GRE Common Words Flashcards
commensurate
adjective: to be in proportion or corresponding in degree or amount
The convicted felon’s life sentence was commensurate with the heinousness of his crime.
involved
adjective: complicated, and difficult to comprehend
The physics lecture became so involved that the undergraduate’s eyes glazed over.
anomalous
adjective: not normal
According to those who do not believe in climate change, the extreme weather over the last five years is simply anomalous—daily temperatures should return to their old averages, they believe.
venality
noun: the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption
Even some of the most sacred sporting events are not immune to venality, as many of the officials have received substantial bribes to make biased calls.
betray
verb: to reveal or make known something, usually unintentionally
With the gold medal at stake, the gymnast awaited his turn, his quivering lip betraying his intense emotions.
innocuous
adjective: harmless and doesn’t produce any ill effects
Everyone found Nancy’s banter innocuous—except for Mike, who felt like she was intentionally picking on him.
veracious
adjective: truthful
While we elect our leaders in the hope that every word they speak will be veracious, history has shown that such a hope is naive.
parsimonious
adjective: extremely frugal; miserly
Katie is so parsimonious that she only buys a pair of socks if all of her other socks have holes in them.
amorphous
adjective: shapeless
His study plan for the GRE was at best amorphous; he would do questions from random pages in any one of seven test prep books.
prevaricate
verb: to speak in an evasive way
The cynic quipped, “There is not much variance in politicians; they all seem to prevaricate”.
ambiguous
adjective: open to more than one interpretation
The coach told his team, “Move towards that side of the field”; because he did not point, his directions were ambiguous, and the team had no idea to which side he was referring.
venerate
verb: to respect deeply
The professor, despite his sleep-inducing lectures, was venerated amongst his colleagues, publishing more papers yearly than all of his peers combined.
belie
verb: to give a false representation to; misrepresent
The smile on her face belies the pain she must feel after the death of her husband.
maintain
verb: to assert
The scientist maintained that the extinction of dinosaurs was most likely brought about by a drastic change in climate.
enervate
verb: to sap energy from
John preferred to avoid equatorial countries; the intense sun would always leave him enervated after he’d spent the day sightseeing.
mercurial
adjective: (of a person) prone to unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood
The fact that Ella’s moods were as mercurial as the weather was problematic for her relationships—it didn’t help that she lived in Chicago.
amenable
adjective: easily persuaded
Even though she did not like the outdoors, Shirley was generally amenable and so her brother was able to persuade her to go camping.
vindicate
verb: to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof
Even seven Tour de France wins cannot vindicate Lance Armstrong in the eyes of the public–that the athlete used performance enhancing drugs invalidates all those wins.
auspicious
adjective: favorable, the opposite of sinister
Despite an auspicious beginning, Mike’s road trip became a series of mishaps, and he was soon stranded and penniless, leaning against his wrecked automobile.
ingenuous
adjective: to be naïve and innocent
Two-years in Manhattan had changed Jenna from an ingenuous girl from the suburbs to a jaded urbanite, unlikely to fall for any ruse, regardless of how elaborate.
upbraid
verb: to reproach; to scold
Bob took a risk walking into the “Students Barbershop”—in the end he had to upbraid the apparently drunk barber for giving him an uneven bowl cut.
castigate
verb: to reprimand harshly
Drill sergeants are known to castigate new recruits so mercilessly that the latter often break down during their first week in training.
qualify
verb: to make less severe; to limit (a statement)
Chris qualified his love for San Francisco, adding he didn’t like the weather there as much as he liked the weather in Los Angeles.
gregarious
adjective: to be likely to socialize with others
Often we think that great leaders are those who are gregarious, always in the middle of a large group of people; yet, as Mahatma Gandhi and many others have shown us, leaders can also be introverted.
impertinent
adjective: being disrespectful; improperly forward or bold
Dexter, distraught over losing his pet dachshund, Madeline, found the police officer’s questions impertinent—after all, he thought, did she have to pry into such details as to what Madeline’s favorite snack was?
acrimony
noun: bitterness and ill will
The acrimony between the president and vice-president sent a clear signal to voters: the health of the current administration was imperiled.
amalgam
noun: a mixture of multiple things
The band’s music was an amalgam of hip-hop, flamenco and jazz, blending the three styles with surprising results.
frugal
adjective: not spending much money (but spending wisely)
Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned.
extant
adjective: still in existence (usually refers to documents).
Despite many bookstores closing, experts predict that some form of book dealing will still be extant generations from now.
prodigal
adjective: rashly or wastefully extravagant
Successful professional athletes who do not fall prey to prodigality seem to be the exception—most live decadent lives.
intimate
verb: to suggest something subtly
At first Manfred’s teachers intimated to his parents that he was not suited to skip a grade; when his parents protested, teachers explicitly told them that, notwithstanding the boy’s precocity, he was simply too immature to jump to the 6th grade.
disinterested
adjective: unbiased; neutral
The potential juror knew the defendant, and therefore could not serve on the jury, which must consist only of disinterested members.
aberration
noun: a deviation from what is normal or expected
Aberrations in climate have become the norm: rarely a week goes by without some meteorological phenomenon making headlines.
egregious
adjective: standing out in a negative way; shockingly bad
The dictator’s abuse of human rights was so egregious that many world leaders demanded that he be tried in an international court for genocide.
galvanize
verb: to excite or inspire (someone) to action
At mile 23 of his first marathon, Kyle had all but given up, until he noticed his friends and family holding a banner that read, “Go Kyle”; galvanized, he broke into a gallop, finishing the last three miles in less than 20 minutes.
