GRE Set 7 Flashcards
diurnal
Occurring every day; happening in the daytime (rather than at night)
diverge
Differ, deviate; branch off or turn aside, as from a path
divest
Deprive or strip of a rank, title, etc., or of clothing or gear; to sell off holdings (opposite of invest)
divine
Discover through divination or supernatural means; perceive by insight
doctrinaire
Person who applies doctrine in an impractical or rigid and close-minded way (noun); merely theoretical, impractical, or fanatical about other people accepting one’s ideas (adj)
document
Support with evidence, cite sources in a detailed way, create documentary evidence of
doff
Take off (such as clothes), put aside; remove one’s hat as a gesture
dogma
A system of principles laid down by an authority; established belief
dormant
Asleep, inactive, on a break
dovetail
Join or fit together
droll
Funny in an odd way
dubious
Doubtful, questionable, suspect
dupe
Person who is easily fooled or used (noun); to fool or exploit (verb)
duplicity
Deceit, double-dealing, acting in two different ways for the purpose of deception
dyspeptic
Grumpy, pessimistic, irritable; suffering from dyspepsia (indigestion)
e.g.
For example, such as
ebullient
Very enthusiastic, lively, excited; bubbling as though being boiled
eccentric
Peculiar, odd, deviating from the norm esp. in a whimsical way
echelon
A level, rank or grade; the people at that level
eclectic
Selecting the best of everything or from many diverse sources
eclipse
The obscuring of one thing by another, such as the sun by the moon or a person by a more famous or talented person (noun); to obscure, darken, make less important (verb)
edify
Uplift, enlighten, instruct or improve in a spiritual or moral way
efficacy
The quality of being able to produce the intended effect
effigy
Representation or image of a person, esp. a crude facsimile used to mock a hated person
effrontery
Shameless boldness
egalitarian
Related to belief in the equality of all people, esp. in political, economic, or social spheres
egregious
Extraordinarily or conspicuously bad; glaring
egress
An exit or the action of exiting
elated
Very happy, in high spirits
elegy
Song or poem of sorrow, esp. for a deceased person
elevate
Raise, lift up; lift the spirits of; move up to a higher rank or status or raise up to a higher spiritual or intellectual plane
elicit
Call forth, bring out, evoke
eloquent
Marked by forceful, fluid, apt speech; expressive, emotionally moving
emaciate
Make abnormally thin, cause to physically waste away
embellish
Decorate, add ornamentation; enhance (a story) with fictional or fanciful details
eminent
Prominent, distinguished, of high rank
empirical
Coming from, based on, or able to be verified by experience or experimentation; not purely based on theory
emulate
Copy in an attempt to equal or be better than
encomium
Warm, glowing praise, esp. a formal expression of praise
endemic
Native, local; natural, specific to, or confined to a particular place
enervate
Weaken, tire
engender
Produce, give rise to, cause to exist; procreate
enhance
Raise to a higher value, desirability, etc.
enigma
Puzzle, mystery, riddle; mysterious or contradictory person
entitlement
Having the right to certain privileges; believing, sometimes without cause, that one deserves or has a right to certain privileges
enumerate
Count or list; specify one-by-one
ephemeral
Lasting only a short time, fleeting
epicure
Person with cultivated, refined tastes, esp. in food and wine
equanimity
Composure, evenness of mind; mental or emotional stability, esp. under stress
equitable
Fair, equal, just
equivocate
Use unclear language to deceive or avoid committing to a position
erratic
Inconsistent, wandering, having no fixed course
extemporaneous
Done without preparation (esp. of a speech), or with some preparation but no notes; improvised, done on the spur of the moment
erroneous
Mistaken, in error; improper, morally incorrect
ersatz
Artificial, synthetic; being an inferior substitute
extraneous
Irrelevant; foreign, coming from without, not belonging
extrapolate
Conjecture about an unknown by projecting information about something known; predict by projecting past experience
erudite
Scholarly, knowledgeable; possessing deep, often systematic, knowledge
eschew
Shun, avoid, abstain from
facetious
Joking, humorous, esp. inappropriately; not serious, concerned with frivolous things
esoteric
Understood by or intended for only a few; secret
estimable
Worthy of esteem, admirable; able to be estimated
facilitate
Make easier, help the progress of
faction
Group or clique within a larger organization; party strife and dissension
fallacious
Containing a fallacy, or mistake in logic; logically unsound; deceptive
fallow
Left unplanted (of land); not in use
fanatical
Excessively devoted, enthusiastic, or zealous in an uncritical way
fanciful
Whimsical, capricious; imaginary; freely imaginative rather than based on reason or reality
fastidious
Excessively particular, difficult to please; painstaking, meticulous, requiring excessive attention to detail
fathom
Measure the depth of (usually of water) as with a sounding line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand
fatuous
Foolish, silly, esp. in a smug or complacent manner
fawn
Show affection or try to please in the manner of a dog; try to win favor through flattery and submissive behavior
feasible
Possible; logical or likely; suitable
fecund
Fruitful, fertile; capable of abundantly producing offspring, vegetation, or creative or intellectual work
figurative
Metaphorical, based on figures of speech; containing many figures of speech (as fancy-sounding writing); related to portraying human or animal figures
finesse
Extreme delicacy, subtlety, or diplomacy in handling a sensitive situation or in a performance or skill (noun); use tact or diplomacy; employ a deceptive strategy (verb)
flag
Get tired, lose enthusiasm; hang limply or droop
fledgling
A young bird that has just recently gotten its feathers, an inexperienced person (noun); new or inexperienced (adj)
fleeting
Passing quickly, transitory
florid
Reddish or rosy; flowery, showy, or excessively fancy
flout
Treat with disdain, contempt, or scorn (usually of rules)
fluke
Stroke of luck, something accidentally successful
foment
Incite, instigate, stir up, promote the growth of; apply medicated liquid to a body part
forage
Wander in search of; rummage, hunt, make a raid
ford
Place where a river or similar body of water is shallow enough to walk or ride a vehicle across (noun); to cross at such a place (verb)
foreshadow
Indicate or suggest beforehand, presage
forestall
Delay, hinder, prevent by taking action beforehand
forfeit
Surrender or lose as a result of an error, crime, or failure to fulfill an obligation
fortify
Strengthen, invigorate, encourage
fortuitous
Happening by chance; lucky
fracas
Noisy disturbance or fight; brawl
fractious
Unruly, troublemaking; irritable
frenetic
Wildly excited, frantic, distracted
fringe
On the margin, periphery (adj); the people in a group who hold the most extreme views (noun)
frugal
Economical, thrifty, not wasteful with money; inexpensive
fulminate
Explode, detonate; attack verbally in a vehement, thunderous way
furtive
Done secretly; stealthy, sly, shifty
futile
Producing no useful result, ineffective; trivial or unimportant
gainsay
Declare false, deny; oppose
gambol
Frolic; skip or leap playfully
garner
Gather and store; amass, collect
garrulous
Talkative, wordy, rambling
gauche
Tactless, lacking social grace, awkward, crude
gawky
Physically awkward (esp. of a tall, skinny person, often used to describe teenagers)
germane
Relevant and appropriate, on-topic
gestation
Pregnancy; the period from conception until birth of an animal or (metaphorically) of an idea or plan
gist
Main idea, essence
glacial
Pertaining to glaciers; cold, icy, slow, unsympathetic
glib
Fluent and easy in a way that suggests superficiality or insincerity
glower
Stare in an angry, sullen way
goad
Urge on (as cattle) with a pointed or electrically charged stick; spur on, stimulate, encourage
goosebumps
The “bumps” created by hairs standing up on the skin in response to cold, fear, etc.
gouge
Scooping or digging tool, like a chisel, or a hole made with such a tool (noun); cut or scoop out; force out a person’s eye with one’s thumb; swindle, extort money from (verb)
gradation
A progression, a process taking place gradually, in stages; one of these stages
graft
Insert part of a plant into another plant, where it continues to grow; join living tissue (such as skin) to part of the body where it will continue to live and grow; attach as if by grafting (verb); the part so grafted (as in a graft of skin); the act of acquiring money or other benefits through illegal means, esp. by abusing one’s power (noun)
grandiloquent
Relating to lofty speech, esp. to the point of being pompous, overblown, bombastic
grandstand
Perform showily in an attempt to impress onlookers
grating
Irritating; harsh or discordant (of a noise); scraping
gregarious
Sociable, pertaining to a flock or crowd
grievous
Causing grief or suffering; very serious, grave; flagrant, outrageous
grouse
Complain or grumble (verb); a reason for complaint (noun)
grovel
Creep or crawl with one’s face to the ground, prostrate oneself as a token of subservience, degrade or abase oneself
guile
Clever deceit, cunning, craftiness
hackneyed
So commonplace as to be stale; not fresh or original
halcyon
Calm and peaceful, carefree; prosperous, successful, happy
hallmark
A mark indicating quality, purity, genuineness, etc.; any distinguishing characteristic
hand-wringing
Grasping, squeezing, etc. of the hands as an expression of nervousness, guilt, etc.; extend debate over what to do about an issue
hapless
Unlucky, unfortunate
harangue
Long, intense verbal attack, esp. when delivered publicly
hardy
Bold, brave, capable of withstanding hardship, fatigue, cold, etc.
harrow
Farming tool that breaks up soil (noun); painfully disturb or distress (verb)
haven
Harbor or port; refuge, safe place
hearken
Listen, pay attention to
hedge
Avoid commitment by leaving provisions for withdrawal or changing one’s mind; protect a bet by also betting on the other side
hedonist
Person devoted to pleasure
hegemony
Domination, authority; influence by one country over others socially, culturally, economically, etc.
