GRE Vocab Cleanup

Question 1

Expostulation

Answer 1

Exclamation of protest, opposition, or criticism

Question 2

Bathyscaphe

Answer 2

A type of submarine

Question 3

Licentious

Answer 3

Promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters

Question 4

Impassive

Answer 4

Not feeling or showing emotion

Question 5

Lurid

Answer 5

Garish; unpleasantly bright in colour, especially so as to create a harsh or unnatural effect

Question 6

Picayune

Answer 6

Of little value or significance; petty.

Question 7

Lascivious

Answer 7

Feeling or revealing an overt sexual interest or desire.

Question 8

Palliative

Answer 8

Relieving symptoms without dealing with the cause of the condition.

Question 9

Circumspect

Answer 9

Cautious; Chary; Wary and unwilling to take risks.

Question 10

Enigmatic

Answer 10

Difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious.

Question 11

Epicure

Answer 11

A person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink; Gourmet; Gastronome

Question 12

Urbane

Answer 12

Courteous and refined in manner (typically used of a man); Suave

Question 13

Allegory

Answer 13

Story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one; Parable

Question 14

Chary

Answer 14

Cautious

Question 15

Insuperable

Answer 15

Impossible to overcome.

Question 16

Reliquaries

Answer 16

Place to hold relics

Question 17

Aphorism

Answer 17

Adage; a pithy observation which contains a general truth; Maxim; Axiom; “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

Question 18

Phylactery

Answer 18

Small leather box containing Hebrew texts

Question 19

Adumbration

Answer 19

Foreshadowing

Question 20

Malapropism

Answer 20

The mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with an amusing effect. “Dancing a flamingo”

Question 21

Reify

Answer 21

Make (something abstract) more concrete or real.

Question 22

Resplendence

Answer 22

Brilliant, radiant beauty

Question 23

Idiom

Answer 23

An expression like: “break a leg”

Question 24

Insular

Answer 24

Ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one’s own experience; Narrow-minded

Question 25

Sanctimonious

Answer 25

Making a show of being morally superior to other people; Self-righteous

Question 26

Dour

Answer 26

Relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance; Stern

Question 27

Fatuous

Answer 27

Silly and pointless.

Question 28

Culled

Answer 28

Selected, either as desirable or undesirable, and removed from a larger group

Question 29

Consort

Answer 29

Associate, partner

Question 30

Cajoled

Answer 30

Persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery.

Question 31

Minatory

Answer 31

Expressing or conveying a threat; Menacing

Question 32

Evanescent

Answer 32

Soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing; Vanishing

Question 33

Puerility

Answer 33

Pertaining to being childish, silly

Question 34

Invective

Answer 34

Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.

Question 35

Alacrity

Answer 35

Brisk and cheerful readiness; Eagerness

Question 36

Ersatz

Answer 36

Substitute or imitation; artificial

Question 37

Predilection

Answer 37

A bias in favour of something.