GRE Vocab Words Flashcards
ac/acr/acu
bitter
acerbate
to make bitter or aggravate
acerbic
bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone
acrid
violently bitter
acrimonious
angry and bitter; caustic or stinging in nature
acu
sharp
acuity
sharpness; keenness of perception
aculeate
having a stinger
acumen
keenness and depth of perception or discernment; mental sharpness
acuminate
tapering to a sharp point
aev/ev
age, era
coeval
of the same age
primeval
of or relating to the earliest age
agr
field
agrarian
of or relating to fields
agronomy
science of crop production
al/ali/alter
other, another
alias
another name that a person sometimes uses
alibi
the plea of having been at another location at the time of a crime
alienage
the status of a person owing allegiance to another country
allegory
figurative treatment of one subject by means of another using symbolic fictional figures and actions
altercate
to dispute with another angrily
altruist
one with unselfish regard for others
alim
nourish, suppot
alible
nourishing
alimentary
nourishing; of or relating to nutrition
alimentation
the act of providing nourishment
am
love
amatory
of or pertaining to love or lovemaking
amiable
friendly, sociable; tending to excite love
amicable
characterized by goodwill
amity
friendship; peaceful harmony
amorous
strongly moved by sexual love
inamorata
a female lover
amb/ambul
go, walk
amble
to saunter; to walk slowly
ambulate
to walk
ambulatory
able to walk; not bedridden
perambulate
to travel on foot
ambi/amphi
both, on both sides, around
ambidextrous
able to use both hands with equal ease
ambient
present on all sides; moving around freely
ambiversion
a person having the character traits of both an extrovert and an introvert
amphibian
cold-blooded vertebrates with traits of both fishes and reptiles
amphibolous
capable of two meanings
amphidiploid
a hybrid with a complete diploid chromosome set from both parents
andr/anthro
man, human
androgen
a male sex hormone
android
a mobile robot; a mechanical man
anthropic
of or relating to humans
anthropocentric
regarding humans as the most significant entity of the universe
anthropoid
resembling humans
misanthropy
hatred of humans
philanderer
one who has sexual relations with many people
anim
of the life, mind, soul, or spirit
animism
the attribution of conscious life to inanimate objects
animus
a spirit of ill will; a spiteful disposition
equanimity
an evenness of mind or spirit
magnanimous
showing a great or noble spirit
annu/enni
year
annals
a record of events in a yearly sequence
annuity
a sum of income payable yearly
biennial
occurring every two years
perennial
lasting all seasons of the year
ant/ante
before
ante meridiem
before noon
antecedent
a word or phrase replaced by a substitute; a thing or event that occurs before another
antedate
a date before the actual date of the event or document
anti
against, opposite
antibody
a natural protein in blood serum that tries to act against the toxic effects of an antigen
antidote
a remedy to act against the effects of a poison or disease
antipathy
a strong feeling of dislike; an opposition in feeling
antipodal
on the opposite side of the earth
antiseptic
free from germs (the opposite of putrefying)
antithesis
the direct opposite
antiqu
old, ancient
antiquarian
one who collects antiques or old objects
antiquate
to make obsolete
antiquity
ancient times; objects from ancient times
appell
name, call upon
appellant
one who calls upon a higher court so that the decision of a lower court can be reversed
appellate
calling upon the judgment of another court
appellation
an identifying name
appellative
of or relating to the giving of names
aqua/aque
water
aquamarine
a transparent bluish-green color
aquatic
growing, living, or taking place in water
aqueduct
a structure or channel for carrying a large amount of water
aquifer
layer of rock or sand that can hold water
subaqueous
taking place underwater
arch/archi/archy
chief, principal, ruler
archangel
the principal or chief angel
archenemy
the principal or chief enemy
archetype
chief model from which things are copied
ard
burn
ardent
fiery; hot passionate; eager; zealous support
ardor
extreme vigor or energy; passion
arm
weapons
armada
a military fleet
armistice
a truce to warfare
disarmament
the withdrawal of military weapons
astr
star
astral
of or relating to the stars
astrobiology
a branch of biology concerned with the study of life in the universe
aud/aus
bold, daring, hear
audacious