laconic
adjective: (describes a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words
While Martha always swooned over the hunky, laconic types in romantic comedies, her boyfriends inevitably were very talkative—and not very hunky.
profligate
adjective: spending resources recklessly or wastefully
The composer Wagner, while living on a limited salary, was so profligate as to line all the walls of his apartment with pure silk.
noun: someone who spends resources recklessly or wastefully
Most lottery winners go from being conservative, frugal types to outright profligates who blow millions on fast cars, lavish homes, and giant yachts.
harangue
noun: a long pompous speech; a tirade
Dinner at Billy’s was more a punishment than a reward, since anyone who sat at the dinner table would have to listen to Billy’s father’s interminable harangues against the government.
verb: to deliver a long pompous speech or tirade
Tired of his parents haranguing him about his laziness and lack of initiative, Tyler finally moved out of home at the age of thirty-five.
demur
verb: to object or show reluctance
Wallace disliked the cold, so he demurred when his friends suggested they go skiing in the Alps.
wanting
adjective: lacking
She did not think her vocabulary was wanting, yet there were so many words that inevitably she found a few she didn’t know.
chastise
verb: to reprimand harshly
Though chastised for eating the snacks for the party, Lawrence shrugged off his mother’s harsh words, and continued to plow through jars of cookies and boxes of donuts.
artful
adjective: exhibiting artistic skill
Picasso is generally considered the most artful member of the Cubist movement.
adjective: clever in a cunning way
Bernie Madoff’s artful Ponzi scheme stole billions of dollars from investors and is considered the largest financial fraud in U.S. history.
iconoclastic
noun: somebody who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
Lady Gaga, in challenging what it means to be clothed, is an iconoclast for wearing a “meat dress” to a prominent awards show.
equivocal
adjective: confusing or ambiguous
The findings of the study were equivocal—the two researchers had different opinions on what the results signified.
parochial
adjective: narrowly restricted in scope or outlook
Jasmine was sad to admit it, but her fledgling relationship with Jacob did not work out because his culinary tastes were simply too parochial; “After all,” she quipped on her blog, “he considered Chef Boyardee ethnic food.”
undermine
verb: to weaken (usually paired with an abstract term)
The student undermined the teacher’s authority by questioning the teacher’s judgment on numerous occasions.
restive
adjective: restless
The crowd grew restive as the comedian’s opening jokes fell flat.
calumny
noun: making of a false statement meant to injure a person’s reputation
With the presidential primaries well under way, the air is thick with calumny, and the mud already waist-high.
censure
verb: to express strong disapproval
After being caught in bed with a mistress, the mayor was quickly censured by the city council.
ambivalent
adjective: mixed or conflicting emotions about something
Sam was ambivalent about studying for the exam because doing so ate up a lot of his time, yet he was able to improve his analytical skills.
culpability
noun: a state of guilt
Since John had left his banana peel at the top of the stairwell, he accepted culpability for Martha’s broken leg.
chortle
verb: to chuckle, laugh merrily, often in a breathy, muffled way
Walking into the cafe, I could hear happy, chortling people and smell the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans
platitude
noun: a trite or obvious remark
The professor argued that many statements regarded as wise in previous times, such as the Golden Rule, are now regarded as mere platitudes.
predilection
noun: a strong liking
Monte had a predilection for the fine things in life: Cuban cigars, 200 dollar bottles of wine, and trips to the French Riviera.
mitigate
verb: make less severe or harsh
I can only spend so much time mitigating your disagreements with your wife, and at certain point, you need to do it on your own.
verb: lessen the severity of an offense
If it weren’t for the mitigating circumstances, he would have certainly lost his job.
culminate
verb: reach the highest or most decisive point
Beethoven’s musical genius culminated in the 9th Symphony, which many consider his greatest work.
gall
noun: the trait of being rude and impertinent
The speeding car had the gall to switch five lanes at once, run through a red light, and then cut off a police car before finally coming to a stop in front of a sea of flashing red lights.
noun: feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
In an act of gall, Leah sent compromising photos of her ex-boyfriend to all his co-workers and professional contacts.
volubility
noun: the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously
The professor’s volubility knows no bounds; he could talk through a hurricane and elaborate a point from one St. Patrick’s Day to the next.
diffident
adjective: showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence
As a young girl she was diffident and reserved, but now as an adult, she is confident and assertive.
decorous
adjective: characterized by good taste in manners and conduct
Sally’s parties are decorous affairs, and instead of the usual beer and music, there is tea and intellectual conversation.
dogmatic
adjective: highly opinionated, not accepting that one’s own beliefs may not be correct
Bryan is dogmatic in his belief that the earth is flat, claiming that all pictures of a spherical earth are computer generated.
torpor
noun: inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy
After work, I was expecting my colleagues to be enthusiastic about the outing, but I found them in a state of complete torpor.
conspicuous
adjective: without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
Among the tall trees and flower fields, the building seemed out of place with its conspicuous, cold concrete and angular steel exterior.
eschew
verb: avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
Politicians are the masters of eschewing morals; academics are the masters of eschewing clarity.
exacerbate
verb: make worse
Her sleeplessness exacerbated her cold–when she woke up the next day, her sinuses were completely blocked.
glut
noun: an excessive supply
The Internet offers such a glut of news related stories that many find it difficult to know which story to read first.
verb: supply with an excess of
In the middle of economic crises, hiring managers find their inboxes glutted with resumes.
aesthete
noun: one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature
A true aesthete, Marty would spend hours at the Guggenheim Museum, staring at the same Picasso.
