GRE Vocab Flashcards
Memorize
Aberrant
Deviating from the norm
Deviating from the norm; Behavior or results in studies
Abhor
To regard with disgust or hatred; Personal beliefs or ethics
Abstruse
Difficult to understand; Complex theories or concepts
Acrimony
Bitterness or ill feeling; Political debates or personal conflicts
Adulation
Excessive admiration or praise; Celebrity culture or public figures
Aesthetic
Concerned with beauty; Art critiques or design discussions
Alacrity
Eagerness or willingness; Responses to requests
Amalgamate
To combine or unite; Mergers in business
Anachronism
Something out of place in time; Historical analyses
Antipathy
A strong feeling of dislike; Personal relationships or groups
Belie
To contradict; Statements vs. actions
Cacophony
A harsh mixture of sounds; Urban environments
Benign
Gentle and kindly; Not harmful; Medical contexts
Bolster
To support; Arguments or positions
Capricious
Sudden changes of mood; Describing weather
Brevity
Conciseness; Writing or speeches
Castigate
To reprimand severely; Disciplinary actions
Caustic
Sarcastic; Reviews or comments
Cohesive
Forming a united whole; Group dynamics
Chicanery
Deception; Politics or business dealings
Complacent
Smug satisfaction; Attitudes in business
Conciliatory
Intended to pacify; Diplomatic relations
Condone
To allow behavior considered wrong; Ethical discussions
Conundrum
A confusing problem; Ethical dilemmas
Empirical
Based on observation; Scientific research
Elicit
To draw out a response; Conversations or questioning
Elucidate
To make clear; Clarifying complex topics
Euphoria
Intense excitement; Achievements
Fastidious
Very attentive to detail; Perfectionism
Fervent
Passionate intensity; Advocating causes
Flippant
Not serious; Casual remarks
Fortuitous
Happening by chance; Unexpected outcomes
Fractious
Irritable; Describing groups
Garrulous
Excessively talkative; Social interactions
Gregarious
Enjoying company; Personality traits
Grievous
Causing grief; Serious situations
Glaring
Extremely obvious; Issues or problems
Harangue
A lengthy aggressive speech; Political speeches
Hegemony
Leadership by one group; Political contexts
Impetuous
Acting quickly without thought; Sudden decisions
Homogeneous
Of the same kind; Similar groups
Iconoclast
One who attacks cherished beliefs; Reformers
Idiosyncrasy
A peculiarity; Personal traits
Implacable
Unable to be appeased; Conflicts
Inchoate
Just begun; Early stages
Juxtapose
To place side by side; Comparisons
Jocular
Humorous; Light-hearted discussions
Keen
Sharp or intense; Interests or perceptions
Lament
To express sorrow; Reflections on loss
Languid
Weak or faint; Describing energy levels
Licentious
Morally unrestrained; Questionable behaviors
Maverick
An independent-minded person; Innovators
Mendacious
Lying; Describing behaviors
Neophyte
A beginner or novice; Newcomers in a field
Nebulous
In the form of a cloud or haze; Vague; Ideas lacking clarity
Meticulous
Showing great attention to detail; Research endeavors
Obdurate
Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion; Reluctance to accept new ideas
Obfuscate
To deliberately make something unclear; Confusing explanations
Onerous
Involving a great deal of effort; Burdensome tasks
Palliative
Relieving pain; Medical treatments
Paragon
A model of excellence; Exemplary individuals
Partisan
A strong supporter; Political contexts
Pathos
A quality that evokes pity; Emotional appeals
Paucity
The presence of something in small quantities; Scarcity of resources
Quixotic
Extremely idealistic; Unrealistic; Idealism in politics
Quandary
A state of perplexity; A dilemma
Rancorous
Characterized by bitterness; Long-standing disputes
Recalcitrant
Stubbornly resistant to authority; Defiant individuals
Sagacious
Having keen discernment; Wise leaders
Salient
Most noticeable; Key points
Sanguine
Optimistic; Hopeful attitudes
Spurious
Not what it purports to be; False claims
Stentorian
Loud and powerful; Strong voices
Tenuous
Very weak; Weak arguments
Torpid
Mentally or physically inactive; Lethargic
Tractable
Easy to control; Manageable situations
Ubiquitous
Present everywhere; Common trends
Unctuous
Excessively flattering; Insincere behavior
Veracity
Conformity to facts; Truthfulness
Usurp
To take power illegally; Seizing authority
Vacillate
To waver between options; Indecision
Zeal
Great energy for a cause; Advocacy
Verbose
Using more words than needed; Wordy explanations
Warrant
To justify; Providing reasons for actions
Zest
Great enthusiasm; Passion for life
Zenith
The highest point; Peak achievements
Zany
Amusingly unconventional; Comedic performances
Zephyr
A gentle breeze; Light winds
Altruistic
Selflessly concerned for the well-being of others; Philanthropy or social causes
Disparate
Essentially different; Disparate groups or ideas
Credulous
Having too great a readiness to believe things; Describing gullible individuals
Benevolent
Well-meaning and kindly; Charitable organizations or actions
Egregious
Outstandingly bad; Egregious errors or mistakes
Forthright
Direct and outspoken; Honest communication
Genuine
Truly what something is said to be; Authentic products or feelings
Hypothetical
Based on or serving as a hypothesis; Theoretical discussions or scenarios
Ineffable
Too great to be expressed in words; Ineffable beauty or emotions
Pernicious
Having a harmful effect; Pernicious influences or habits
Lethargy
A lack of energy and enthusiasm; Describing fatigue or inactivity
Surreptitious
Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of; Surreptitious actions or activities