Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

GRE > GRE Vocab Flashcards - Common Words Week 1 > Flashcards

GRE Vocab Flashcards - Common Words Week 1

to learn the most commonly tested GRE Vocabulary Words from the Kaplan Third edition deck.

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
GRE® Vocabulary flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

Aggrandize

uh graan diez

A

v. to increase in power, influence, and reputation.

The supervisor sough to aggrandize himself by claiming that the achievements of his staff were actually his own.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Synonyms of Aggrandize

A

amplify, apotheosize, augment, dignify, elevate, enlarge, ennoble, exalt, glorify, magnify, swell, uplift.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Affected

uh fehk tihd

A

adj. phony, artificial

The affected hairdresser spouted French phrases though she had never been to France.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

synonyms of Affected

A

insincere, pretentious, put-on.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Aesthetic

ehs theh tihk

A

adj. concerning the appreciation of beauty

The aesthetic movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only true purpose of art.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Synonyms of aesthetic

A

artistic, tasteful

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Aerie

ayr ee) (eer ee

A

n. a nest built high in the air, and elevated often secluded, dwelling.

Perched high among the trees, the eagle’s aerie was filled with eggs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

synonyms for aerie

A

perch, stronghold

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Advocate

aad vuh kayt

A

v. to speak in favor of

The vegetarian advocated a diet containing no meat.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

synonyms for advocate

A

back, champion, support

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Adulterate

uh duhl tuhr ayt

A

v. to make impure

The restaurateur made his ketchup last longer by adulterating it with water.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

synonyms for adulterate

A

debase, doctor, load

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Acme

aak mee

A

n. the highest point, the summit, the highest level or degree attainable.

Just when he reached the acme of his power, the dictator was overthrown.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

synonyms for acme

A

apex, peak, summit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Acidulous

uh si juh luhs

A

adj. sour in taste or manner

The acidulous taste of the spoiled milk made the young boy’s lips pucker.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Synonyms for acidulous

A

acerbic, acetous, biting, piquant, pungent, tart

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Accretion

uh kree shuhn

A

n. a gradual growth in size, and increase in amount

The committee’s strong fundraising efforts resulted in an accretion in scholarship money.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Synonyms for accretion

A

accumulation, buildup

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Abyss

uh bihs

A

n. an extremely deep hole

The submarine dove into the abyss to chart the previously unseen depths.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

synonyms for abyss

A

chasm, void

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Abstemious

aab stee me uhs

A

adj. moderate in appetite

Because Alyce is a vegetarian, she was able to eat only an abstemious meal at the Texas Steakhous.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Synonyms for Abstemious

A

abstinent, continent, self-restraining, sober, temperate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Abstain

A

v. to choose not to do something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

synonyms for abstain

A

forbear, refrain, withhold.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Abjure

aab jur

A

v. to reject, to abandon family

The spy abjured his allegiance to the United States when he defected to Russia.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

synonyms for abjure

A

forswear, recall, recant, retract, take back.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Abscond

aab skahnd

A

v. to leave secretly

The patron absconded from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the back door

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

synonyms for abscond

A

decamp, escape, flee

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Abeyance

uh bay uhns

A

n. temporary suppression or suspension

The baseball game was held in abeyance while it continued to rain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

synonyms for abeyance

A

deferral, delay, dormancy, postponement, remission

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Abdicate

aab duh kayt

A

v. to give up a position, right or power

With the angry mob clamoring outside the palace, the king abdicated his throne and fled.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Synonyms for abdicate

A

cede, quit, relinquish, resign, yield

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Aberrant

uh ber unt

A

adj. deviating from what is normal or expected

Since he had been a steady, cheerful worker for many years, his fellow postal workers did not expect his aberrant burst of rage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Synonyms for aberrant

A

abnormal, anomalous, deviant, divergent, errant, irregular

35
Q

Abate

uh bayt

A

v. to reduce in amount, degree, or severity

As the hurricane’s force abated, the winds dropped and the sea became calm.

36
Q

Synonyms for abate

A

ebb, lapse, let up, moderate, relent, slacken, subside, wane.

37
Q

Abase

uh bays

A

v. to humble, to disgrace

My intention was not abase the comedian

38
Q

Synonyms for abase

A

demean, humiliate

39
Q

Officious

uh fihsh uhs

A

adj. too helpful, meddlesome

While planning her wedding, Maya discovered just how officious her future mother in law could be.

40
Q

Synonyms for officious

A

eager, intrusive, unwanted

41
Q

Alacrity

uh laak crih tee

A

n. speed or quickness

The restaurant won a reputation for fine service since the wait staff responded to their clients’ requests with alacrity.

42
Q

synonyms for alacrity

A

celerity, dispatch, haste, swiftness.

43
Q

Alleviate

uh lee vee ayt

A

v. to make more bearable

Taking aspirin helps to alleviate a headache.

44
Q

synonyms for alleviate

A

allay, assuage, comfort, ease, lessen, lighten, mitigate, palliate, relieve.

45
Q

Amalgamate

uh maal guh mayt

A

to combine, to mix together

Giant industries amalgamated with Mega Products to form Giant-Mega Products Incorporated

46
Q

Synonyms for amalgamate

A

admix, blend, coalesce, combine, commingle, commix, compound, fuse, intermingle, intermix, merge, mingle, mix, unite.

