GRE Set 4 Flashcards
Premonition
a strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something
unpleasant.
Presage
be a sign or warning of (an imminent event, typically an unwelcome one).
Prescience
the fact of knowing something in advance; foreknowledge.
Pressing
requiring quick or immediate action or attention.
Presume
take for granted that something exists or is the case.
Pretension
the use of affectation to impress; ostentatiousness.
Pretentious
attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is
actually possessed.
Prevalent
widespread in a particular area or at a particular time.
Prevaricate
speak or act in an evasive way.
Pristine
in its original condition; unspoilt.
Probity
the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
Prodigal
spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.
Profligate
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources.
Profound
(of a subject or idea) demanding deep study or thought.
Prolix
(of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy.
Promulgate
promote or make widely known (an idea or cause).
Propagate
spread and promote (an idea, theory, etc.) widely.
Prophetic
accurately predicting what will happen in the future.
Propped
support or keep in position.
Prosaic
commonplace
Provincial
limited in outlook; narrow-minded.
Provoke
stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or
unwelcome one) in someone.
Proxy
a person authorized to act on behalf of another.
Prudent
acting with or showing care and thought for the future.
Pugnacious
eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.
Punctilious
showing great attention to detail or correct behaviour.
Puzzle
cause (someone) to feel confused because they cannot understand
something.
Quandary
a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.
Quirky
characterized by peculiar or unexpected traits.
Quixotic
exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.
Quotidian
of or occurring every day; daily.
Rallying
the action or process of coming together to support a person or cause.
Ramble
talk or write at length in a confused or inconsequential way.
Rationalize
attempt to explain or justify (behaviour or an attitude) with logical reasons,
even if these are not appropriate.
Recondite
(of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse.
Recrudesce
to break out or appear again after a period of dormancy
Redemption
the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil
Redouble
make or become much greater, more intense, or more numerous.
Redundant
unnecessarily repetitive.
Refuge
the state of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or difficulty.
Rein
keep under control; restrain.
Rejuvenate
give new energy or vigour to; revitalize.
Relish
great enjoyment.
Remedial
giving or intended as a remedy or cure.
Replicate
make an exact copy of; reproduce.
Repudiate
refuse to accept; reject.
Residual
remaining after the greater part or quantity has gone.
Resolute
admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering.
Restive
(of a person) unable to remain still, silent, or submissive, especially because of
boredom or dissatisfaction.
Restrain
prevent (someone or something) from doing something; keep under control
or within limits.
Resurgent
increasing or reviving after a period of little activity, popularity, or occurrence.
Reverence
deep respect for someone or something.
Rhapsody
an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling.
Ridicule
subject to contemptuous and dismissive language or behaviour.
Row
dispute
Ruinous
disastrous or destructive.
Ruminate
think deeply about something.
Salubrious
health-giving; healthy.
Sanguine
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
Sartorial
relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress.
Scanty
small or insufficient in quantity or amount.
Scathe
harm; injure.
Schism
a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by
differences in opinion or belief.
Scintillating
brilliantly and excitingly clever or skillful.
Scornful
feeling or expressing contempt or derision.
Scrupulous
adhering strictly to standards of ethics or morality; punctilious.
Scrutinize
examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
Scuffle
to take part in a brief, confused fight among a few people.
Flattery
excessive and insincere praise, given especially to further one’s own interests.
Self-Righteous
having or characterized by a certainty, especially an unfounded one, that one
is totally correct or morally superior.
Serendipity
the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial
way.
Sham
an imitation that is passed as genuine; counterfeit.
Shirk
avoid or neglect (a duty or responsibility).
Shrewd
having or showing sharp powers of judgement; astute.
Sinister
giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will
happen.
Skeptic
a person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions.
Skittish
nervous or excitable; easily scared
Slighted
insult (someone) by treating or speaking of them without proper respect or attention.
Snare
catch or trap (someone).
Sparing
moderate; economical.
Sporadic
occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated.
Spurious
not being what it purports to be; false or fake.
Stanched
stop or restrict (a flow of blood) from a wound.
Staple
main or important, especially in terms of consumption.
Startling
very surprising, astonishing, or remarkable.
Stigmatize
describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval.
Stimulate
encourage or arouse interest or enthusiasm in.
Stingy
ungenerous.
Stun
astonish or shock (someone) so that they are temporarily unable to react.
Substantiate
provide evidence to support or prove the truth of.
Subtle
especially of a change or distinction) so delicate or precise as to be difficult to
analyse or describe.
Subversion
the undermining of the power and authority of an established system or
institution.
Sullen
a sulky or depressed mood.
Superfluous
unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.
Supersede
take the place of (a person or thing previously in authority or use); supplant.
Supplement
a thing added to something else in order to complete or enhance it.
Supplication
the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.
Surly
bad-tempered and unfriendly
Surrogate
substitute, especially a person deputizing for another in a specific role or office.
Susceptible
likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
Sycophant
a person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage
Synoptic
of or forming a general summary or synopsis.
Syntactical
of or relating to or conforming to the rules of syntax
Synthesize
to bring together or combine (separate elements) to form a whole.
Taciturn
(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
Tactless
having or showing a lack of skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.
Temperate
showing moderation or self-restraint.
Tendentious
expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view,
especially a controversial one
Tepid
showing little enthusiasm
Thrift
the quality of using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully.
Timorous
showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence.
Tranquil
free from disturbance; calm.
Transcend
surpass (a person or achievement).
Transgression
an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offence.
Transitory
not permanent.
Trifle
a thing of little value or importance.
Trite
lacking originality or freshness; dull on account of overuse.
Trivial
of little value or importance.
Ubiquitous
present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Uncultivated
(of a person) not highly educated or socially adept.
Undemonstrative
(of a person) not tending to express feelings, especially of affection, openly.
Undermine
lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, especially gradually or
insidiously.
Underscore
emphasize
Understate
describe or represent (something) as being smaller or less good or important than it really is.
Undo
unfasten, untie, or loosen (something).
Unintelligible
impossible to understand.
Unmistakable
not able to be mistaken for anything else; very distinctive.
Unprecedented
never done or known before.
Unpremeditated
(of an act, remark, or state) not thought out or planned beforehand.
Unpretentious
not attempting to impress others with an appearance of greater importance,
talent, or culture than is actually possessed.
Unpropitious
(of a circumstance) not giving or indicating a good chance of success;
unfavourable.
Unseemly
(of behaviour or actions) not proper or appropriate
Unsound
not safe or robust; in poor condition.
Untapped
(of a resource) not yet exploited or used.
Utterly
completely and without qualification; absolutely
Venal
showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery; corrupt.
Veracious
speaking or representing the truth.
Vestigial
forming a very small remnant of something that was once greater or more
noticeable, remaining, surviving
Viable
capable of working successfully; feasible.
Vigilance
the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties.
Vindicate
clear (someone) of blame or suspicion.
Virulence
the severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison.
Vociferous
expressing or characterized by vehement opinions; loud and forceful.
Voluble
(of a person) talking fluently, readily, or incessantly
Wanting
lacking in a required or necessary quality.
Wary
feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.
Wilful
(of a bad or harmful act) intentional; deliberate
Witty
showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humour
Woo
seek the favour, support, or custom of
Zealot
a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious,
political, or other ideals.