hermetic
Airtight, sealed, isolated; reclusive; pertaining to alchemy, occult
heterogeneous
Different in type, incongruous; composed of different types of elements
hew
Strike, chop, or hack (as with an axe, sword, etc.); make or shape something (such as a statue) with a cutting tool
hierarchy
A ranked series; a classification of people according to rank, ability, etc.; a ruling body
hoary
Very old, gray or white as from old age
hodgepodge
Mixture of different kinds of things, jumble
homage
Honor or respect demonstrated publicly
homogeneous
Of the same kind; uniform throughout
hoodwink
Trick, deceive
hotly
In an intense, fiery, or heated way
husband
Manage prudently, sparingly, or economically; conserve
hyperbole
Deliberate exaggeration for effect
iconoclast
Attacker of cherished beliefs or institutions
idiosyncrasy
Characteristic or habit peculiar to an individual; peculiar quality, quirk
idolatry
Idol worship; excessive or unthinking devotion or adoration
idyllic
Presenting a positive, peaceful view of rural life (as poetry or prose); pleasant in a natural, simple way
ignoble
Not noble; having mean, base, low motives; low quality
illiberality
Narrow-mindedness, bigotry; strictness or lack of generosity
imbue
Permeate or saturate, as dye in a fabric; influence throughout
imminent
Ready to occur, impending
immutable
Unchangeable
impair
Make worse, weaken
impartial
Unbiased, fair
impasse
Position or road from which there is no escape; deadlock
impassive
Not having or not showing physical feeling or emotion
impecunious
Poor, without money
impede
Hold back, obstruct the progress of
imperious
Commanding, domineering; acting like a high-ranking person; urgent
impermeable
Impassable, not allowing passage through (such as by a liquid)
imperturbable
Calm, not able to be upset or agitated
impervious
Impenetrable, not able to be harmed or emotionally disturbed
impetuous
Passionately impulsive, marked by sudden, hasty emotion; forceful, violent
impious
Not religious, lacking reverence, ungodly
implacable
Not able to be appeased, calmed, or satisfied
implication
Act of implying or that which is implied; close connection, esp. in an incriminating way
implicit
Implied, not stated directly; involved in the very essence of something, unquestionable
implode
Burst inward
imprecation
Curse; prayer for harm to come to someone
impugn
Attack the truth or integrity of
impute
Credit, attribute; lay blame or responsibility for (sometimes falsely)
inadvertent
Unintentional; characterized by a lack of attention, careless
inasmuch
In like manner, considering that (contraction of “in as much, “ generally followed by “as”)
incarnadine
Blood red or flesh-colored
incendiary
Setting on fire, pertaining to arson; arousing strife, rebellion, etc.; “inflaming” the senses
incentive
Something that encourages greater action or effort, such as a reward
inchoate
Just begun, undeveloped, unorganized
incipient
Just beginning; in a very early stage
incongruous
Out of place, inappropriate, not harmonious
inconsequential
Insignificant, unimportant; illogical
inconstancy
Fickleness, unreliability; the state of changing without good reason
incorporate
Combine, unite; form a legal corporation; embody, give physical form to
inculcate
Teach persistently, implant (an idea) in a person
indefatigable
Untiring, not able to become fatigued
indeterminate
Not fixed or determined, indefinite; vague
indifferent
Not caring, having no interest; unbiased, impartial
indigence
Extreme poverty
indolent
Lazy, slothful
inert
Inactive; having little or no power to move
inexorable
Relentless, unyielding; not moved by pleading
infallible
Incapable of error; certain
inform
Inspire, animate; give substance, essence, or context to; be the characteristic quality of
ingenuous
Genuine, sincere, not holding back; naive
ingrained
Deep-rooted, forming part of the very essence; worked into the fiber
ingrate
Ungrateful person
ingratiate
Make an effort to gain favor with
inherent
Existing as a permanent, essential quality; intrinsic
inimical
Hostile, adverse, harmful
iniquity
Injustice, wickedness, sin
innocuous
Harmless, inoffensive
inordinate
Excessive, not within proper limits, unrestrained
inquest
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
insensible
Incapable of feeling; unconscious, unaware
insinuate
Hint, suggest slyly; introduce (an idea) into someone’s mind in a subtle, artful way
insipid
Dull, stale, lacking taste or interest
insular
Pertaining to an island; detached, standing alone; narrow-minded, provincial
insurrection
Rebellion or revolt against a government or similarly established authority
intelligible
Able to be understood, clear
inter
Bury (a dead body) or place in a tomb
interplay
Interaction, reciprocal relationship or influence
interregnum
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
intractable
Difficult to control, manage, or manipulate; hard to cure; stubborn
intransigent
Refusing to compromise, inflexible, having extreme attitudes
intrepid
Fearless, brave, enduring in the face of adversity
intrinsic
Belonging to the essential nature of a thing
inundate
Flood, cover with water, overwhelm
inure
Toughen up; accustom or habituate to pain, hardship, etc.
invective
Violent denunciation; accusations, insults, or verbal abuse
inveigle
Entice, lure; get something by flattery, cleverness, or offering incentives
investiture
Investing; formally giving someone a right or title
invidious
Hateful, offensive, injurious
irascible
Irritable, easily angered
irresolute
Wavering, not sure how to proceed, not firm in one’s decision-making
