GRE VOCAB Flashcards
appraise
to determine the value of something
ascertain
to make certain of
assay
to evaluate, analyze or test
descry
to detect by looking carefully
use when you see the word although
peruse
to examine or consider with attention
aver
to state or prove as true
avert
to prevent
abate
to reduce in amount, degree or severity
As the hurricanes force abated, the winds dropped and the sea became calm
abscond
to leave secretly
The patron absconded from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the back door
abstain
to choose not to do something
She abstained from choosing a mouthwatering dessert from the tray
abyss
an extremely deep hole
The submarine dove into the abyss to chart the previously unseen depths
adulterate
to make impure
The chef made his ketchup last longer by adulterating it with water
advocate
to speak in favor of
The vegetarian advocated a diet containing no meat
aesthetic
concerning the appreciation of beauty
Followers of the aesthetic movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only true purposes of art
aggrandize
to increase in power, influence and reputation
The supervisor sought to aggrandize herself by claiming that the achievements of her staff were actually her own
alleviate
to make more bearable
taking aspirin helps to alleviate a headache
amalgamate
to combine; to mix together
Giant industries amalgamated with mega products to form giant-mega products incorporated
ambiguous
doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways
The directions she gave were so ambiguous that we disagreed on which way to turn
ameliorate
to make better; to improve
The doctor was able to ameliorate the patients suffering using painkillers
anachronism
something out of place in time
The aged hippie used anachronistic phrases, like “groovy” and “far out”, that had not been popular for years
analogous
similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
We couldn’t decide between the two tiles because they were analogous to one another.
anomaly
deviation from what is normal
Since my son has a history of failing classes, his good grades are a welcome anomaly.
antagonize
to annoy or provoke to anger
The child discovered that he could antagonize the cat by pulling its tail
antipathy
extreme dislike
The antipathy between the french and english regularly erupted into open warfare
apathy
lack of interest or emotion
the apathy of voters is so great that less than half
arbitrate
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
since the couple could not come to an agreement, a judge was forced to arbitrate their divorce proceedings
Archaic
ancient, old-fashioned
her archaic commodore computer could not run the latest software
ardor
intense and passionate feeling
Bishops ardor for the landscape was evident when he passionately described the beauty of the scenic Hudson Valley.
Articulate
able to speak clearly and expressively
she is such an articulate defender of labor that unions are among her strongests supporters
assuage
to make something unpleasant less severe
serena used aspirin to assuage her pounding headache
attenuate
; to weaken
the bill of rights attenuated the traditional power of governments to change laws at will
audacious
fearless and darling
her audacious nature allowed her to fulfill her dream of skydiving
austere
severe or stern in appearance undecorated
the lack of decoration makes military barracks seem austere to the civilian eye
banal
predictable, clichéd, boring
he used banal phrases like “have a nice day” and “another day, another dollar”
bolster
to support; to prop up
the presence of giant footprints bolstered the argument that sasquatch was in the area
bombastic
pompous in speech and manner
the ranting of the radio talk-show host was mostly bombastic; his boasting and outrageous claims had no basis in fact
cacophony
harsh, jarring noise
the junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable cacophony as they tried to tune their instruments
candid
impartial and honest in speech
the observations of a child can be charming since they are candid and unpretentious
carpricious
changing ones mind quickly and often
queen elizabeth i was quite capricious; her courtiers would never be sure which of their number would catch her fancy
castigate
to punish or criticize harshly
many americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in singapore castigate perpetrators of what would be considered minor crimes in the US
catalyst
something that brings about a change in something else
the imposition of harsh taxes was the catalyst that finally brought on the revolution
caustic
biting in wit
dorothy parker gained her reputation for caustic wit from her cutting, yet clever insults
chaos
great disorder or confusion
in many religious traditions, God created an ordered universe from chaos
chauvinist
someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
the attitude that men are inherently superior to women and therefore must be obeyed is common among male chauvinists
chicanery
deception or being deceitful
dishonest used car salespeople often use chicanery to sell their beat-up old cars
cogent
convincing and well reasoned
swayed by the cogent argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant
condone
to overlook, pardon, or disregard
some theorists believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as condoning an air of lawlessness
convoluted
intricate and complicated
although many people bought a brief history of time, few could follow its convoluted ideas and theories
corroborate
to provide supporting evidence
fingerprints corroborated the witness’s testimony that he saw the defendant in the victims apartment
credulous
too trusting; gullible
although some four year olds believe in the easter bunny only the most credulous nine-year olds still believe in him
crescendo
steadily increasing volume of force
the crescendo of tension became unbearable as evel knievel prepared to jump his motor cycle over the school buses
decorum
appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
the countless complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the decorum appropriate for a visit to the place
deference
respect, courtesy
the respectful young law clerk treated the supreme court justice with the utmost deference
deride
to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
the awkward child was often derided by his “cooler” peers
desiccate
to dry out thoroughly
after a few weeks of lying on the deserts baking sands, the cows carcass be aw completely desiccated
desultory
lacking a plan
diatribe
an abusive, condemnatory speech
the trucker bellowed a diatribe at the driver who had cut him off
diffident
lacking self-confidence
steve’s diffident manner during the job interview stemmed from his nervous nature and lack of experience in the field
dilate
to make larger; to expand
when you enter a darkened room, the pupils of your eyes dilate to let in more light
dilatory
intended to delay
the congressman used dilatory measures to delay the passage of the bill
dilettante
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
jerry’s friends were such dilettantes that they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week
dirge
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
melville wrote the poem “a dirge for james mcpherson” for the funeral of a union general who was killed in 1864
disabuse
to set right; to free form error
galileos observations disabused scholars of the notion that the sun resolved around the earth
discern
to perceive; to recognize
it is easy to discern the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping
disparate
fundamentally different; entirely unlike
although the twins appear to be identical physically, their personalities are disparate
dissemble
to present a false appearance; to disguise ones real intentions or character
the villain could dissemble to the police no longer- he admitted the deed and tore up the floor to reveal the body of the old man
dissonance
a harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
cognitive dissonance is the inner conflict produced when long-standing beliefs are contradicted by new evidence
dogma
a firmly help opinion, often a religious belief
linus’s central dogma was that children who believed in the great pumpkin would be rewarded
dogmatic
dictatorial in ones opinions
the dictator was dogmatic- he, and only he was right
dupe
to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
bugs bunny was able to dupe elmer fudd by dressing up as a lady rabbit