a willingness to take risks; daring
auscultation
listening to organs to aid in treatment
auto
self
autocrat
an absolute ruler (self-rule); one with unlimited authority
autonomic
acting involuntarily; not subject to self control
autonomy
self-governing; independence; freedom
be
make, cause to be (often used to transform words into verbs)
bedeck
to decorate; to make beautiful
bedizen
to dress gaudily; to make fancy
belie
to give a false impression of; to make untrue
bemoan
to feel or express sorrow, grief, or distress; to make sad osunds
besmirch
to sully; to make dirty
bel/bell
war
antebellum
relating to the period before a war (especially the American Civil War)
bellicose
demonstrating a willingness to start wars or quarrels
postbellum
relating to the period after a war
ben/bon/boun
good, generous
benediction
a blessing
beneficent
doing good; generous
benevolent
disposed to doing good
bona fide
made in good faith
bonanza
something that produces good results; something valuable or rewarding
bountiful
generous
bi/bin
two
bicuspid
having two points
bifurcate
to divide into two parts
bilateral
having two sides
bipartisan
involving members of two parties
bivalve
a mollusk that has a two-valve shell
bio
life
bionics
the application of data on living organisms to solve engineering problems
biosphere
the areas of the earth in which life exists
biotic
resulting from living organisms
symbiotic
a mutually beneficial relationship between dissimilar living organisms
brev / brid
short; small; brief
breve
a mark used to denote a short vowel or syllable
breviary
a brief summary
brevilouquent
concise in one’s speech
burs
purse, money
bursar
an officer in charge of funds
bursary
the treasury
cad/cid
fall, happen by chance
cascade
a small, steep waterfall
decadent
marked by a fall from an earlier condition of vitality
recidivist
one who relapses
cap/capt/cept/cip
hold, seize, take
captious
marked by a tendency to take in and entrap
disciple
one who takes in and spreads the doctrines of another
inception
a concept taken in at its beginning
card/cord
heart
cardiology
study of the heart
concord
harmony; a star of agreement
concordance
agreement; concord
carn
flesh
carnage
the flesh of slain animals or human beings
carnal
relating to pleasures of the flesh
carnation
the color of human flesh
incarnation
a being embodied in an earthly form
cata
down
cataclysm
a flood or catastrophe, an event that brings about an upheaval or downwards change
catapult
a military device for hurling missiles
cataract
a waterfall; a medical condition resulting in a clouding of the lens of an eye
caus/caut
burn
caustic
burning or corrosive
cauterize
to burn or deaden
cautery
instrument to burn or sear for branding
celer
swift
accelerando
growing gradually faster (music)
celerity
swiftness of movement
cent
hundred; hundredth
centenarian
someone who is 100+ years old
centenary
the 100th anniversary of an event; centennial
centennial
the 100th anniversary of an event; centenary
centr
center
centric
located at a center
centrifugal
moving away from a center
centrifuge
a machine for separating substances at different densities using a centrifugal force
centripetal
moving toward a center
concentric
sharing a common center
chron
time
anachronism
something that exists out of its time
chronicle
a record of historical events in chronological order
chronometer
a clock or watch for measuring time with great accuracy
circu/circum
around
circuitous
not straightforward or direct
circumambulate
to walk in a circle
circumflex
a mark placed over long vowels to indicate a particular phonetic quality (literally “to bend around”)
circumlocution
a circuitous or roundabout way of expressing something
circumscribe
to restrict or confine; to draw a line around something
circumspect
careful to consider all options (literally “to look around”)
circumvent
to get around something
cis
cut
abscission
the act of cutting off
excision
the act of removing by cutting out
exorcise
to expel an evil spirit
incisive
impressively direct, sharp, or cutting
cla/clo/clu
shut, close
cloister
a restricted area within a monastery; a placed of seclusion
occlude
to close up
clemen
mild, kind, merciful
clement
inclined to be merciful
inclemency
the quality of being severe
cli/clin/cliv
leaning, inclined, sloped
proclivity
an inclination towards something
synclinal
inclined down opposite directions so as to meet
cod
book
codex
an ancient manuscript in book form
codicil
a supplement that modifies a will