47
Q

Ambiguous

aam bihg yoo uhs

A

adj. doubtful or uncertain, can be interpreted several ways.

The directions he gave were so ambiguous that we disagreed on which way to turn.

48
Q

Synonyms for ambiguous

A

cloudy, doubtful, dubious, equivocal, indeterminate,nebulous, obscure, unclear, vague.

49
Q

Ameliorate

uh meel yuhr ayt

A

v. to make better, to improve

The doctor was able to ameliorate the patients’ suffering using painkillers

50
Q

synonyms for ameliorate

A

amend, better, improve, pacify, upgrade

51
Q

Amortize

uh mohr tiez or aam er tiez

A

v. to diminish by installment payments

While college students are notorious for accumulating credit card debt, they are not as well known for amortizing it.

52
Q

Synonyms for amortize

A

decrease, reduce

53
Q

Amulet

aam yoo liht

A

n. an ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits

Though she claimed it was not because of superstitioon, Vivian always wore an amulet around her neck

54
Q

synonyms for amulet

A

fetish, talisman

55
Q

Anachronism

uh naak ruh nih suhm

A

n. something out of place in time

They play was set in the nineteenth century, but was ruining by anachronisms, like the lead actor’s digital watch.

56
Q

Synonyms for anachronism

A

archaism, incongruity

57
Q

Analgesia

aah nuhl jee zhuh

A

n. a lessening of pain without loss of consciousness

After having her appendix removed, Tatiana welcomed the analgesia that the painkillers provided.

58
Q

Analogous

A

adj. similar or alike in some way, equivalent

His mother argued that not going to college was analogous to throwing his life away.

59
Q

Synonyms for analogous

A

alike, comparable, corresponding, equivalent, homogeneous, parallel, similar

60
Q

Anodyne

aah nuh dien

A

n. something that calms or soothes pain

The massage was an anodyne that helped remove the knots from the lawyer’s tense shoulders.

61
Q

Synonyms for Anodyne

A

narcotic, nepenthe, opiate

62
Q

Anomaly

uh nahm uh lee

A

n. deviation from what is normal

Albino animals may display too great an anomaly in their coloring to attract normally colored mates.

63
Q

Synonyms for Anomaly

A

aberrancy, aberration, abnormality, deviance, deviation, irregularity, preternaturalness

64
Q

Antagonize

aan taa guh niez

A

v. to annoy or provoke to anger

The child discovered that he could antagonize the cat by pulling its tail.

65
Q

Synonyms for antagonize

A

clash, conflict, incite, irritate, oppose, pester, provoke, vex

66
Q

Antipathy

aan tih pug thee

A

n. extreme dislike

the antipathy between fans of the rival soccer teams made the game even more electrifying to watch

67
Q

synonyms for antipathy

A

abhorrence, animosity, animus, antagonism, aversion. dislike, enmity, hatred, hostility, loathing, repellence, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion.

68
Q

Apathy

aa pah thee

A

n. lack of interest or emotion

the apathy of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually bother to do so.

69
Q

synonyms for apathy

A

coolness, disinterest disregard, impassivity, indifference, insensibility, lassitude, lethargy, listlessness, phlegm, stolidity, unconcern, unresponsiveness.

70
Q

Apocryphal

A

adj. of questionable authority or authenticity

There is no hard or authoritative evidence to support the apocryphal tales that link the roswell new mexico incident to a downed UFO.

71
Q

synonyms for apocryphal

A

disputed, doubtful, fictitious, fraudulent

72
Q

Apostate

uh pahs tayt

A

n. one who renounces a religious faith

So that he could divorce his wife, the king scoffed at the church doctrines and declared himself an apostate.

73
Q

synonyms for apostate

A

defector deserter traitor

74
Q

Approbation

aa pruh bay shuhn

A

n. approval and praise

The approbation that Jerry Lewis recieved in France included a medal from the Ministry of Culture.

75
Q

Synonyms for approbation

A

acclaim, adulation. applause, commendation, compliments, exaltation, extolment, hail, kudos, praise.

76
Q

Arbitrary

ahr bih trayr ee

A

adj determined by chance or impulse

When you lack the infromation to judge what to do next you will be forced to make an arbitrary decision.

77
Q

synonyms for arbitrary

A

changeable erratic indicriminate random wayward

78
Q

Arbitrate

ahr bih trayt

A

v. to judge a dispute between two opposing parties

Since the couple could not come to an agreement, a judge was forced to arbitrate their divorce proceedings.

79
Q

synonyms for arbitrate

A

adjudge, adjudicate, determine, intermidiate, intervene, judge, moderatre, referee, rule.

80
Q

archaic

A

adj. ancient, old-fashioned.

81
Q

synonyms for archaic

A

ancient, antediluvian, antique, bygone, dated, dowdy, fusty, obsolete, old fashioned, outdated,outmodled, passe, prehistoric, stale, superannuated, superseded, vintage.

82
Q

Ardor

A

n. intense and passionate feeling

Bishop’s ardor for landscape was evident when he passionately described the beauty of the scenic Hudson Valley.

83
Q

synonyms for ardor

A

devotion, enthusiasm, fervency, fervidity, fervidness, fervor, fire, passion, zeal, zealousness.

GRE (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions