GRE Vocab Flashcards
ABATE
to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
ABSCOND
to leave secretly
ABSTAIN
to choose not to do something
ADULTERATE
to make impure
AGGRANDIZE
to increase in power, influence, and reputation
AMELIORATE
to make better; to improve
ANTIPATHY
extreme dislike
ARBITRATE
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
ARDOR
intense and passionate feeling
ASSUAGE
to make something unpleasant less severe
ATTENUATE
to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
AUSTERE
severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
BANAL
predictable; clichéd; boring
BOLSTER
to support; to prop up
BOMBASTIC
pompous in speech and manner
CACOPHONY
harsh, jarring noise
CAPRICIOUS
changing one’s mind quickly and often
CASTIGATE
to punish or criticize harshly
CATALYST
something that brings about a change in something else
CAUSTIC
biting in wit
CHAUVINIST
someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which one belongs
CHICANERY
deception by means of craft or guile
COGENT
convincing and well reasoned
CONDONE
to overlook, pardon, or disregard
CONVOLUTED
intricate and complicated
CORROBORATE
to provide supporting evidence
CREDULOUS
too trusting; gullible
CRESCENDO
steadily increasing volume or force
DESULTORY
jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
DIATRIBE
an abusive, condemnatory speech
DIFFIDENT
lacking self-confidence
DILATORY
intended to delay
DILETTANTE
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
DIRGE
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
DISABUSE
to set right; to free from error
DISCERN
to perceive; to recognize
DISPARATE
fundamentally different; entirely unlike
DISSONANCE
a harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
ENERVATE
to reduce in strength
ENGENDER
to produce, cause, or bring about
EQUIVOCAL
open to more than one interpretation; misleading
EQUIVOCATE
to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
ESOTERIC
known or understood by only a few
ESTIMABLE
admirable
EUPHEMISM
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
EXACERBATE
to make worse
EXCULPATE
to clear from blame; prove innocent
EXIGENT
urgent; requiring immediate action
EXONERATE
to clear of blame
FAWN
to grovel
FERVID
intensely emotional; feverish
FLORID
excessively decorated or embellished
FOMENT
to arouse or incite
FRUGALITY
a tendency to be thrifty or cheap
GARRULOUS
tending to talk a lot
GREGARIOUS
outgoing; sociable
ICONOCLAST
one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
IMPERTURBABLE
not capable of being disturbed
IMPETUOUS
quick to act without thinking
IMPLACABLE
unable to be calmed down or made peaceful
INCHOATE
not fully formed; disorganized
INGENUOUS
showing innocence or childlike simplicity
INIMICAL
hostile, unfriendly
INNOCUOUS
harmless
INSIPID
lacking interest or flavor
INTRANSIGENT
uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
INUNDATE
to overwhelm; to cover with water
IRASCIBLE
easily made angry
LACONIC
using few words
LOQUACIOUS
talkative
LUCID
clear and easily understood
LUMINOUS
bright; brilliant; glowing
MALINGER
to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
MISANTHROPE
a person who dislikes others
MITIGATE
to soften; to lessen
MOLLIFY
to calm or make less severe
OBDURATE
hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion
OBSEQUIOUS
overly submissive and eager to please
OBVIATE
to prevent; to make unnecessary
OCCLUDE
to stop up; to prevent the passage of
ONEROUS
troublesome and oppressive; burdensome
OPPROBRIUM
public disgrace
OSTENTATION
excessive showiness
PARAGON
model of excellence or perfection
PARADOX
a contradiction or dilemma
PEDANT
someone who shows off learning
PERFIDIOUS
willing to betray one’s trust
PERFUNCTORY
done in a routine way; indifferent
PERMEATE
to penetrate
PHILANTHROPY
charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
PLASTIC
able to be molded, altered, or bent
PLACATE
to soothe or pacify
PLETHORA
excess
PRECIPITATE
to throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation
PREVARICATE
o lie or deviate from the truth
PRISTINE
fresh and clean; uncorrupted
PRODIGAL
lavish; wasteful
PROLIFERATE
to increase in number quickly
PROPITIATE
to conciliate; to appease
PROPRIETY
correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs
PRUDENCE
wisdom, caution, or restraint
PUNGENT
sharp and irritating to the senses
QUIESCENT
motionless
RAREFY
to make thinner or sparser
REPUDIATE
to reject the validity of
RETICENT
silent; reserved
RHETORIC
effective writing or speaking
SATIATE
to satisfy fully or overindulge
SOPORIFIC
causing sleep or lethargy
SPECIOUS
deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious
STIGMA
a mark of shame or discredit
STOLID
unemotional; lacking sensitivity
SUBLIME
lofty or grand
TACIT
done without using words
TACITURN
silent, not talkative
TIRADE
long, harsh speech or verbal attack
TORPOR
extreme mental and physical sluggishness
TRANSITORY
temporary; lasting a brief time
VACILLATE
to sway physically; to be indecisive
VENERATE
to respect deeply
VERACITY
filled with truth and accuracy
VERBOSE
wordy
VEX
to annoy
VOLATILE
easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive
WAVER
to fluctuate between choices
WHIMSICAL
acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
ZEAL
passion; excitement