immutable | adj

Answer 32

Definition: Unchangeable Usage: Studies of the brains of stroke patients have shown that our identities are not fixed and immutable; rather, physical injuries to the brain can drastically change our personalities. Related Words: Immalleable (not moldable or adaptable) More Info: Immutable shares a root (meaning “change”) with mutation and transmute.

Question 33

impasse | noun

Answer 33

Definition: Position or road from which there is no escape; deadlock Usage: If the union won’t budge on its demands and the transit authority won’t raise salaries, then we are at an impasse. Related Words: Standstill, gridlock, logjam, stalemate, standoff, and standstill are all words for being stuck due to different people’s opposing goals. Not surprisingly, all of these words are common in politics. More Info: A physical impasse—a road that hits a dead end—can be called a cul-de-sac.

Question 34

impassive | adj

Answer 34

Definition: Not having or not showing physical feeling or emotion Usage: Having been in and out of hospitals all his life, he accepted this latest diagnosis impassively—“Whatever happens, happens,” he said. Related Words: Stoic (not having or showing feeling, esp. in response to suffering), Inscrutable (not able to be scrutinized, mysterious). More Info: Note that impassive is NOT the antonym of passive, meaning “inactive, not reacting.”

Question 35

impecunious | adj

Answer 35

Definition: Poor, without money Usage: Having grown up with impecunious parents who could barely keep the electricity on in the house, she was now obsessed with wealth and security. Related Words: Penurious (poor or stingy), Indigent (destitute), Insolvent (unable to meet one’s financial obligations, bankrupt) More Info: “Pecunia” is Latin for money and also appears in pecuniary, “relating to money.”

Question 36

imperious | adj

Answer 36

Definition: Commanding, domineering; acting like a high ranking person; urgent Usage: Her friend were peeved by her imperious attitude and talked about her while she was in the ladies’ room: “Who does she think she is, not only picking the bar and the meeting time but also telling us where to sit?” Related Words: Overbearing is a synonym. Autocratic refers to absolute rule and Despotic and Tyrannical refer to the abuse of absolute rule. More Info: The related imperial means “pertaining to an empire or emperor.” Imperious behavior can be appropriate when practiced by an emperor, but generally, imperious just means arrogant and bossy.

Question 37

impermeable (adj) Also permeable (adj)

Answer 37

Definition: Impassable, not allowing passage through (such as by a liquid) Usage: A good raincoat is totally impermeable to water. Related Words: Impervious (impenetrable, not able to be harmed or emotionally disturbed, as in “impervious to criticism”) More Info: Impermeable contain the roots “in/im” (not) and “per” (through).

Question 38

imperturbable | adj

Answer 38

Definition: Calm, not able to be upset or agitated Usage: Having seen pretty much everything, the kindergarten teacher was truly imperturbable: a morning containing a discipline problem, two bathroom accidents, one fight, and one temper tantrum didn’t bother her in the least. Related Words: Impervious (impenetrable, not able to be harmed or emotionally disturbed, as in “impervious to criticism”), Stoic (not having or showing feeling, esp. in response to suffering) More Info: Of course, a person who can be upset is perturbable and has been perturbed. Perturb contains a root from the Latin “turbare” (to disturb); this root also appears in turbulence and turbid (muddy and choppy, as a turbulent body of water).

Question 39

impervious | adj

Answer 39

Definition: Impenetrable, not able to be harmed or emotionally disturbed Usage: The problem with arrogant people is that they are impervious to criticism of their arrogance; anything you say to them just rolls right off. Related Words: Impermeable (impassable, not allowing passage through), Stoic (not having or showing feeling, esp. in response to suffering) More Info: Impervious contains the roots “in/im” (not), “per” (through), and “via” (road).

Question 40

impetuous | adj

Answer 40

Definition: Passionately impulsive, marked by sudden, hasty emotion; forceful, violent Usage: Reflecting on her most recent breakup, Heather decided that next time she would like to date someone less impetuous; a man who quits his job on a whim and suggests moving together to Utah and raising llamas was just a little too impulsive for her tastes. Related Words: Rash (hasty, lacking forethought or caution) More Info: Impetuous is related to impetus, a moving force, motivation, or stimulus.

Question 41

impious (adj) Also pious (adj), piety (noun)

Answer 41

Definition: Not religious, lacking reverence, ungodly Usage: In religious schools, impious behavior is generally prohibited. Related Words: Irreverent (synonym), Sacrilegious (violating what is sacred) Blasphemous (impious behavior, esp. speech) More Info: Pious (reverent) shares a root with expiate (to atone, ask to be forgiven of one’s sins).