cogni/gno
learn, know
agnosia
the inability to recognize familiar things (literally “without knowledge”)
prognosticate
to predict based on a specialized knowledge
contra/contro/counter
against
contraindicate
to make inadvisable; indicate against
contravene
to go against; to violate
counterfeit
made in imitation of another
countermand
to revoke, retract, or recall an order // an order against a previously issued command
corp/cors
body
corporeal
having a physical body
corps
an organized body of troops
corpulent
having a large body
corpus
a human or animal body, often dead
cosm
order, universe, world
cosmic
of or relating to the universe
cosmology
a theory describing the universe and its natural order
cosmonaut
an explorer of outer space
cosmopolitan
having a vast knowledge of the world
cosmos
the universe or world as an orderly self-inclusive system
microcosm
a little world
cour/cur
running, a course
concurrence
circumstances occurring together
courier
a messenger or a runner
curriculum
courses offered for a study
cursory
rapid, including a lack of attention to detail
incursion
a hostile entrance or running into
crazy/crat
government, rule, strength
plutocracy
a government by the wealthy
technocrat
a technical expert
cre/cresc/cret
grow, rise
accretion
the process of growth, typically by a gradual buildup
crescendo
a gradual rise in the volume of a musical passage
increscent
growing gradually weaker
cred
believe, trust
credence
acceptance or belief that something is true
credo
a formula of belief
credulity
readiness to believe with little evidence
cryp
hidden
apocryphal
of dubious authenticity; of or relating to texts left out of the canon
crypt
a chamber below the ground, hidden from public view
cryptography
secret writing
cryptology
the study of codes
cub/cumb
lie down
incubate
to sit upon for the purpose of hatching
recumbent
lying down; reclining
cur/cura
care
curate
to oversee or care for a museum or gallery
curative
relating to the cure of diseases
curé
a parish priest
curette
a surgical instrument used for scraping or cleaning
cycl/cyclo
circle, wheel, cycle
cycloid
a curve created by a point on the circumference of a circle rolled along a straight line
cyclops
a race of one-eyed giants in greek mythology
cyclosis
the circulatory movement of protoplasm within a cell
cyclothymia
a mood disorder characterized by cycles of depression and elation
dac/doc
teach
docile
easily taught
didactic
designed to teach
dec/deca
ten
decahedron
a polyhedron with 10 faces
decalogue
the Ten Commandments
Decapod
a crustacean with five pairs of appendages
dei/div
god
deific
godlike
deism
a movement advocating a belief in a deity that doesn’t interact with humans
dem
people
demagogue
a leader who gains power using popular prejudices (literally “a leader of the people”)
pandemic
prevalent over a large geographic area and affecting a high proportion of people
demi
partly
demimonde
an isolated circle that is part of a larger world (literally “half-world”)
demitasse
a small coffee cup
derm
skin
dermatitis
inflammation of the skin
epidemis
the layer of skin overlying the dermis
pachyderm
a mammal with hooves and thick skin
taxidermist
one who stuffs and mounts the skins of animals
dext
right side, deft
dexter
relating to the right
dexterity
physical skill or grace in manual acts
di
two
dichotomy
a diversion into two mutually exclusive groups
dihederal
a figure formed by two plane faces
diphase
having two phases
di/dia
apart, through, across, between
diachronic
relating to phenomena as they change through time
diaphanous
characterized by translucence
dic/dict/dit
say, tell
dictum
a formal statement from an authoritative source
edict
an official order having the force of law
interdict
a prohibitory decree
dign
worth
condign
deserved; worthy
dignitary
one who holds a high rank
doc/doct
teach, prove
docent
a teacher or lecturer at a college or university
doctrinaire
devoted to a doctrine without regard to practical considerations
dog/dox
opinion, praise
dogmatic
characterized by expressing opinions as if they were facts
doxology
an expression of praise to god
dol
pain, grieve
dolorous
expressing misery or grief
indolence
inclination to laziness; causing no pain
dom/domin
master, lord
indomitable
incapable of being subdued
predominant
having superior authority
dorm
sleep
dormient
sleeping
dormitive
inducing sleep
dormouse
a rodent that hibernate when food is scarce
drom/drome
run, step
catadromous
migrating to the sea to spawn
dromedary
a swiftly running camel
dromond
a fast sailing medieval ship
hippodrome
a track for horse and chariot racing
duc/duct
lead, pull
ductile
easily led or influenced
viaduct
an elevated structure carrying a road or roailroad
dulc
sweet
dulcet
sweet
dulcified
to make sweet or agreeable
dupl
double, two
duple
having two beats to a measure
duplicator
a machine that makes copies
dur
hard, lasting
duress
forcing one’s will upon another
obdurate
hardened in feelings
dyn/dynam
power, energy
dynamo
a forceful, energetic person
heterodyne
relating to the production of an electrical beat between two radio frequencies
dys
faulty, abnormal
dysentery
an infection causing diarrhea
dyspepsia
indigestion
dystopia
an imaginary place where everything is bad
dystrophy
a condition caused by faulty nutrition
ecto
outside, external
ectoderm
the outmost of three layers of an embryo
ectogeneous
capable of developing outside the host
ectopia
an organ or body located outside its proper location
ectoplasm
the external layer of the cytoplasm
endo
within, inside
endobiotic
residing within the tissues of a host
endocardial
within the heart
endogeneous
growing from within an organism
endomorph
a mineral enclosed within another; one who has a round body build with a tendency to become fat
endocscope
an instrument used for viewing the inside of a hollow organ
epi
upon, over, near
epicenter
the point on the earth’s surface directly over the focus of an earthquake
epigeal
living on or near the surface of the ground
epigram
a short poem or line, often satirical, over a certain subject
epitaph
inscription over a grave, especially on a tombstone
epithet
characterizing word or phrase, sometimes disparaging or abusive, used with or in place of a person’s name
equ
equal
equanimity
evenness of mind in difficult situations
equidistant
equally distant
equivocal
subject to more than one interpretation; ambiguous (literally “of equal voice or significance”)
inequity
unfairness or injustice (literally “not equal”)
erg
work
erg
a unit of work or energy
ergatocracy
government by the working class
ergograph
an instrument for measuring the work capacity of a muscle
ergonomics
the science of designing things for the efficiency of people in the workplace
synergic
working together
err
wander, mistake
errant
traveling or wandering
erratum
an error or mistake
erroneous
containing an error; wandering from the truth
esce
becoming
convalescent
to become healthier after an illness or a weakness
obsolescent
becoming obsolete
eth/ethos
character
bioethics
the ethics of biological research
ethology
the study of human character
eu
good, well
eugenics
the science of improving hereditary qualities in a race or breed
euphony
a pleasing sound
extra/extro
outside, beyond
extradite
to deliver or hand over
extrapolate
to estimate from known facts or values (infer beyond what is known)
extrasensory
derived from means outside the ordinary senses
fab/fam
speak
affable
talking to others in a friendly and easy manner
ineffable
incapable of being described in words
fac/fec/fic
do, make
confection
the act of making or putting something together from varied material
soporific
causing sleep
fal
err, deceive, false
fallacious
tending to mislead
fallacy
a false, mistaken, or flawed argument or idea
fatu
foolish
fatuity
something foolish or stupid
fatuous
foolish or stupid
fer
bear, carry
coniferous
mostly evergreen trees bearing needle-shaped leaves and cones or fruit
pestiferous
bearing infection
sporiferious
bearing spores
vociferous
marked by a vehement outcry (literally “a carrying voice”)
ferv
boil, bubble
effervescent
to bubble as gas escapes
fervid
very hot or intense
fi/fid
faith, trust
affidavit
a sworn statement made under oath
fiduciary
relating to or involving trust
perfidious
not able to be trusted
fin
end
ad infinitum
without end or limit
fin de siècle
characteristic of the end of a century
flagr/flam
burn
conflagration
a large destructive fire
flambeau
a flaming or lighted torch
flect/flex
bend
genuflect
to bend at the knee
inflect
to bend or turn from a course
flu/fluct/flux
flow
confluence
the flowing together of two or more things
effluence
something that flows out
influent
flowing in
mellifluous
having a smooth, rich flow (of a voice or words)
fus
pour
fusillade
a spirited outpouring, especially of criticism
suffuse
to spread over or pour through
gam
marriage
endogamy
marriage within a specific group
exogamy
marriage outside a specific group
gamic
having reproductive organs
gen
birth, creation, race, kind
congenital
present from birth
miscegenation
a mixture of races
geo
earth
geocentric
having the earth as the center
geophysics
earth science involving the study of physical processes occurring in the earth
geothermal
produced by the heat of the earth’s interior
gloss/glot
language, tongue
glossa
the tongue of an insect
glossolalia
tongue
glottis
the space between the vocal cords
graph/gram
write, draw, record
gramophone
an instrument that reproduces sounds by means of a vibrating needle; a record player
graphology
the study of handwriting
grat
pleasing, grateful
ex gratia
out of goodwill; done because you are grateful or generous
gratuitous
given without return benefit; without reason or cost
ingrate
an ungrateful person
gyn
woman
gynarchy
government by women
gynecoid
typical of the human female
gynecology
the study of the reproductive system of women
cajole
to persuade, esp by flattery
didactic
intended to teach; in the manner of a teacher, esp in an annoying way
impassive
emotionless
voluble
talkative
abet
to help or encourage someone to do something, esp something wrong or illegal
abstruse
difficult to understand
acolyte
a person who follows and assists a leader or an important person
acquisitive
excessively interested in acquiring money or material things, greedy
acumen
ability to make good decisions in a particular domain
agrarian
relating to farmland or farming, agricultural
alacrity
speed and eagerness
amalgam
a mixture in which the distinct elements are not lost
amity
a friendly relationship
anachronistic
belonging to a period other than the one portrayed; appropriate to an earlier period in history
analogous
comparable; similar
animus
a strong feeling of hate or anger
antedate
to precede in time, to predate
apostate
a person who abandons a religion, political party, cause, etc.
approbation
approval, praise
apropos
relevant or appropriate to a particular situation, discussion, etc.
archetype
an original model or perfect example of something
artful
clever or skillful, esp in a dishonest way
artless
honest and natural; without skill
ascetic
harshly self-denying of pleasures; harshly simple and without comforts or pleasures
assiduous
careful and persistent
astringent
sharply acidic or bitter (literally or figuratively); harshly critical in a clever way
augur
to be a sign of something to come
aver
to state that something is true
blithe
happy and carefree
bridle
a restraint
brook
to put up with or tolerate, esp. opposition
bucolic
pleasantly rural or relating to the countryside
buoy
to support, to uplift; to raise the spirits of
byzantine
excessively complicated
canonize
to regard or treat as sacred, to assign a high status to
capitulate
to surrender
castigate
to scold severely
catharsis
an emotional release that results in a feeling of relief
catholic
including many different things, all encompassing
cavalier
showing no concern for important matters, dismissive
censure
to officially express strong disapproval of
chary
cautious
chicanery
trickery, esp. in politics or finance
churlish
rude and unfriendly
cipher
a code, a disguised way of writing
circumlocution
the use of more words than needed, esp when being deliberately vague; saying things in a roundabout way
cloying
sickeningly sweet or sentimental
comity
friendliness and courteous behavior
complaisant
willing to please others
contemporaneous
existing or occurring during the same time period
corollary
something that naturally follows from something else, a natural result
coterie
a small group of people unified by a common interest or purpose
craven
very cowardly
credence
acceptance of something as true; plausibility or credibility
dalliance
a brief, casual involvement with something or relationship with someone
debar
to prohibit or ban
demur
to object
demure
reserved and modest
desultory
lacking a plan, purpose, or serious effort; aimless or random
diffident
shy and lacking in self-confidence
dilatory
slow to act; causing delay
dilettante
a person who takes part in an activity without real commitment or deep knowledge, a dabbler
dirge
a song of grief or mourning
disapprobation
strong disapproval
discomfit
to make uneasy or embarrassed
discursive
rambling, going from topic to topic (of speech or writing)
disquiet
to make uneasy or worried
dissolute
lacking moral restraint
droll
amusing in an odd way
echelon
a level or rank (in a society, profession, etc.)
