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GRE vocab > gre vocab essential unabridged > Flashcards

gre vocab essential unabridged Flashcards

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1
Q

aberrant

A

Adj. Deviating from the norm (noun form: aberration)

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2
Q

abscond

A

Verb. To depart clandestinely; to steal off and hide

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3
Q

alacrity

A

Noun. Eager and enthusiastic willingness

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4
Q

anomaly

A

n. deviation from the normal order, form, or rule; abnormality (adj. from: anomalous)

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5
Q

approbation

A

n. an expression of approval or praise

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6
Q

arduous

A

Adj. strenuous; taxing; requiring significant effort

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7
Q

assuage

A

v. to ease or lessen; to appease or pacify

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8
Q

audacious

A

Adj. daring and fearless; recklessly bold (noun form: audacity)

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9
Q

austere

A

Adj. without adornment; bare; severely simple; ascetic (noun form: austerity)

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10
Q

axiomatic

A

Adj. taken as given; possessing self-evident truth (noun form: axiom)

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11
Q

canonical

A

Adj. following or in agreement with accepted, traditional standards (noun: canon)

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12
Q

capricious

A

Adj. inclined to change one??s mind impulsively; erratic; unpredictable

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13
Q

censure

A

v. to criticize severely; to officially rebuke

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14
Q

chicanery

A

n. trickery or subterfuge

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15
Q

connoisseur

A

n. an informed and astute judge in matters of taste; expert

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16
Q

convoluted

A

Adj. complex or complicated

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17
Q

disabuse

A

Verb. To undeceive; to set right

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18
Q

discordant

A

Adj. conflicting; distinct or dissimilar

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19
Q

Disparate

A

Adj. fundamentally distinct or dissimilar

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20
Q

effrontery

A

n. extreme boldness; presumptuousness

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21
Q

eloquent

A

Adj. well-spoken; expressive; articulate (noun: eloquence)

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22
Q

Enervate

A

Verb. To weaken; to reduce in vitality

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23
Q

ennui

A

N. dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or apathy

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24
Q

equivocate

A

v. to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent (adj: equivocal)

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25
Q

erudite

A

Adj. very learned; scholarly (noun: erudition)

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26
Q

exculpate

A

v. exonerate; to clear of blame

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27
Q

exigent

A

Adj. urgent; pressing; requiring immediate action or attention

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28
Q

extemporaneous

A

Adj. improvised; done without preparation

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29
Q

filibuster

A

Noun. Intentional obstruction, esp. using prolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action

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30
Q

fulminate

A

v. to loudly attack or denounce

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31
Q

ingenuous

A

Adj. artless; frank and candid; lacking in sophistication

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32
Q

inured

A

Adj. accustomed to accepting something undesirable

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33
Q

irascible

A

Adj. easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts

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34
Q

laud

A

v. to praise highly (adj: laudatory)

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35
Q

lucid

A

Adj. clear; easily understood

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36
Q

magnanimity

A

n. the quality of being generously noble in mind and heart, esp. in forgiving (adj: magnanimous)

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37
Q

martial

A

Adj. associated with war and the armed forces

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38
Q

mundane

A

Adj. of the world; typical of or concerned with the ordinary

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39
Q

nascent

A

Adj. coming into being; in early developmental stages

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40
Q

nebulous

A

Adj. vague; cloudy; lacking clearly defined form

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41
Q

neologism

A

n. a new word, expression, or usage; the creation or use of new words or senses

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42
Q

noxious

A

Adj. harmful; injurious

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43
Q

obtuse

A

Adj. lacking sharpness of intellect; not clear or precise in thought or expression

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44
Q

obviate

A

v. to anticipate and make unnecessary

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45
Q

onerous

A

Adj. troubling; burdensome

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46
Q

paean

A

n. a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving

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47
Q

parody

A

n. a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect, esp. in literature or art

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48
Q

perennial

A

Adj. recurrent through the year or many years; happening repeatedly

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49
Q

perfidy

A

n. intentional breach of faith; treachery (adj: perfidious)

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50
Q

perfunctory

A

adj. cursory; done without care or interest

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51
Q

perspicacious

A

Adj. acutely perceptive; having keen discernment (noun: perspicacity)

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52
Q

prattle

A

v. to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner

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53
Q

precipitate

A

Adj. acting with excessive haste or impulse. V. to cause or happen before anticipated or required

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54
Q

predilection

A

n. disposition in favor of something; preference

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55
Q

prescience

A

n. foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to their occurring (adj. form: prescient)

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56
Q

prevaricate

A

v. to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead

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57
Q

qualms

A

n. misgivings; reservations; causes for hesitancy

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58
Q

recant

A

v. to retract, esp. a previously held belief

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59
Q

refute

A

v. to disprove; to successfully argue against

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60
Q

relegate

A

v. to forcibly assign, esp. to a lower place or position

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61
Q

reticent

A

Adj. quiet; reserved; reluctant to express thoughts and feelings

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62
Q

solicitous

A

Adj. concerned and attentive; eager

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63
Q

sordid

A

Adj. characterized by filth, grime, or squalor; foul

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64
Q

sporadic

A

Adj. occurring only occasionally, or in scattered instances

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65
Q

squander

A

v. to waste by spending or using irresponsibly

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66
Q

static

A

Adj not moving, active, or in motion; at rest

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67
Q

stupefy

A

v. to stun, baffle, or amaze

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68
Q

stymie

A

v. to block; thwart

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69
Q

Synthesis

A

n. the combination of parts to make a whole (v: synthesize)

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70
Q

torque

A

n. a force that causes rotation

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71
Q

tortuous

A

Adj. winding; twisting; excessively complicated

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72
Q

truculent

A

Adj. fierce and cruel; eager to fight

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73
Q

veracity

A

n. truthfulness; honesty

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74
Q

virulent

A

Adj. extremely harmful or poisonous; bitterly hostile or antagonistic

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75
Q

voracious

A

Adj. having an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit; ravenous

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76
Q

waver

A

v. to move to and fro; to sway; to be unsettled in opinion

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77
Q

abate

A

v. to lessen in intensity or degree

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78
Q

accolade

A

n. an expression of praise

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79
Q

adulation

A

n. excessive praise; intense adoration

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80
Q

aesthetic

A

Adj. dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful

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81
Q

ameliorate

A

v. to make better or more tolerable

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82
Q

ascetic

A

n. one who practices rigid self-denial, esp. as an act of religious devotion

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83
Q

avarice

A

n. greed, esp. for wealth (adj: avaricious)

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84
Q

axiom

A

n. a universally recognized principle (adj. axiomatic)

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85
Q

bucolic

A

Adj. rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants

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86
Q

burgeon

A

v. to grow rapidly or flourish

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87
Q

cacophony

A

n. harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance (adj: cacophonous)

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88
Q

canon

A

n. an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature (adj: canonical)

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89
Q

castigation

A

n. severe criticism or punishment (v: castigate)

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90
Q

catalyst

A

n. a substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction without itself changing; a person or thing that causes change

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91
Q

caustic

A

Adj. burning or stinging; causing corrosion

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92
Q

chary

A

Adj. wary; cautious; sparing

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93
Q

cogent

A

Adj. appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing

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94
Q

complaisance

A

n. the willingness to comply with the wishes of others (adj: complaisant)

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95
Q

Contentious

A

Adj. argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement

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96
Q

contrite

A

Adj. regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness (n: contrition)

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97
Q

culpable

A

Adj. deserving blame (n: culpability)

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98
Q

dearth

A

n. smallness of quantity or number, scarcity, a lack

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99
Q

demur

A

v. to question or oppose

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100
Q

didactic

A

Adj. intended to teach or instruct

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101
Q

discretion

A

n. cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions (adj: discreet)

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102
Q

disinterested

A

Adj. free of bias or self-interest; impartial

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103
Q

dogmatic

A

Adj. expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or unprovable principles

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104
Q

ebullience

A

n. the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings (adj: ebullient)

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105
Q

eclectic

A

Adj. composed of elements drawn from various sources

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106
Q

elegy

A

n. a mournful poem, esp. one lamenting the dead (adj: elegiac)

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107
Q

emollient

A

Adj/n. soothing, esp. to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying; an agent that softens or smoothes the skin

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108
Q

empirical

A

Adj: based on observation or experiment

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109
Q

enigmatic

A

Adj. mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand (n. enigma)

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110
Q

ephemeral

A

Adj. brief; fleeting

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111
Q

esoteric

A

Adj. intended for or understood by a small, specific group

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112
Q

eulogy

A

n. a speech honoring the dead (v: eulogize)

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113
Q

exonerate

A

v. to remove blame

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114
Q

facetious

A

Adj. playful; humours

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115
Q

fallacy

A

n. an invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief (adj: fallacious)

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116
Q

furtive

A

Adj. marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious

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117
Q

gregarious

A

Adj. sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people

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118
Q

harangue

A

v/n. to deliver a pompous speech or tirade; a long, pompous speech

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119
Q

heretical

A

Adj. violating accepted dogma or convention (n: heresy)

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120
Q

hyperbole

A

n. an exaggerated statement., often used as a figure of speech (adj: hyperbolic)

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121
Q

impecunious

A

Adj. lacking funds; without money

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122
Q

incipient

A

Adj. beginning to come into being or to become apparent

123
Q

inert

A

Adj. unmoving; lethargic; sluggish

124
Q

innocuous

A

Adj. harmless; causing no damage

125
Q

intransigent

A

Adj. refusing to compromise (n: intransigence)

126
Q

Inveigle

A

v. to obtain by deception or flattery

127
Q

morose

A

Adj: sad; sullen; melancholy

128
Q

odious

A

Adj. evoking intense aversion or dislike

129
Q

opaque

A

Adj. impenetrable by light; not reflecting light

130
Q

oscillation

A

n. the act or state of swinging back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm (v: oscillate)

131
Q

penurious

A

Adj. penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous

132
Q

pernicious

A

Adj. extremely harmful; potentially causing death

133
Q

peruse

A

v. to examine with great care (n: perusal)

134
Q

pious

A

Adj. extremely reverent or devout; showing strong religious devotion (n: piety)

135
Q

precursor

A

n. one that precedes and indicates or announces another

136
Q

preen

A

v. to dress up, to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care

137
Q

prodigious

A

Adj. abundant in size, force, or extent; extraordinary

138
Q

prolific

A

Adj. producing large volumes or amounts; productive

139
Q

putrefy

A

v. to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor (adj: putrid)

140
Q

quaff

A

v. to drink deeply

141
Q

quiescence

A

n. stillness; motionlessness; quality of being at rest (adj: quiescent)

142
Q

redoubtable

A

Adj. awe-inspiring; worthy of honor

143
Q

sanction

A

n/v. authoritative permission or approval; a penalty intended to enforce compliance; to give permission or authority to

144
Q

satire

A

n. a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision (adj: satirical)

145
Q

squalid

A

Adj. sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect (n: squalor)

146
Q

stoic

A

Adj. indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; steadfast (n: stoicism)

147
Q

supplant

A

v. to take the place of; supersede

148
Q

torpid

A

Adj. lethargic; sluggish; dormant (n: torpor)

149
Q

ubiquitous

A

Adj. existing everywhere at the same time; constantly encountered; widespread

150
Q

urbane

A

Adj. sophisticated; refined; elegant (n: urbanity)

151
Q

vilify

A

v. to defame; to characterize harshly

152
Q

viscous

A

Adj. thick; sticky (n: viscosity)

153
Q

acumen

A

n. keen, accurate judgment or insight

154
Q

adulterate

A

v. to reduce purity by combining with inferior ingredients

155
Q

amalgamate

A

v. to combine several elements into a whole (n: amalgamation)

156
Q

archaic

A

Adj. outdated; associated with an earlier, perhaps more primitive, time

157
Q

aver

A

v. to state as a fact; to declare or assert

158
Q

bolster

A

v. to provide support or reinforcement

159
Q

bombastic

A

Adj. pompous; grandiloquent (n: bombast)

160
Q

diatribe

A

n. a harsh denunciation

161
Q

dissemble

A

v. to disguise or conceal; to mislead

162
Q

eccentric

A

Adj. departing from norms or conventions

163
Q

endemic

A

Adj. characteristic of or often found in a particular locality, region, or people

164
Q

evanescent

A

Adj. tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing

165
Q

exacerbate

A

v. to make worse or more severe

166
Q

fervent

A

Adj. greatly emotional or zealous (n: fervor)

167
Q

fortuitous

A

Adj. happening by accident or chance

168
Q

germane

A

Adj. relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in subject matter

169
Q

grandiloquence

A

n. pompous speech or expression (adj. form: grandiloquent)

170
Q

hackneyed

A

Adj. rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage

171
Q

halcyon

A

Adj. calm and peaceful

172
Q

hedonism

A

n. devotion to pleasurable pursuits, esp. to the pleasures of the senses (a hedonist is someone who pursues pleasure)

173
Q

hegemony

A

n. the consistent dominance of one state or ideology over others

174
Q

iconoclast

A

n. one who attacks or undermines traditional conventions or institutions

175
Q

idolatrous

A

Adj. given to intense or excessive devotion to something (n: idolatry)