Question 42

implacable (adj) Also placate (verb), placatory (adj)

Answer 42

Definition: Not able to be appeased, calmed, or satisfied Usage: After the dog groomer misunderstood and shaved the family Weimaraner totally bald, Mr. Garcia was implacable; neither an offer of a free gift certificate nor a complimentary doggie sweater would reduce his fury. Related Words: Inexorable (unyielding, merciless, not moved by pleas) More Info: Implacable means “not able to be placated.” Someone who can be placated is placatory.

Question 43

imprecation | noun

Answer 43

Definition: Curse; prayer for harm to come to someone Usage: The haunted house features a ”wicked witch” chanting imprecations at all who pass through. Related Words: Malediction (synonym) More Info: Imprecation proceeds from the Latin “precari” (pray). As a verb, imprecate means to curse or call down evil upon.

Question 44

impugn | verb

Answer 44

Definition: Attack the truth or integrity of Usage: I hate to impugn the motives of the volunteers, but I think that some of them are here for personal gain, not to help. Related Words: Slander, Traduce, and Defame all mean “to speak maliciously and falsely of.” (Impugning, in contrast, can sometimes help to uncover the truth). More Info: Impugn comes from the Latin “pugnare” (to fight), which also gives us pugnacious (combative, belligerent).

Question 45

impute | verb

Answer 45

Definition: Credit, attribute; lay blame or responsibility for (sometimes falsely) Usage: The ineffectual CEO was nevertheless a master of public relations—he made sure that all successes were imputed to him, and all of the failures were imputed to others. More Info: Impute proceeds from the Latin “putare” (consider), which also gives us putative (supposed, assumed).

Question 46

incarnadine | adj, noun

Answer 46

Definition: Blood red or flesh-colored Usage: The police took the body to the morgue; all that was left at the murder scene was an incarnadine stain on a pillow. Related Words: Vermilion means bright red or reddish-orange; the word comes from the Latin for “little worm,” specifically the insect used for the dye. More Info: Incarnadine shares a root (meaning “flesh”) with carnal, carnage, and incarnate. Don’t confuse with Incarnate (embodied, personified; put into concrete form, embody, take on a human body).

Question 47

inconstancy | noun

Answer 47

Definition: Fickleness, unreliability; the state of changing without good reason Usage: Old-fashioned poems often praised a lover’s constancy; the poet would likely be shocked by any inconstancy from his lady, such as if she were receiving poems from other poets. Related Words: Continent (characterized by restraint)

Question 48

inculcate | verb

Answer 48

Definition: Teach persistently, implant (an idea) in a person Usage: Parents spend years trying to inculcate morality in their children, constantly teaching and correcting them. More Info: Inculcate comes from a Latin word for “tread,” which itself comes from a word for “heel.” Imagine actually stomping morals into your children!

Question 49

indefatigable (adj) Also defatigate (verb)

Answer 49

Definition: Untiring, not able to become fatigued Usage: The boxer was indefatigable; round after round, he never lost speed or energy, even after he had thoroughly defatigated his opponent. Related Words: Unflagging (tireless), Insuperable and Indomitable (not able to be defeated) More Info: The root word in indefatigable is fatigue, of course. To defatigate is to make tired.

Question 50

indigence (noun) Also indigent (adj)

Answer 50

Definition: Extreme poverty Usage: The city government has several agencies that provide shelter, food, and other assistance to the indigent. Related Words: Impecunious (poor, without money), Penurious (poor or stingy), Indigent (destitute), Insolvent (unable to meet one’s financial obligations, bankrupt) More Info: Don’t confuse with indignant (offended, angry at injustice).

Question 51

indolent | adj

Answer 51

Definition: Lazy, slothful Usage: Having worked all his life, the CEO was constantly frustrated with his indolent son, who used his inherited wealth as an excuse to sunbathe and party. Related Words: Torpid, sluggish, idle, lethargic, loafing, and slack are all related to laziness or slowness. More Info: The Latin “dolere” means “suffer pain”—today, dolor means anguish or grief. Indolent arose from the idea of avoiding pain and now means laziness.

Question 52

inert | adj

Answer 52

Definition: Inactive; having little or no power to move Usage: “All of the missiles at the military museum are inert, Timmy,” said the tour guide, answering the question children always asked. “They’re not going to blow up.” / When she saw her father’s inert body on the floor, she thought the worst, but fortunately he was just practicing very slow yoga. Related Words: Latent, Dormant (not active at this time)

Question 53

inexorable | adj

Answer 53

Definition: Relentless, unyielding; not moved by pleading Usage: Many people fled Europe in the face of Hitler’s inexorable march across the continent. Related Words: Unflagging and Indefatigable (tireless), Insuperable and Indomitable (not able to be defeated) More Info: Inexorable shares a root (“orare,” meaning “pray”) with orator (now a public speaker, but originally a worship leader). The sense here is that an inexorable force is pitiless and unmoved by prayers.

Question 54

infallible (adj) Also fallible (adj), fallacious (adj)

Answer 54

Definition: Incapable of error; certain Usage: No good scientist thinks he or she is infallible—it is fundamental to the scientific method that every theory is open to revision based on new evidence. Related Words: Unerring (synonym) More Info: L’Oreal has released a new line of lipstick called Infallible, which implies that the lipstick is immune from being logically incorrect. A better name might have been something like “Flawless.”

Question 55

ingrate | noun

Answer 55

Definition: Ungrateful person Usage: You ingrate! I have slaved at this laundromat to pay for your college education, and you quit two weeks before graduation to become a Marxist revolutionary, and then you tell me I’m the enemy of the working class? More Info: The “grate” in ingrate is of course related to grateful, but also grace and ingratiate (gain favor with, as by flattery).

Question 56

ingratiate | verb

Answer 56

Definition: Make an effort to gain favor with Usage: Ryan’s attempts to ingratiate himself with the boss were quite transparent—no one really believes that a 25 year old loves the same cigars, classic rock, and AARP crosswords as the 65 year old company president. Related Words: Fawn (show affection or try to please in the manner of a dog; try to win favor through flattery and submissive behavior), Sycophant, Lackey, Toady, and Myrmidon are all words for a person who fawns. More Info: The Latin root “gratia” means grace; ingratiate has the sense of the modern expression “to get into someone’s good graces.”

Question 57

inimical | adj

Answer 57

Definition: Hostile, adverse, harmful Usage: Most people think that being shouted at in the freezing rain is inimical to learning; sadly, our boot camp instructor disagreed. Related Words: Conducive is an antonym and is also used with the word “to.” Loud noise is inimical to studying, and a quiet environment is conducive to studying.

Question 58

iniquity | noun

Answer 58

Definition: Injustice, wickedness, sin Usage: The preacher’s sermon about loving your neighbor was regarded by some as a welcome departure from his usual fiery homilies railing against iniquity. / Iniquitous corporations, such as those that spill oil into our oceans, must be punished. Related Words: Peccadillo (small sin or fault) More Info: Don’t confuse with inequity, meaning “lack of equality, unfairness.”

Question 59

inordinate | adj

Answer 59

Definition: Excessive, not within proper limits, unrestrained Usage: Students taking practice Computer Adaptive Tests at home often take an inordinate number of breaks—remember, on the real thing, you can’t stop just because you’re tired or hungry. Related Words: Gratuitous (free; without cause or justification) More Info: Inordinate contains a root for “order” and thus has the sense of “not orderly.”

Question 60

inquest | noun

Answer 60

Definition: Legal or judicial inquiry, especially before a jury and especially made by a coroner into the cause of someone’s death; the results of such an inquiry Usage: The family waited nervously for the results of the inquest, which finally returned a verdict of misadventure; that is, their grandfather had not been murdered, but rather died in a freak accident of his own doing. More Info: Inquest is simply a form of the Latin word for “inquire.”

Question 61

insensible | adj

Answer 61

Definition: Incapable of feeling; unconscious, unaware Usage: Very intoxicated people can be insensible to pain, leading to serious problems as they injure themselves and don’t realize it. / I cannot believe that, while I was insensible after the operation, you put funny hats on me and took pictures! You are insensible to shame! Related Words: Insensate (inanimate, as an object; without sense or human feeling, cruel)

Question 62

insinuate | verb

Answer 62

Definition: Hint, suggest slyly; introduce (an idea) into someone’s mind in a subtle, artful way Usage: “Where’s your boyfriend? You didn’t leave him home alone, did you?” asked Ming. “Are you insinuating something?” asked Helen. “If you have something to say, just say it.” Related Words: Implicit and Tacit (implied, unspoken) More Info: Insinuate contains a root for “a curve, winding” that also exists in sinew and sinus. Insinuate can also mean to introduce yourself (rather than an idea) in a stealthy, covert way, as in “By researching where the bosses would be and what kinds of things they liked to talk about, Fitz was able to insinuate himself into the company’s leadership.”