edify
to inform or enlighten, to teach
egregious
extremely bad in a noticeable way
elide
to omit
enervate
to cause to feel weak and drained of energy
enmity
hatred, hostility
equanimity
mental and emotional calmness and composure; even temper
ersatz
faux or imitation, esp. when inferior to the real thing
esoteric
intended for or understood by a small group of people
euphony
the quality of being pleasing sounding or harmonious
evanescent
short lived; disappearing quickly
evince
to show clearly; to make evident
exculpate
to prove or declare someone not guilty
exigent
demanding immediate attention, urgent
existential
relating to existence
explicate
to explain in detail
extant
still in existence
extemporaneous
done or spoken without preparation, improvised
facetious
joking or humorous, esp. inappropriately
fecund
fertile
flippant
lacking respectfulness or seriousness
flummox
to greatly confuse
foment
to encourage or cause the development of (trouble, rebellion, etc.)
forebearance
patience and restraint; leniency
frenetic
fast and energetic in a wild or disordered way
gainsay
to deny, dispute, or contradict
garrulous
excessively talkative
gauche
lacking social grace, socially awkward
germane
relevant
glib
smooth but insincere and shallow (of words or a person speaking)
guile
skillful deceit
hackneyed
overused, unoriginal
harbinger
the sign of something to come
harrow
to distress, to torment
hedonism
pursuit of and indulgence in pleasure, esp. physical
heretical
going against widely accepted beliefs
hermetic
airtight; isolated or closed off from outside influence; intended for or understood only by those with specialized knowledge
heterodox
different from generally accepted beliefs or standards
hidebound
rigidly conservative
histrionic
emotional in an exaggerated way, melodramatic
homage
an expression of respect or honor
hoodwink
to deceive or trick
iconoclast
a person who attacks established ideas or institutions
ignoble
dishonorable, shameful
imbue
to fill (with a feeling or a quality)
impecunious
having little or no money
impervious
not able to be penetrated or affected
impetuous
impulsive
implacable
not able to be satisfied or stopped
impugn
to attack as false or questionable (a statement, motives, etc.)
incontrovertible
undeniable
indemnify
to compensate for a loss or damage
ingenuous
innocent and trusting
inimical
harmful or unfriendly
intelligible
understandable
inveterate
habitual or long-established and unlikely to change
irascible
easily angered
jingoistic
extremely and often aggressively nationalistic
kinetic
relating to motion, esp. high-energy
laconic
using few words
lambaste
to verbally attack and criticize
lampoon
to publicly criticize in a humorous way
languid
slow and relaxed, lacking energy
languorous
pleasantly lazy and lacking energy
limpid
transparent; clear and simple
loquacious
talkative
lugubrious
sad and gloomy
machination
a clever scheme or plot, often with an evil purpose
maligner
to pretend to be sick to avoid work or responsibilities
martinet
a person who demands a strict following of rules
maudlin
excessively senti
maverick
a person who shows independence of thought and action
mawkish
overly senti
mellifluous
having a pleasant and flowing sound
mendacity
untruthfulness
mercenary
concerned only with making money, esp. without a regard for ethics
mercurial
unpredictable, changing suddenly and often
misanthrope
a person who dislikes or distrusts other people
miscreant
a person who behaves badly or breaks the law
modish
fashionable, stylish
mordant
sharply critical, esp. in a humorous way
mores
the customs and conventions of a group
motif
a recurring or central theme (in a book or work of art); a design element or pattern in a design
myopic
shortsighted (literally or figuratively)
nadir
the lowest or worst point
nebulous
unclear, vague
neophyte
a beginner, a person who is new to something
nettlesome
causing annoyance or difficulty
noisome
very unpleasant or disgusting, esp. in smell
nonplussed
so surprised and confused that one is unsure of how to react
noxious
harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant
nutritive
relating to or providing nutrition
obsequious
excessively attentive and obedient
obviate
to make unnecessary; to prevent from happening
oeuvre
all of the work of a particular writer, artist, etc.
officious
annoyingly assertive in offering advice, help, etc.
opprobrium
public criticism or public disgrace
ostensible
appearing or stated to be true but not necessarily true
ostentatious
intended to attract notice and impress others
panacea
a cure-all
panache
a stylish, lively, and confident manner
paradigm
a typical example of or model for something; an underlying framework or set of guiding principles
paragon
a model of excellence or perfection
parlay
to turn something into or use something to get another thing of greater value
parochial
limited in area, scope, or outlook
parsimonious
extremely unwilling to spend money or use resources
pastiche
a varied mix; an artistic work that imitates earlier work
patronage
money and support given to an artist, business, etc.
paucity
a very small or insufficient quantity
peccadillo
a minor offense
pedestrian
boring and ordinary
penury
extreme poverty
perfidious
disloyal and untrustworthy
perfunctory
done with little effort or interest
pernicious
very harmful, esp. in a gradual or not easily noticed way
petulant
childishly sulky and irritable
philistine
a person who does not care about or understand culture, art, etc.
phlegmatic
not easily excited or upset
polemic
a strong written or spoken attack on an opinion, idea, or person
polymath
a person with great knowledge of numerous subjects
ponderous
slow and heavy (literally or figuratively) esp boring or clumsy because of those qualities
portend
to be a sign of something to come
prescient
able to predict the future
prevaricate
to speak in a non-committal way to avoid the truth
probity
integrity, honesty, and strong morals
profligate
extremely wasteful; not conforming to society’s morals
progenitor
an ancestor; an originator
prognostication
a prediction
prolix
using too many words
promulgate
to make widely known
propitious
indicating future success, favorable or promising
prosaic
ordinary or unimaginative
proscribe
to forbid or prohibit
protean
changing easily or frequently; versatile
provident
providing for in the future
puerile
childishly silly
pugnacious
eager to fight or argue
punctilious
showing great attention to detail or correct behavior
quash
to put an end to
quiescent
inactive, at rest
quixotic
foolishly idealistic
quotidian
ordinary or every day, esp when boring
raconteur
a skilled storyteller
rankle
to cause long lasting anger or annoyance
rapacious
aggressively greedy
recalcitrant
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
recondite
not widely known, hard to understand
rectitude
honesty and moral correctness
relegate
to assign to an inferior or insignificant position or place etc
replete
full or well supplied with something
repudiate
to refuse to accept; to reject or deny
restive
unable to stay still or be patient, restless
rife
common, frequent, or widespread, esp. of something undesirable
rote
unthinking repression or memorization for the purpose of learning
sagacious
wise and insightful
salutary
beneficial, esp to health
sanctimonious
acting morally superior
sanction
to permit or officially approve of
sanguine
optimistic, esp. in a bad situation
savant
a person of great learning, a scholar
sedulous
showing careful and persistent effort
seismic
relating to earthquakes, enormous in size or effect
sententious
excessively moralizing, preachy
serendipity
unexpected good luck
serpentine
curing or winding like a snake (literally or figuratively); overly complicated
sophistic
seemingly logical but actually based on faulty reasoning
soporific
causing sleep or drowsiness
staid
serious and sedate esp in a boring and old fashioned way
stalwart
loyal and dependable
surfeit
an excessive amount
swath
a large strip or area, esp. of land
taciturn
not talkative
tawdry
showy but low quality; morally distasteful, sleazy
tendentious
favoring a particular point of view, esp. a controversial one, biased
timorous
fearful
titular
having a title but no real power or responsibilities; mentioned in the title (of a character or thing that a book, film, etc. is named after)
torpor
a state of inactivity or lack of energy
tractable
easy to control, influence, or deal with
trappings
the objects, possessions, or features typically associated with a situation, role, etc.
