GRE Vocab Flashcards
Ubiquitous
Present, appearing or found everywhere
Indigent
Poor/needy
Errant
Erring or straying from the accepted course or standards
Expurgate
Remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable
Destitute
Extremely poor and lacking the means to provide for oneself
Staid
Sedate, respectable, unadventurous, “prim and proper”
Vaunted
Praised or boasted about, especially in an excessive way
Discursive
Moving from topic to topic without order
Quixotic
Extremely idealistic, unrealistic and impractical
Fell
Of terrible evil or ferocity; deadly
Mettlesome
(Of a person or animal) full of spirit and courage; lively
Nadir
The lowest or most unsuccessful point in a situation
Ineluctable
Unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable
Elegiac
Mournful, sad
Subterfuge
Deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal; cunning
Affable
Friendly, good-natured, easy to talk to
Grovel
Lie or crawl on the ground; pleading, begging
Obsequious
Obedient or attentive to an excessive degree
Innocuous
Harmless, not offensive
Facetious
Joking or jesting often inappropriately; class clown
Benighted
In a state of pitiful or contemptible intellectual or moral ignorance; ignorant, uneducated, unenlightened
Squander
Waste/throw away (in a reckless or foolish manner)
Enamoured
Filled with love
Beseeched
Plead, beg, implore
Incumbent
Holder of an office or post
Plangent
(Of a sound) loud and resonant; mournful
Invidious
(Of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger; unpleasant, undesirable
Nugatory
Of no value or importance
Odium
Hatred, disgust, repugnance
Predilection
Preference, liking, bias in favour
Augury
Sign of what will happen in the future; an omen
Valorize
Give or ascribe value or validity to
Indict
Formally accuse of or charge with a crime
Abrogate
Repeal, revoke, do away with (law or formal agreement)
Mellifluous
(Of a sound) pleasingly smooth and musical to hear
Voluble
Talkative (talking fluently, readily or incessantly)
Avarice
Greed
Lagniappe
Something given as a bonus or gratuity
Macabre
Disturbing, associated with death
Fetid
Smelling extremely unpleasant
Incorrigible
Not able to be changed or reformed; habitual, incurable
Dubious
Hesitating or doubting
Flagitious
Criminal, villainous
Inscrutable
Impossible to understand or interpret
Wily
Skilled at gaining an advantage; sneaky, deceitful
Equivocal
Not easily understood or explained; ambiguous
Lucid
Very clear and easy to understand
Precipitate
To cause something to happen quickly or suddenly
Assuage
Relieve; ease
Erudite
Knowledgeable, well-educated
Prodigal
Wastefully extravagant; spending money or resources freely and recklessly
Enigma
Mysterious, puzzling or difficult to understand
Phlegmatic
Showing little emotion; calm, composed
Apostate
A person who abandoned a religious faith or cause
Maladroit
Clumsy, awkward
Abrogate
Formally revoke
Disabuse
Persuade someone that a belief is incorrect
Miscreant
Person who breaks the law
Tractable
Easy to control or influence; malleable
Concomitant
Event that happened at the same time/in connection with another
Quail
Draw back (with fear or pain); cower
Misanthropic
Unsociable/antisocial
Diffidence
Modesty, shyness, hesitancy
Garrulity
Excessive talkativeness, outgoing
Asperity
Harshness, sharpness
Haughtiness
Arrogance, pride, vain
Vitriol
Filled with bitter criticism or malice
Ardour
Great enthusiasm, passion
Calumny
Making false/defamatory statements to damage someone’s reputation; slander
Inimitable
Unique, distinctive
Bemoan
Complain, express discontent
Anachronism
Belonging to a different period in which it exists
Found wanting
Inadequate; lacking what is expected or needed
Remiss
Negligent, careless
Ingratiating
Intending to gain approval, fawning
Vociferous
Being loud and forceful, expressing strong opinions; vocal and passionate
Vehement
Passionate, intense
Cravenness
Cowardice, lacking courage
Tribulation
Cause of great trouble or suffering; difficulties
Forthright
Direct, outspoken
Posthumous
Occurring after the death of its originator
Acumen
Ability to make good judgements and quick decisions; sharpness, shrewdness, awareness
Shrewdness
Having good powers of judgement
Zeal
Enthusiasm, passion
Deftness
Skillful, ability without difficulty
Cede
Give up (power or territory)
Venal
Corrupt; showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery
Impudent
Not showing due respect; impertinent, cheeky, rude
Inscrutable
Impossible to understand or interpret
Prescient
Having knowledge of events before they occur
Precarious
Not securely held, on the edge; insecure, uncertain, unreliable
Marred
Spoiled, ruined
Impertinent
Rude