176
Q

impassive

A

Adj. revealing no emotion

177
Q

imperturbable

A

Adj. marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness

178
Q

implacable

A

Adj. not capable of being appeased or significantly changed

179
Q

impunity

A

n. immunity from punishment or penalty

180
Q

Inchoate

A

Adj. in an initial stage; not fully formed

181
Q

infelicitous

A

Adj. unfortunate; inappropriate

182
Q

insipid

A

Adj. without taste of flavor; lacking in spirit; bland

183
Q

loquacious

A

Adj. extremely talkative (n: loquacity)

184
Q

luminous

A

Adj. characterized by brightness and the emission of light

185
Q

malevolent

A

Adj. having or showing often vicious ill will, spite or hatred (n: malevolence)

186
Q

malleable

A

Adj. capable of being shaped or formed; tractable; pliable

187
Q

mendacity

A

n. the condition of being untruthful; dishonesty (adj: mendacious)

188
Q

meticulous

A

Adj. characterized by extreme care and precision; attentive to detail

189
Q

misanthrope

A

n. one who hates all other humans (adj: misanthropic)

190
Q

mitigate

A

v. to make or become less severe or intense; to moderate

191
Q

obdurate

A

Adj. unyielding; hardhearted; intractable

192
Q

obsequious

A

Adj. exhibiting a fawning attentiveness

193
Q

occlude

A

v. to obstruct or block

194
Q

opprobrium

A

n. disgrace; contempt; scorn

195
Q

pedagogy

A

n. the profession or principles of teaching or instructing

196
Q

pedantic

A

Adj. the parading of learning; excessive attention to minutiae and formal rules

197
Q

penury

A

n. poverty; destitution

198
Q

Pervasive

A

Adj. having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout

199
Q

pine

A

v. to yearn intensely; to languish; to lose vigor

200
Q

Pirate

A

v. to illegally use or reproduce

201
Q

pith

A

N. the essential or central part

202
Q

pithy

A

Adj. precise and brief

203
Q

placate

A

v. to appease; to calm by making concessions

204
Q

platitude

A

n. a superficial remark, esp. one offered as meaningful

205
Q

plummet

A

v. to plunge or drop straight down

206
Q

polemical

A

Adj. controversial; argumentative

207
Q

prodigal

A

Adj. reckless wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish

208
Q

profuse

A

Adj. given or coming forth abundantly; extravagant

209
Q

proliferate

A

v. to grow or increase swiftly and abundantly

210
Q

queries

A

n. questions; inquiries; doubts in the mind; reservations

211
Q

querulous

A

Adj. prone to complaining or grumbling; peevish

212
Q

rancorous

A

Adj. characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment (n: rancor)

213
Q

Recalcitrant

A

Adj. obstinately defiant of authority; difficult to manage

214
Q

repudiate

A

v. to refuse to have anything to do with; disown

215
Q

rescind

A

v. to invalidate; to repeal; to retract

216
Q

reverent

A

Adj. marked by, feeling, or expressing a feeling of profound awe and respect (n: reverence)

217
Q

rhetoric

A

n. the art or study of effective use of language for communication and persuasion

218
Q

salubrious

A

Adj. promoting health or well-being

219
Q

solvent

A

Adj. able to meet financial obligations; able to dissolve another substance

220
Q

specious

A

Adj. seeming true, but actually being fallacious; misleadingly attractive; plausible but false

221
Q

spurious

A

Adj. lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit

222
Q

subpoena

A

n. a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony

223
Q

succinct

A

Adj. brief; concise

224
Q

superfluous

A

Adj. exceeding what is sufficient or necessary

225
Q

surfeit

A

n/v. an overabundant supply; excess; to feed or supply to excess

226
Q

tenacity

A

n. the quality of adherence or persistence to something valued; persistent determination (adj: tenacious)

227
Q

tenuous

A

Adj. having little substance or strength; flimsy; weak

228
Q

tirade

A

n. a long and extremely critical speech; a harsh denunciation

229
Q

transient

A

Adj. fleeting; passing quickly; brief

230
Q

zealous

A

Adj. fervent; ardent; impassioned; devoted to a cause (a zealot is a zealous person)

231
Q

acerbic

A

Adj. having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting

232
Q

aggrandize

A

v. to increase in intensity, power, influence, or prestige

233
Q

alchemy

A

n. a medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals, esp. base metals into gold (an alchemist is one who practices alchemy)