inexorable
adjective: impossible to stop or prevent
The rise of the computer was an inexorable shift in technology and culture.
dictatorial
dictatorial
adjective: expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler
The coach was dictatorial in his approach: no players could ever argue or question his approach.
obscure
verb: make unclear
On the Smith’s drive through the Grand Canyon, Mr. Smith’s big head obscured much of Mrs. Robinson’s view, so that she only saw momentary patches of red rock.
adjective: known by only a few
Many of the biggest movie stars were once obscure actors who got only bit roles in long forgotten films.
apathetic
adjective: marked by a lack of interest
Mr. Thompson was so talented at teaching math that even normally apathetic students took interest.
rustic
adjective: characteristic of rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial
The vacation cabin had no electricity and no indoor plumbing, but despite these inconveniences, Nigel adored its rustic charm.
cryptic
adjective: mysterious or vague, usually intentionally
Since Sarah did not want her husband to guess the Christmas present she had bought him, she only answered cryptically when he would ask her questions about it.
deferential
adjective: showing respect
If you ever have the chance to meet the president, stand up straight and be deferential.
bucolic
adjective: relating to the pleasant aspects of the country
The noble families of England once owned vast expanses of beautiful, bucolic land.
gainsay
verb: deny or contradict; speak against or oppose
I can’t gainsay a single piece of evidence James has presented, but I still don’t trust his conclusion.
perfidy
noun: an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust
Sure, he was the best salesman in the company; but Michael had abused the trust of the firm, sharing product secrets with a competitor, and for such perfidy he was terminated.
perfidy
noun: an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust
Sure, he was the best salesman in the company; but Michael had abused the trust of the firm, sharing product secrets with a competitor, and for such perfidy he was terminated.
banal
adjective: repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
The professor used such banal expression that many students in the class either fell asleep from boredom or stayed awake to complete his sentences and humor friends.
concede
verb: acknowledge defeat
I concede. You win!
verb: admit (to a wrongdoing)
After a long, stern lecture from her father, Olivia conceded to having broken the window.
verb: give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another
The Spanish were forced to concede much of the territory they had previously conquered.
entrenched
adjective: fixed firmly or securely
By the time we reach 60-years old, most of our habits are so entrenched that it is difficult for us to change.
reticent
adjective: disinclined to talk, not revealing one’s thoughts
When asked about her father, Helen lost her outward enthusiasm and became rather reticent.
gossamer
adjective: characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy
The gossamer wings of a butterfly, which allow it to fly, are also a curse, so delicate that they are often damaged.
frivolous
adjective: not serious in content or attitude or behavior
Compared to Juliet’s passionate concern for human rights, Jake’s non-stop concern about football seems somewhat frivolous.
audacious
adjective: willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks
As all of the other campers cowered in their tents, Bill, armed only with a flashlight, audaciously tracked down the bear that had raided their food.
mawkish
adjective: overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting
The film was incredibly mawkish, introducing highly likeable characters only to have them succumb to a devastating illness by the end of the movie.
meticulous
adjective: marked by extreme care in treatment of details
The Japanese noodle maker was meticulous in making his noodles and would never let another person take over the task.
querulous
adjective: habitually complaining
The querulous old woman was beginning to wear down even the happier members of the staff with her ceaseless complaining.
recondite
adjective: difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
I found Ulysses recondite and never finished the book, waiting instead to read it with someone else so we could penetrate its meaning together.
prescience
noun: the power to foresee the future
Baxter’s warnings about investing in technology stocks seemed like an act of prescience after the whole market declined significantly.
fortuitous
adjective: occurring by happy chance; having no cause or apparent cause
Missing my train turned out to be quite fortuitous since I ran into a childhood friend on the next train and we were able to reconnect after so many years.
superflous
adjective: serving no useful purpose
How can we hope to stay open if we don’t eliminate all superfluous spending, like catered meetings and free acupuncture Tuesday?
adjective: more than is needed, desired, or required
The third paragraph in your essay is superfluous and can be deleted.
incisive
adjective: having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
The lawyer had an incisive mind, able in a flash to dissect a hopelessly tangled issue and isolate the essential laws at play.
preclude
verb: keep from happening or arising; make impossible
The manager specified that all other gates be locked, to preclude the possibility of persons without tickets entering the arena undetected.
aesthetic
adjective: concerned with the appreciation of beauty
The director, not known for his aesthetic sensibilities, decided not to use costumes at all, and put on the play in everyday clothing.
noun: a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement.
The artist operated according to a peculiar aesthetic, not considering any photograph to be worth publishing unless it contained a marine mammal.
germane
adjective: relevant and appropriate
The professor wanted to tell the jury in detail about his new book, but the lawyer said it wasn’t germane to the charges in the cases.
engender
verb: give rise to
The restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles were so severe that they engendered deep hatred and resentment in the German people.
didactic
adjective: instructive (especially excessively)
Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a didactic novel, instructing the reader on how to live a good life.
impudent
adjective: improperly forward or bold
In an impudent move, the defendant spoke out of order to say terribly insulting things to the judge.
vociferous
adjective: conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
In giving Marcia a particular vociferous response, Paul caused people at every other table in the restaurant to turn around and look at them angrily.
itinerant
adjective: traveling from place to place to work
Doctors used to be itinerant, traveling between patients’ homes.
supplant
verb: take the place or move into the position of
For many, a cell phone has supplanted a traditional phone; in fact, most 20-somethings don’t even have a traditional phone anymore.
mollify
verb: to make someone who is angry less angry; placate
In the morning, Janine was unable to mollify Harry, if he happened to become angry, unless he’d had his cup of coffee.
derivative
adjective: not original but drawing strongly on something already in existence, especially in reference to a creative product (e.g. music, writing, poetry etc.).