Question 63

insipid | adj

Answer 63

Definition: Dull, stale, lacking taste or interest Usage: This is a university level poetry class, and your insipid drivel just won’t cut it here. “Things that are bad always make me sad”? Really? / The restaurant critic called the dish “insipid”—I did think it was bland, but I probably would’ve been more polite about it. Related Words: Banal, Hackneyed, Inane, Insipid and Trite all mean “lacking freshness and originality, shallow.” More Info: The rare antonym sipid and the variant sapid mean “tasty, agreeably distinct.” The root “sapere” (having taste) also means “be wise” and appears in sage and sapient, which both mean wise.

Question 64

insular | adj

Answer 64

Definition: Pertaining to an island; detached, standing alone; narrow-minded, provincial Usage: The young actress couldn’t wait to escape the insularity of her small town, where life revolved around high school football and Taco Bell was considered exotic international cuisine. Related Words: Xenophobia (fear of foreigners), Illiberality (narrow-mindedness, lack of generosity) More Info: Word origins sometimes contain biases or old-fashioned ideas—for instance, the implication that people on islands are narrow-minded. A similar bias is implied in provincial and parochial (pertaining to a province or parish, respectively)—the idea is that people from “out there in the country” are not as sophisticated as city people, who have their own word, urbane (cosmopolitan, refined).

Question 65

insurrection | noun

Answer 65

Definition: Rebellion or revolt against a government or similarly established authority Usage: Due to frequent insurrections, the nation has had six governments in just five years. / The principal prepared for insurrection as she announced that all teachers were to spend the rest of the year exclusively preparing for standardized tests. Related Words: Junta (small group ruling a country, esp. after a revolution), Cabal (a conspiratorial group), Sedition (incitement of dissent against a government; promoting rebellion by speech or writing) More Info: Insurrection contains the root “surge” (rise up), also appearing in resurgence and insurgent (one who participates in an insurrection). Back Back Flip Flip Next

Question 66

inter | verb

Answer 66

Definition: Bury (a dead body) or place in a tomb Usage: After the funeral, the body will be interred in the cemetery. / Occasionally, a criminal investigation requires disinterring, or exhuming, a body for autopsy; this can be upsetting to family members who have already buried their loved one. More Info: Inter comes from “in” and “terra” (earth)—thus simply “to place in the earth.” The root for earth also appears in terrestrial, terrarium, terrace, territory, Mediterranean, and extra-terrestrial.

Question 67

interplay | noun

Answer 67

Definition: Interaction, reciprocal relationship or influence Usage: Bilingual readers will enjoy the interplay of English and Spanish in many of the poems in this anthology of the work of Mexican-American poets. Related Words: Converge (move towards one another or towards a point; unite), Dovetail (join or fit together)

Question 68

interregnum | noun

Answer 68

Definition: A time in between two reigns or regimes during which there is no ruler; a period during which government does not function; any period of freedom from authority or break or interruption in a series Usage: When the king died with no heir, his ministers ruled in the interregnum as the nobles argued over which of the king’s nephews should rule next. / In the interregnum between Madonna and Lady Gaga, there was no single female pop star who commanded such titanic audiences. Related Words: Interrex (person holding supreme authority during an interregnum), Hiatus (break or gap in an activity), Abeyance (temporary suspension, inactivity) More Info: The Latin root “reg” (kingship, rule) also occurs in regal, regulate, regime, regiment, regicide (killing a king), and regale (entertain, amuse).

Question 69

intransigent | adj

Answer 69

Definition: Refusing to compromise, inflexible, having extreme attitudes Usage: “Even three detentions and a note home to your parents haven’t convinced you to behave yourself in class!” the teacher said to the intransigent child. Related Words: Intractable, Obdurate, and Obstreperous are also used to describe people who are stubborn and hard to control. More Info: Intransigent shares a root with transaction—as in, intransigent people will not likely agree to a reasonable transaction.

Question 70

inundate | verb

Answer 70

Definition: Flood, cover with water, overwhelm Usage: As the city was inundated with water, the mayor feared that many evacuees would have nowhere to go. / I can’t go out—I am inundated with homework! Related Words: Deluge means to flood, or a flood itself, and is used metaphorically in the same way as inundate (deluged with work, a deluge of complaints). Engulf means “flow over and enclose, swallow up or submerge.” A storm engulfing an island would be even more severe than a storm inundating or deluging it.

Question 71

inure | verb

Answer 71

Definition: Toughen up; accustom or habituate to pain, hardship, etc. Usage: Having had over a dozen surgeries before she was ten, spending months at a time in the hospital, she considered herself inured to pain and disappointment. Related Words: Stoic (not having or showing feeling, esp. in response to suffering), Hardy (bold, brave, capable of withstanding hardship, fatigue, cold, etc.), Fortitude (strength in facing adversity), Grit (firmness of mind, esp. during hardship; courage)

Question 72

invective | noun

Answer 72

Definition: Violent denunciation; accusations, insults, or verbal abuse Usage: Although the money was good, she quit her job after nearly having a nervous breakdown from her boss’s invective. Related Words: Vituperation (synonym), Censure (strong disapproval or official reprimand), Contumely (contemptuous treatment or a humiliating insult), Vitriol (very caustic criticism) More Info: Invective comes from a root for attack that also gives us inveigh (to protest strongly or attack with words).

Question 73

inveigle | verb

Answer 73

Definition: Entice, lure; get something by flattery, cleverness, or offering incentives Usage: After Mrs. Kim found out that her son’s friends had inveigled him into doing something stupid, she gave him a lecture on standing up to peer pressure. Related Words: Coax and cajole are gentler versions—trying to get someone to do something through persuasion or flattery. More Info: Don’t confuse with inveigh (to protest strongly or attack with words).

Question 74

investiture | noun

Answer 74

Definition: Investing; formally giving someone a right or title Usage: The former dean had her academic robes dry cleaned in preparation for her investiture as university president. Related Words: divest (deprive or strip of a rank, title, etc., or of clothing or gear; to sell off holdings)

Question 75

invidious | adj

Answer 75

Definition: Hateful, offensive, injurious Usage: School bullying has become a serious problem, with ongoing invidious behavior driving students to suicide. Related Words: Malicious and malevolent both mean “intending ill will towards another.” More Info: Invidious comes from the Latin word for envy. Don’t confuse invidious with insidious, which means deceitful, tricky, intended to entrap or ensnare.

Question 76

irascible | adj

Answer 76

Definition: Irritable, easily angered Usage: “I spent my entire childhood tiptoeing around so as not to anger my irascible mother,” Joe told his therapist. Related Words: Dyspeptic (grumpy, pessimistic, irritable), Curmudgeon (bad-tempered, difficult person), Crotchety (grouchy, picky, given to odd notions), Cantankerous (disagreeable, contentious) More Info: Irascible shares a root with irate (angry) and ire (anger).

Question 77

irresolute (adj) Also resolute (adj)

Answer 77

Definition: Wavering, not sure how to proceed, not firm in one’s decision-making Usage: If we were voting on the bill this moment, we’d have enough votes to pass it. But many of our supporters are irresolute—we’re worried that when lobbyists get to them, they’ll quickly change their minds. Related Words: Ambivalent (uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two contradictory things at once), Equivocal (allowing for several different meanings; undecided or having mixed feelings) More Info: Resolute or resolved means “decided; firm in purpose.” A resolution can be a mutual agreement or a solution to a problem.

Question 78

itinerant | adj

Answer 78

Definition: Traveling from place to place, esp. as part of a job Usage: In rural areas in the 1940s, it was common that a small town would lack its own doctor, instead being seen by an itinerant family physician who made rounds to many such towns. Related Words: Peripatetic and wayfaring are synonyms. Transient also means moving around, but is more associated with homeless people or those on the fringe of society. More Info: Itinerant shares a root with itinerary, a travel schedule.

Question 79

itinerary | noun

Answer 79

Definition: Travel schedule; detailed plan for a journey Usage: Great, that was the Parthenon! What’s next on our itinerary? Related Words: Agenda is a similar but more general word that can be used metaphorically—a meeting usually has an agenda, a trip could have an agenda (goal or plan) for the day, and a person who wants something but isn’t being direct about it is said to have an agenda or hidden agenda. More Info: Itinerary shares a root with itinerant (traveling from place to place, esp. as part of a job). An itinerary can sometimes be a guidebook or a record of travel that has already happened.