GRE Set 1 Flashcards
Abandon
A complete lack of inhibition or restraint
Abrasive
showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh
Abreast
up to date with the latest news, ideas, or information
Abridge
shorten (a piece of writing) without losing the sense
Abstruse
difficult to understand; obscure
Accentuate
to make (something) more prominent or noticeable
Accord
an official agreement or treaty.
Acerbic
sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone
Acquisitive
excessively interested in acquiring money or material things
Activism
the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or
social change.
Acumen
superior insight; quickness and shrewdness of judgment, especially in
practical matters
Acute
present or experienced to a severe or intense degree
Acute
having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight; shrewd.
Adroit
clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.
Adulation
obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise.
Aesthetic
concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.
Affable
friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to.
Affectation
behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress.
Aghast
filled with horror or shock
Alacrity
brisk and cheerful readiness
Alienate
cause (someone) to feel isolated or estranged.
Aloof
conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste.
Ambiguity
the quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness.
Ambivalent
having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.
Ameliorate
make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better, improve
Amiable
having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.
Amuse
to cause someone to find something funny; entertain
Anachronism
belonging to a period other than that being portrayed.
Antagonistic
showing or feeling active opposition or hostility toward someone or
something.
Antedate
precede in time; come before (something) in date.
Antiquity
the ancient past, especially the period before the middle ages.
Antithesis
a contrast or opposition between two things.
Apathy
A lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
Aplomb
complete and confident composure or self-assurance
Apologist
a person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial.
Apposite
apt in the circumstances or in relation to something.
Appropriate
take (something) for one’s own use, typically without the owner’s permission
Arbitrary
based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system
Arcane
understood by few; mysterious or secret
Arduous
involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.
Articulate
(of a person or a person’s words) having or showing the ability to speak
fluently and coherently.
Assertive
having or showing a confident and forceful personality.
Assiduous
showing great care and perseverance.
Astonish
surprise or impress (someone) greatly.
Astound
shock or greatly surprise.
Attainment
a thing achieved, especially a skill or educational achievement.
Attribute
regard something as being caused by (someone or something).
Augment
to make something greater by adding to it; increase
Austerity
extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance.
Aversion
a strong dislike or disinclination.
Avert
prevent or ward off (an undesirable occurrence)
Banal
so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.
Banish
send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment.
Bearing
relation; relevance
Befriend
act as a friend to (someone) by offering help or support.
Beguile
charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way.
Beguile
trick (someone) into doing something
Beguile
help (time) pass pleasantly.
Beholden
owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for help or a service.
Belie
(of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something);
disguise or contradict.
Bemuse
puzzle, confuse, or bewilder (someone).
Benign
Harmless, kind, gentle
Betray
To unintentionally reveal; be evidence of
Bias
prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with
another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
Blemish
spoil the appearance of (something) that is otherwise aesthetically perfect.
Blight
have a severely detrimental effect on
Blithe
showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.
Blunt
(of a person or remark) uncompromisingly forthright.
Bogus
not genuine or true; fake.
Bolster
Support or strengthen; prop up
Boon
a thing that is helpful or beneficial
Braggart
a person who boasts about achievements or possessions.
Brandish
wave or flourish (something, especially a weapon) as a threat or in anger or
excitement.
Brazen
bold and without shame. endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by
behaving with apparent confidence and lack of shame.
Brevity
concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.
Bridle
bring (something) under control; curb
Bucolic
relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
Buoyancy
an optimistic and cheerful disposition.
Calamitous
involving calamity; catastrophic or disastrous.
Callous
feeling or showing no sympathy for others
Calumny
a false and slanderous statement.
Canny
having or showing shrewdness and good judgment, especially in money or
business matters.
Canonize
treat or regard as being above reproach or of great significance.
Caprice
a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.
Catastrophe
an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster.
Cerebral
intellectual rather than emotional or physical.
Check
stop or slow down the progress of (something undesirable).
Cherish
protect and care for (someone) lovingly.
Circumscribe
restrict (something) within limits.
Circumstantial
pointing indirectly toward someone’s guilt but not conclusively proving it.
Clangor
a continuous loud banging or ringing sound.
Clearheaded
alert and thinking logically and coherently.
Clerical
(of a job or person) concerned with or relating to work in an office, especially
routine documentation and administrative tasks.
Clerical
relating to the clergy.
Cloak
hide, cover, or disguise (something).
Clumsy
done awkwardly or without skill or elegance.
Coalesce
come together to form one mass or whole.
Cogent
(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.
Coherent
(of an argument, theory, or policy) logical and consistent.
Collusion
secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, especially in order to cheat or deceive others.
Commensurate
corresponding in size or degree; in proportion.
Commonplace
a trite saying or topic; a platitude, a usual or ordinary thing.
Compel
force or oblige (someone) to do something.
Complacent
showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements.
Complementary
acting or serving to complete; completing.
Compliance
unworthy or excessive acquiescence.
Conditional
subject to one or more conditions or requirements being met; made or
granted on certain terms.
Condone
accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue.
Confound
cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations.
Consensus
a general agreement
Conspicuous
standing out so as to be clearly visible.
Contemporary
living or occurring at the same time.
Contemptuous
feeling or expressing angry disgust, as at something unworthy or wicked;
scornful.
Contend
struggle to surmount (a difficulty or danger).
Contend
assert something as a position in an argument.
Contend
engage in a competition or campaign in order to win or achieve (something).
Contentment
a state of happiness and satisfaction.
Conundrum
a confusing and difficult problem or question.
Convoluted
(especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow.
Cope
(of a person) deal effectively with something difficult.
Copious
abundant in supply or quantity.
Corroborate
confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding).
Counterfeit
a fraudulent imitation of something else; a forgery.
Counterintuitive
contrary to intuition or to common-sense expectation (but often nevertheless
true).
Counterproductive
having the opposite of the desired effect.
Cow
cause (someone) to submit to one’s wishes by intimidation.
Crafty
clever at achieving one’s aims by indirect or deceitful methods.
Crestfallen
sad and disappointed.
Cunning
having or showing skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit or evasion.
Cursory
hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.
Curtail
to make less by or as if by cutting off or away some part
Cynical
believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human
sincerity or integrity.
Daunt
make (someone) feel intimidated or apprehensive.
Debacle
a sudden collapse into disaster; downfall.
Debase
to reduce in value, quality, esteem, or character.
Debunk
to expose or ridicule the falseness or exaggerations of (a claim, theory, or the like).
Deceit
the act or practice of misleading, tricking, or cheating.
Deceptive
able or tending to trick or mislead.
Defamatory
causing or tending to cause injury to another’s reputation; libelous or
slanderous.
Deferential
respectfully submissive to the desires, opinions, or judgments of others.
Deft
capable, quick, and clever in action; skillful; dexterous.
Defy
to resist or challenge openly; act against the wishes or decrees of.
Deleterious
harmful or injurious, as to health.
Delineate
to describe or portray in precise or vivid detail.
Demur
raise doubts or objections or show reluctance.
Denigrate
criticize unfairly; disparage.
Derivative
copied, modeled on, or extracted from something else.
Detrimental
causing harm, disadvantage, or deterioration.
Devious
not the straightest, most direct way; winding; roundabout.
Devolve
(of duties or responsibility) pass to (a body or person at a lower level).