Because the movies were utterly derivative of other popular movies, they did well at the box office.
juxtapose
verb: place side by side for contrast
The appeal of her paintings comes from a classical style which is juxtaposed with modern themes.
delineate
verb: describe in detail
After a brief summary of proper swimming technique, the coach delineated the specifics of each stroke, spending 30 minutes alone on the backstroke.
ephemeral
adjective: lasting a very short time
The lifespan of a mayfly is ephemeral, lasting from a few hours to a couple of days.
ascetic
adjective: practicing self-denial
His ascetic life is the main reason he inspired so many followers, especially since he gave up wealth and power to live in poverty.
noun: one who practices great self-denial
Historically, ascetics like Gandhi are often considered wise men partially because of their restraint.
contrive
verb: to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery
Despite a low GPA, he contrived to get into college, going so far as to write his own glowing letters of recommendation.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
quotidian
adjective: found in the ordinary course of events
Phil gets so involved thinking about Aristotle’s arguments that he totally forgets quotidian concerns, such as exercising and eating regularly.
ameliorate
verb: make something bad better
“Three Cups of Tea” tells the story of western man who hopes to ameliorate poverty and the lack of education in Afghanistan.
subsume
verb: contain or include
The rogue wave quickly subsumed the pier and boardwalk, destroying everything in its path.
verb: consider (an instance of something) as part of a general rule or principle
Don Quixote of La Mancha subsumes all other modern novels, demonstrating modern literary devices and predating even the idea of a postmodern, metanarrative.
elucidate
verb: make clearer and easier to understand
Youtube is great place to learn just about anything–an expert elucidates finer points so that even a complete novice can learn.
vilify
verb: spread negative information about
Todd was noble after the divorce, choosing to say only complimentary things about Barbara, but Barbara did not hesitate to vilify Todd.
disaffected
adjective: discontented as toward authority
After watching his superior take rations from the soldiers, he quickly became disaffected and rebelled.
apathy
noun: an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
Widespread apathy among voters led to a very small turnout on election day.
tenacious
adjective: stubbornly unyielding
Even the most tenacious advocates for gun ownership must admit some of the dangers that firearms present.
guileless
adjective: free of deceit
At first I thought my niece was guileless, but I then found myself buying her ice cream every time we passed a shop.
derive
verb: come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example
Many words in the English language are derived from Latin, including the word “derive.”
verb: reason by deduction; establish by deduction
From the multiple set of footprints in the living room, the investigator derived an important clue: Sheila was not alone in the room at the time of the murder.
immutable
adjective: not able to be changed
Taxes are one of the immutable laws of the land, so there is no use arguing about paying them.
travesty
noun: an absurd presentation of something; a mockery
What I expected to be an intelligent, nuanced historical documentary turned out to be a poorly-produced travesty of the form.
magnanimous
adjective: noble and generous in spirit, especially towards a rival or someone less powerful
He was a great sportsman: in defeat he was complimentary and in victory he was magnanimous.
frustrate
verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
I thought I would finish writing the paper by lunchtime, but a number of urgent interruptions served to frustrate my plan.
negligible
adjective: so small as to be meaningless; insignificant
The GRE tests cumulative knowledge, so if you cram the night before it is, at best, likely to only have a negligible impact on your score.
belligerent
adjective: characteristic of one eager to fight
Tom said that he was arguing the matter purely for philosophical reasons, but his belligerent tone indicated an underlying anger about the issue.
vehement
adjective: marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
While the other employees responded to the bad news in a measured way, Andrew responded in a vehement manner, tipping over his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs.
circumvent
verb: cleverly find a way out of one’s duties or obligations
One way of circumventing the GRE is to apply to a grad school that does not require GRE scores
staunch
adjective: firm and dependable especially in loyalty
No longer a staunch supporter of the movement, Todd now will openly question whether its goals are worthwhile.
fallacious
adjective: of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning
The widespread belief that Inuit have forty different words for “snow” has been considered fallacious, based on a single report by Anthropologist Franz Boas
tantamount
adjective: being essentially equal to something
In many situations, remaining silent is tantamount to admitting guilt, so speak to prove your innocence.
panache
noun: distinctive and showy elegance
Jim, with his typical panache, came to the wedding reception with a top hat and cane.
rudimentary
adjective: being in the earliest stages of development; being or involving basic facts or principles
I would love to be able to present a fully polished proposal to the board, but right now, our plans for the product are still in the most rudimentary stages.
incongruous
adjective: lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
The vast economic inequality of modern society is incongruous with America’s ideals.
unequivocal
adjective: admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion
The President’s first statement on the subject was vague and open to competing interpretations, so when he spoke to Congress about the same subject later, he was careful to make his position completely unequivocal.
jubilant
adjective: full of high-spirited delight because of triumph or success
My hardwork paid off, and I was jubilant to receive a perfect score on the GRE.
eminent
adjective: standing above others in quality or position
Shakespeare is an eminent author in the English language, but I find his writing uninteresting and melodramatic.
insidious
adjective: working in a subtle but destructive way
Plaque is insidious: we cannot see it, but each day it eats away at our enamel, causing cavities and other dental problems.
spurious
adjective: plausible but false
When listening to a politician speak, it is hard to distinguish the spurious claims from the authentic ones.
languid
adjective: not inclined towards physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed
As the sun beat down and the temperature climbed higher, we spent a languid week lying around the house.
jingoism
noun: fanatical patriotism
North Korea maintains intense control over its population through a combination of jingoism and cult of personality.
eclectic
adjective: comprised of a variety of styles
Malala was known for her eclectic tastes in music, one moment dancing to disco the next “air conducting” along to Beethoven’s 9th symphony.
avaricious
adjective: excessively greedy
Since avaricious desire is similar to gluttony or lust–sins of excess–it was listed as one of the seven deadly sins by the Catholic church.
refractory
adjective: stubbornly resistant to authority or control
Used to studious high school students, Martha was unprepared for the refractory Kindergarteners who neither sat still nor listened to a single word she said.
haughty
adjective: having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
The haughty manager didn’t believe that any of his subordinates could ever have an insight as brilliant as his own.
treacherous
adjective: tending to betray
Even though Jesse James was an outlaw, his killer, Robert Ford, is remembered more for his treacherous actions than for eliminating a criminal and murderer.
adjective: dangerously unstable and unpredictable
The bridge built from twine and vine is treacherous to walk across, and so I think I will stay put right here.
abstain
verb: choose not to consume or take part in (particularly something enjoyable)
Considered a health nut, Jessica abstained from anything containing sugar–even chocolate.
heretic
noun: a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)
Though everybody at the gym told Mikey to do cardio before weights, Mikey was a heretic and always did the reverse.
forlorn
adjective: marked by or showing hopelessness
After her third pet dog died, Marcia was simply forlorn: this time even the possibility of buying a new dog no longer held any joy.
denote
verb: be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning
Even if the text is not visible, the red octagon denotes “stop” to all motorists in America.
implausible
adjective: describing a statement that is not believable
The teacher found it implausible that the student was late to school because he had been kidnapped by outlaws on horseback.
pragmatic
adjective: guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory
Rather than make a philosophical appeal to the Congressmen, the Speaker decided to take a far more pragmatic approach, making small side-deals that would add votes to his bill.
intransigent
adjective: unwilling to change one’s beliefs or course of action
Despite many calls for mercy, the judge remained intransigent, citing strict legal precedence.
aberrant
adjective: markedly different from an accepted norm
When the financial director started screaming and throwing food at his co-workers, the police had to come in to deal with his aberrant behavior.
tortuous
adjective: marked by repeated turns and bends; not straightforward
Because the logic behind McMahon’s side of the debate was so tortuous, his audience came out either completely confused or, worse, feeling they’d been tricked.
idiosyncrasy
noun: a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
Peggy’s numerous idiosyncrasies include wearing mismatched shoes, laughing loudly to herself, and owning a pet aardvark.
forthcoming
adjective: available when required or as promised
The President announced that the senators were about to reach a compromise, and that he was eager to read the forthcoming details of the bill.
adjective: at ease in talking to others
As a husband, Larry was not forthcoming: if Jill didn’t demand to know details, Larry would never share them with her.
exalt
verb: praise or glorify
The teenagers exalted the rock star, covering their bedrooms with posters of him.
exonerate
verb: pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
The document clearly indicated that Nick was out of the state at the time of the crime, and so served to exonerate him of any charges.
refute
verb: prove to be false or incorrect
No one could refute his theories or propositions, and that is why he was esteemed by all his colleagues in the philosophy department.
indifference
noun: the trait of seeming not to care
In an effort to fight indifference, the president of the college introduced a new, stricter grading system.
pedantic
adjective: marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
Professor Thompson was regarded as an expert in his field, but his lectures were utterly pedantic, focused on rigorous details of the most trivial conventions in the field.
espouse
verb: to adopt or support an idea or cause
As a college student, Charlie espoused Marxism, growing his beard out and railing against the evils of the free-market.
discrete
adjective: constituting a separate entity or part
What was once known as Czechoslovakia has since split into two discrete, independent nations.
exacting
adjective: requiring and demanding accuracy
Though his childhood piano teacher was so exacting, Max is thankful now, as a professional pianist.
abstruse
adjective: difficult to understand; incomprehensible
Physics textbooks can seem so abstruse to the uninitiated that readers feel as though they are looking at hieroglyphics.
ignoble
adjective: dishonorable
In 1919, the World Series was rigged–an ignoble act which baseball took decades to recover from.
largess
noun: extreme generosity and giving
Uncle Frank was known for his largess, so his nephew was sad when he did not receive a present for his birthday.
ostentatious
adjective: intended to attract notice and impress others; tawdry or vulgar
Matt wanted to buy stone lions for front of the house, but Cynthia convinced him that such a display would be too ostentatious for a modest house in an unassuming neighborhood.
reconcile
verb: make (one thing) compatible with (another)
Peggy was unable to reconcile her kind friend Jane with the cruel and merciless character Jane played on television.
denigrate
verb: charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
Count Rumford denigrated the new theory of heat, demonstrating that it was wholly inadequate to explain the observations.
soporific
adjective: inducing mental lethargy; sleep inducing
Although the professor is brilliant, his bland monotone gives his lectures a soporific effect.
contigent
noun: a gathering of persons representative of some larger group
A small contingent of those loyal to the king have gathered around the castle to defend it.
adjective: dependent on (usually used with upon)
Whether the former world champions can win again this year is contingent upon none of its star players getting injured.
ingratiate
verb: gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
Even though Tom didn’t like his new boss, he decided to ingratiate himself to her in order to advance his career.