234
Q

amenable

A

Adj. agreeable; responsive to suggestion

235
Q

anachronism

A

n. something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context

236
Q

astringent

A

Adj/n. having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe

237
Q

bombast

A

n. self-important or pompous writing or speech (adj: bombastic)

238
Q

contiguous

A

Adj. sharing a border; touching; adjacent

239
Q

convention

A

n. a generally agreed-upon practice or attitude

240
Q

credulous

A

Adj. tending to believe too readily; gullible (n: credulity)

241
Q

cynicism

A

n. an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness (adj: cynical)

242
Q

decorum

A

n. polite or appropriate conduct or behavior (adj form: decorous)

243
Q

derision

A

n. scorn; ridicule; contemptuous treatment (adj: derisive; v: deride)

244
Q

desiccate

A

v. to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull

245
Q

dilettante

A

n. one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge

246
Q

disparage

A

v. to slight or belittle

247
Q

divulge

A

v. to disclose something secret

248
Q

fawn

A

v. to flatter or praise excessively

249
Q

flout

A

v. to show contempt for, as in a rule or convention

250
Q

garrulous

A

Adj. pointlessly talkative, talking too much

251
Q

glib

A

Adj. marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial

252
Q

hubris

A

n. overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance

253
Q

imminent

A

Adj. about to happen; impending

254
Q

immutable

A

Adj. not capable of change

255
Q

impetuous

A

Adj. hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement

256
Q

indifferent

A

Adj. having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice

257
Q

inimical

A

Adj. damaging; harmful; injurious

258
Q

intractable

A

Adj. not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate

259
Q

intrepid

A

Adj. steadfast and courageous

260
Q

laconic

A

Adj. using few words; terse

261
Q

maverick

A

n. an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party

262
Q

mercurial

A

Adj. characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood

263
Q

mollify

A

v. to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity

264
Q

neophyte

A

n. a recent convert; a beginner; novice

265
Q

obfuscate

A

v. to deliberately obscure; to make confusing

266
Q

obstinate

A

Adj. stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising

267
Q

ostentatious

A

Adj. characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy

268
Q

pervade

A

v. to permeate throughout (adj: pervasive)

269
Q

phlegmatic

A

Adj. calm; sluggish; unemotional

270
Q

plethora

A

n. an overabundance; a surplus

271
Q

pragmatic

A

Adj. practical rather than idealistic

272
Q

Presumptuous

A

Adj. overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties

273
Q

pristine

A

Adj. pure; uncorrupted; clean

274
Q

probity

A

n. adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness

275
Q

proclivity

A

n. A natural predisposition or inclination

276
Q

profligate

A

Adj. excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant (n: profligacy)

277
Q

propensity

A

n. a natural inclination or tendency, penchant

278
Q

prosaic

A

Adj. dull; lacking in spirit or imagination

279
Q

pungent

A

Adj. characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste

280
Q

quixotic

A

Adj. foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals

281
Q

quotidian

A

Adj. occurring or recurring daily; commonplace

282
Q

rarefy

A

Verb. To make or become thin, less dense; to refine

283
Q

recondite

A

Adj. hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure

284
Q

refulgent

A

Adj. radiant; shiny; brilliant

285
Q

renege

A

v. to fail to honor a commit; to go back on a promise

286
Q

sedulous

A

Adj. diligent; persistent; hardworking

287
Q

shard

A

n. a piece of broken pottery or glass

288
Q

soporific

A

Adj. causing drossiness; tending to induce sleep

289
Q

sparse

A

Adj. thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals

290
Q

spendthrift

A

n. one who spends money wastefully

291
Q

subtle

A

Adj. not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern

292
Q

tacit

A

Adj. implied; not explicitly stated

293
Q

terse

A

Adj. brief and concise in wording

294
Q

tout

A

v. to publicly praise or promote

295
Q

trenchant

A

Adj. sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating

296
Q

unfeigned

A

Adj. genuine; not false or hypocritical

297
Q

untenable

A

Adj. indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable

298
Q

vacillate

A

v.. to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another; waver

299
Q

Variegated

A

Adj. multicoloured; characterized by a variety of patches of different colour

300
Q

vexation

A

n. annoyance; irritation (n: vex)

301
Q

vigilant

A

Adj. alertly watchful (n: vigilance)

302
Q

vituperate

A

v. to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; berate

303
Q

volatile

A

Adj. readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle; explosive (n: volatility)

GRE vocab (2 decks)

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