bumbling
adjective: lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands
Within a week of starting, the bumbling new waiter was unceremoniously fired.
adamant
adjective: refusing to change one’s mind
Civil rights icon Rosa Parks will forever be remembered for adamantly refusing to give up her seat on a public bus–even after the bus driver insisted, she remained rooted in place.
admonitory
adjective: serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective
At the assembly, the high school vice-principal gave the students an admonitory speech, warning them of the many risks and dangers of prom night.
burgeon
verb: grow and flourish
China’s housing market is burgeoning, but some predict that the growth is merely a bubble and will burst much like the U.S. real estate bubble of 2008.
hackneyed
adjective: lacking significance through having been overused
Cheryl rolled her eyes when she heard the lecturer’s hackneyed advice to “be true to yourself.”
opaque
adjective: not clearly understood or expressed
The meaning of the professor’s new research was opaque to most people, so no one asked any questions.\
expound
verb: add details or explanation; clarify the meaning; state in depth
The CEO refused to expound on the decision to merge our department with another one, and so I quit.
pundit
noun: someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field
Steven Pinker’s credentials are unquestioned as a pundit; he has taught at MIT and Stanford, teaches at Harvard, and has published a number of influential books on cognition, language, and psychology.
eradicate
verb: to completely destroy
I tried eradicating the mosquitos in my apartment with a rolled up newspaper, but there were too many of them.
confound
verb: to cause confusion
Though Harry loved numbers, calculus confounded him.
verb: mistake one thing for another
Americans often confound sweet potatoes with yams, and refer to both vegetables by the same name.
implacable
adjective: incapable of making less angry or hostile
Win or lose, the coach was always implacable, never giving the athletes an easy practice or a break.
provincial
adjective: characteristic of a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated
Maggie’s enthusiasm about her high school teams seemed provincial to her college classmates, all of whom were following a nationally ranked college team.
construe
verb: interpreted in a particular way
The author’s inability to take a side on the issue was construed by both his opponents and supporters as a sign of weakness.
unscrupulous
adjective: without scruples or principles
In the courtroom, the lawyer was unscrupulous, using every manner of deceit and manipulation to secure a victory for himself.
incorrigible
adjective: impervious to correction by punishment
Tom Sawyer seems like an incorrigible youth until Huck Finn enters the novel; even Sawyer can’t match his fierce individual spirit.
temperance
noun: the trait of avoiding excesses
Welles wasn’t known for his temperance–he usually ate enough for two and drank enough for three.
myopic
adjective: lacking foresight or imagination
The company ultimately went out of business because the myopic managers couldn’t predict the changes in their industry.
copious
adjective: in abundant supply
In midsummer, there are copious popsicle stands at the beach; in the winter, there are none
blatant
adjective: without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
Allen was often punished in school for blatantly disrespecting teachers.
petulant
adjective: easily irritated or annoyed
Although the three year old was often described as mature for his age, he was petulant and whiny whenever his father forgot to remove the crust from his sandwiches.
laudable
adjective: worthy of high praise
To say that Gandhi’s actions were laudable is the greatest understatement; he overthrew an empire without violence.
apocryphal
adjective: being of questionable authenticity
The web is notorious for sandwiching apocryphal stories between actual news.
dilettante
noun: an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
Fred has no formal medical training; while he likes to claim authority on medical issues, he is little more than a dilettante.
subversive
adjective: in opposition to an established system or institution.
The ruling political party has begun a campaign to shut down subversive websites that it deems as a threat to “national safety.”
arbitrary
adjective: based on a random, groundless decision
One of the arbitrary decrees in place during the emperor’s rule is that all citizens pay him weekly homage at his palace.
obsequious
adjective: attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
The obsequious waiter did not give the couple a moment’s peace all through the meal, constantly returning to their table to refill their water glasses and to tell them what a handsome pair they made.
foment
verb: try to stir up public opinion
After having his pay cut, Phil spread vicious rumors about his boss, hoping to foment a general feeling of discontent.
arcane
adjective: requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
Most college fraternities are known for arcane rituals that those hoping to join the fraternity must learn.
inveterate
adjective: habitual
He is an inveterate smoker and has told his family and friends that there is no way he will ever quit.
sycophant
noun: a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
The CEO was unaware of the damaging consequences of his choices, largely because he surrounded himself with sycophants who would never dare criticize him.
inimical
adjective: hostile (usually describes conditions or environments)
Venus, with a surface temperature that would turn rubber to liquid, is inimical to any form of life.
prodigious
adjective: so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
After the relatively small homerun totals in the “dead ball” era, Babe Ruth’s homerun totals were truly prodigious: every year, he set a new all-time record.
lionize
verb: assign great social importance to
Students in the U.S. learn to lionize Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington because they are the founding fathers of the nation.
prolific
adjective: intellectually productive
Schubert was the most prolific composer, producing hundreds of hours of music before he died at the age of 31.
austere
adjective: practicing self-denial
His lifestyle of revelry and luxurious excess could hardly be called austere.
adjective: unadorned in style or appearance
Late Soviet architecture, although remaining largely austere, moved into experimental territory that employed previously unused shapes and structures.
adjective: harsh in manner of temperament
The principal of my elementary school was a cold, austere woman; I could never understand why she chose to work with children.
scrupulous
adjective: characterized by extreme care and great effort
Because of his scrupulous nature, Mary put him in charge of numbering and cataloging the entire collection of rare stamps.
adjective: having a sense of right and wrong; principled
Everyone trusted what he said and followed his example because he was scrupulous and honest.
hegemony
noun: dominance over a certain area
Until the Spanish Armada was defeated in 1587, Spain had hegemony over the seas, controlling waters stretching as far as the Americas.
pernicious
adjective: exceedingly harmful; working or spreading in a hidden and injurious way
The most successful viruses are pernicious: an infected person may feel perfectly healthy for several months while incubating and spreading the virus.
gauche
adjective: lacking social polish
Sylvester says the most gauche things, such as telling a girl he liked that she was much prettier when she wore makeup.
tractable
adjective: readily reacting to suggestions and influences; easily managed (controlled or taught or molded)
Compared to middle school students, who have an untamed wildness about them, high school students are somewhat more tractable.
intrepid
adjective: fearless
Captain Ahab was an intrepid captain whose reckless and fearless style ultimately led to his downfall.
munificent
adjective: very generous
Uncle Charley was known for his munificence, giving all seven of his nephews lavish Christmas presents each year.
pedestrian
adjective: lacking imagination
While Nan was always engaged in philosophical speculation, her brother was occupied with far more pedestrian concerns: how to earn a salary and run a household.
constituent
noun: a citizen who is represented in a government by officials for whom he or she votes
The mayor’s constituents are no longer happy with her performance and plan to vote for another candidate in the upcoming election.
noun: an abstract part of something
circumscribe
verb: restrict or confine
Their tour of South America was circumscribed so that they saw only popular destinations and avoided the dangerous parts of cities.
precipitous
adjective: done with very great haste and without due deliberation
Instead of calling his financial advisor, Harold acted precipitously, buying 4,000 shares of the latest “hot” stock, only to find out that the company had a history of inflating its year end numbers.
sporadic
adjective: recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances
The signals were at first sporadic, but now we detect a clear, consistent pattern of electromagnetic radiation emanating from deep space.
vacillate
verb: be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
Some students vacillate between schools when deciding which to attend, while others focus only on one school.
ostracize
verb: exclude from a community or group
Later in his life, Leo Tolstoy was ostracized from the Russian Orthodox Church for his writings that contradicted church doctrine.
resurgent
adjective: rising again as to new life and vigor
The team sank to fourth place in June, but is now resurgent and about to win the division.
accolade
noun: an award or praise granted as a special honor
Jean Paul-Sartre was not a fan of accolades, and as such, he refused to accept the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1964.
taciturn
adjective: habitually reserved and uncommunicative
While the CEO enthusiastically shares his plans and agenda with all who will listen, the CFO is far more taciturn, rarely revealing his perspective.
ravenous
adjective: extremely hungry; devouring or craving food in great quantities
John didn’t eat much at all during the week he had the flu, so now that he is regaining his health, it’s not surprising that he has a ravenous appetite.
repudiate
verb: reject as untrue or unfounded
Many in the public believed the rumors of a UFO crash outside town, so the chief of police did everything he could to repudiate the rumors.
sanction
verb: give authority or permission to
The authorities have sanctioned the use of the wilderness reserve for public use; many expect to see hikers and campers enjoying the park in the coming months.
noun: a legal penalty for a forbidden action
International sanctions have been placed on certain shipping lanes that were thought to be involved in human trafficking.
brazen
adjective: unrestrained by convention or propriety
Their large “donations” to the local police department gave the drug cartel the brazen confidence to do their business out in the open.
myriad
noun: a large indefinite number
There are a myriad of internet sites hawking pills that claim to boost energy for hours on end.
winsome
adjective: charming in a childlike or naive way
She was winsome by nature, and many people were drawn to this free and playful spirit.
irrevocable
adjective: incapable of being retracted or revoked
Once you enter your plea to the court, it is irrevocable so think carefully about what you will say.
antithetical
adjective: sharply contrasted in character or purpose
His deep emotional involvement with these ideas is, in fact, antithetical to the detachment Buddhism preaches.
inscrutable
adjective: not easily understood; unfathomable
His speech was so dense and confusing that many in the audience found it inscrutable.
tempered
adjective: moderated in effect
The wide-eyed optimism of her youth was now tempered after she had worked many years in the criminal justice system.
propitious
adjective: presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success
The child’s heartbeat is still weak, but I am seeing many propitious signs and I think that she may be healing.
garrulous
adjective: full of trivial conversation
Lynne was garrulous: once, she had a fifteen minute conversation with a stranger before she realized the woman didn’t speak English.
poignant
adjective: emotionally touching
After the Montagues and Capulets discover the dead bodies of Romeo and Juliet, in the play’s most poignant moment, the two griefstricken families agree to end their feud once and for all.
insolent
adjective: rude and arrogant
Lilian could not help herself from being insolent, commenting that the Queen’s shoes were showing too much toe.
timorous
adjective: timid by nature or revealing fear and nervousness
Since this was her first time debating on stage and before an audience, Di’s voice was timorous and quiet for the first 10 minutes.
duress
noun: compulsory force or threat
The witness said he signed the contract under duress and argued that the court should cancel the agreement.
erudite
adjective: having or showing profound knowledge
Before the Internet, the library was typically where you would find erudite readers.
craven
adjective: pathetically cowardly
Though the man could have at least alerted the police, he crouched cravenly in the corner as the old woman was mugged.
imprudent
adjective: not wise
Hitler, like Napoleon, made the imprudent move of invading Russia in winter, suffering even more casualties than Napoleon had.
bolster
verb: support and strengthen
The case for the suspect’s innocence was bolstered considerably by the fact that neither fingerprints nor DNA were found at the scene.
dispassionate
adjective: unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice
A good scientist should be dispassionate, focusing purely on what the evidence says, without personal attachment.
placate
verb: cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
I was able to placate the angry mob of students by promising to bring cookies on Monday.
capricious
adjective: determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
Nearly every month our capricious CEO had a new plan to turn the company around, and none of them worked because we never gave them the time they needed to succeed.
antipathy
noun: an intense feeling of dislike or aversion
Maria had an antipathy for tour groups, often bolting to the other side of the museum as soon as she saw a chaperone leading a group of wide-eyed tourists.
nonplussed
adjective: unsure how to act or respond
Shirley was totally nonplussed when the angry motorist cut her off and then stuck his finger out the window.
reproach
verb: to express criticism towards
At first, Sarah was going to yell at the boy, but she didn’t want to reproach him for telling the truth about the situation.
dilatory
adjective: wasting time
Lawyers use dilatory tactics so that it takes years before the case is actually decided.
specious
adjective: based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
Almost every image on TV is specious and not to be trusted.
adjective: plausible but false
He made a career out of specious arguments and fictional lab results, but lost his job and reputation when his lies were exposed by an article in The New York Times.
edifying
adjective: enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement
I recently read an article in the Times about whether good literature is edifying or not; specifically, does reading more make a person more moral.
pejorative
adjective: expressing disapproval (usu. refers to a term)
Most psychologists object to the pejorative term “shrink”, believing that they expand the human mind, not limit it.pejorative
appease
verb: pacify by acceding to the demands of
Neville Chamberlain, the British prime minister during WWII, tried to appease Hitler and in doing so sent a clear message: you can walk all over us.
maverick
noun: someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action
Officer Kelly was a maverick, rarely following police protocols or adopting the conventions for speech common among his fellow officers.
jovial
adjective: full of or showing high-spirited merriment
The presidential candidate and her supporters were jovial once it was clear that she had won.
efficacious
adjective: producing the intended result
Since Maggie’s cough syrup, which had expired five years back, was no longer efficacious, she coughed through the night.
opulence
noun: wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
Russian oligarchs are famous for their opulence, living in fancy homes and dining on expensive caviar.
economical
adjective: avoiding waste, efficient
Journalists favor an economical style of writing, in which no unnecessary words are used and every sentence is as short as possible.
arduous
adjective: demanding considerable mental effort and skill; testing powers of endurance
In order to deal with the arduous cross-country journey, truck drivers often survive on a string of caffeinated drinks, staying awake for up to 30 hours at a time.
flux
noun: a state of uncertainty about what should be done (usually following some important event)
Ever since Elvira resigned as the head of marketing, everything about our sales strategy has been in a state of flux.
mendacity
noun: the tendency to be untruthful
I can forgive her for her mendacity but only because she is a child and is seeing what she can get away with.
maladroit
adjective: clumsy
As a child she was quite maladroit, but as an adult, she has become an adept dancer.
posit
verb: assume as fact
Initially, Einstein posited a repulsive force to balance Gravity, but then rejected that idea as a blunder.
ignominious
adjective: (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame
Since the politician preached ethics and morality, his texting of revealing photographs was ignominious, bringing shame on both himself and his party.
askance
adverb: with a look of suspicion or disapproval
The old couple looked askance on the teenagers seated next to them, whispering to each other, “They’ve got rings through their noses and purple hair!”
elicit
verb: call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
Just smiling–even if you are depressed–can elicit feelings of pleasure and happiness.
nuance
noun: a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
Because of the nuances involved in this case, I hired an outside consultant to advise us and help.
disseminate
verb: cause to become widely known
Before the effects of anesthesia were disseminated, patients had to experience the full pain of a surgery.
stringent
adjective: demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
Most of the students disliked the teacher because of his stringent homework policy, but many students would later thank him for demanding so much from them.
esoteric
adjective: confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle
Map collecting is an esoteric hobby to most, but to geography geeks it is a highly enjoyable pastime.
rebuke
verb: criticize severely or angrily; censure
The police chief rebuked the two officers whose irresponsible decisions almost led to the deaths of seven innocent by-standers.
harried
adjective: troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
With a team of new hires to train, Martha was constantly harried with little questions and could not focus on her projects.
fastidious
adjective: overly concerned with details; fussy
Whitney is fastidious about her shoes, arranging them on a shelf in a specific order, each pair evenly spaced.
sullen
adjective: showing a brooding ill humor
Herbert took board games too seriously, often appearing sullen after losing.
mundane
adjective: repetitive and boring; not spiritual
Nancy found doing dishes a thorougly mundane task, although Peter found a kind of Zen pleasure in the chore.
adjective: relating to the ordinary world
Though we think of the pope as someone always dealing in holy matters, he is also concerned with mundane events, such as deciding when to set his alarm each morning.
misconstrue
verb: interpret in the wrong way
The politician never trusted journalists because he thought that they would misconstrue his words and misrepresent his positions.
furtive
adjective: marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
While at work, George and his boss Regina felt the need to be as furtive as possible about their romantic relationship.
polemic
noun: a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
The professor launched into a polemic, claiming that Freudian theory was a pack of lies that absolutely destroyed European literary theory.
truncate
verb: reduce the length of something
The soccer game was truncated when the monsoon rain began to fall.
deleterious
adjective: harmful to living things
The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was deleterious to the fishing industry in the southern states.
indecorous
adjective: not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society
Eating with elbows on the table is considered indecorous in refined circles.
transient
adjective: lasting a very short time
The unpredictable and transient nature of deja vu makes it a very difficult phenomenon to study properly.