trope
a common or overused theme
truculent
quickly angered and eager to argue, aggressively argumentative
tyro
a beginner
ubiquitous
present everywhere
umbrage
offense, a feeling of annoyance
upbraid
to criticize severely, to scold
vapid
boring bc showing no intelligence or imagination
venal
willing to behave dishonestly for money; corrupt
verisimilitude
the quality of seeming true or real
verve
energy and enthusiasm
vitiate
to damage the quality or effectiveness of something
vituperation
angry and abusive criticism
yoke
something oppressive or burdensome; a tie or link
abate
to decrease in strength or intensity, esp. something negative
abdicate
to give up a position of power; to reject or abandon (responsibility or duty)
abject
very bad or severe (of something negative)
admonish
to scold; to warn or advise
adroit
clever, skillful
advent
the arrival of something important
aesthetic
relating to beauty or appearance; pleasing to the eye
affectation
behavior that is unnatural to oneself, esp to impress others
aggrandize
to increase or make greater, esp. power, wealth, or reputation
akin
alike, similar
allude
to hint at, to indirectly refer to
analogy
a comparison between two otherwise unlike things that are similar in a particular respect
anomaly
something unusual or unexpected
antipathy
strong dislike
antithesis
a direct opposite
appreciable
large enough to matter
artifice
a clever trick or clever means to an end; insincere behavior
ascend
to rise or climb
ascribe
to regard something as coming from a particular person or thing, to attribute
attenuate
to weaken, reduce, or make thin
audacious
bold and daring, esp in a risky way; boldly disrespectful
avarice
greed
balk
to refuse to go along with an idea, plan, etc.
baroque
overly detailed and extravagant
befuddle
to make confused
behemoth
something huge and powerful
belie
to give a false impression of; to contradict
belittle
to make somebody or something seem unimportant
bellicose
inclined or eager to fight or start a war
belligerent
aggressively angry, combative
bemoan
to express sadness
bemuse
to make confused, esp. also slightly amused
beneficient
doing good or causing good to be done
bequeath
to pass on something to someone else
boon
something helpful or beneficial
boorish
rude or ill-mannered
brazen
shamelessly bold
broach
to bring up (a sensitive subject)
cacophony
a harsh mix of sounds
capricious
changing suddenly and often
caste
a social class
chauvinism
a belief that your gender or country is superior to all others
circumspect
thinking carefully before acting
clamorous
loud and noisy, esp. also insistent
clandestine
hidden or done in secret, esp bc illegal
cloister
to seclude
coalesce
to come together to form a single whole
cogent
clear and convincing, well-reasoned
commensurate
corresponding in amount or extent; proportionate
commodification
the act of turning something priceless into a product that can be bought and sold
compendium
a collection of things presented together, esp. in a book
concede
to reluctantly admit or give up something; to admit defeat
conflate
to mistake one thing for another, to mistake two different things for the same thing
confound
to confuse or frustrate, esp by going against expectations; to disprove
congenial
friendly; pleasant
conjecture
an opinion based on incomplete evidence, a guess
consummate
of the highest degree; perfect or extremely skilled
contrite
remorseful
convivial
fond or involving friendly socializing (of a person or atmosphere)
curb
to restrain or keep in check
cursory
done quickly and without attention to detail
dearth
a scarcity or lack of something
demystify
to make easy to understand; to clarify
deride
to make fun of and insult
despot
a cruel and oppressive ruler with absolute power
destitute
penniless; extremely impoverished
diatribe
a long, angry speech or written work
dichotomy
a difference bw two opposite things; a division into two opposite groups
dilate
to widen, enlarge, or expand
disaffected
discontented, esp w authority; no longer willing to support
disavow
to deny responsibility for; support for; or connection with
disconcerting
disturbing, unsettling
discrete
separate and distinct
dispassionate
not influenced by emotions or personal involvement, calm and impartial
dissemble
to present a false appearance of one’s feelings, etc.
dissident
someone who disagrees with the establishment, esp. in politics or religion
dissipation
the process of spreading out, thinning out, or gradually disappearing; wasteful spending and self indulgence
doctrinaire
stubbornly devoted to certain beliefs or principles
dogmatic
assertive and inflexible in one’s opinions or beliefs
duplicitious
deceitful
dynamism
energy and activity
eclectic
including elements from a variety of sources, composed of many different things
effectual
effective
egalitarian
relating to the belief that all people deserve equal rights
elated
extremely happy
elucidate
to clarify, to explain
elusive
difficult to find, catch, or understand
emulate
to imitate
engender
to bring about, to cause
enigmatic
mysterious or puzzling
ephemeral
lasting for a very short time
epitome
the perfect example
equivocal
open to interpretation, esp deliberately vague; uncertain
erudite
learned, well-educated or well-read
eschew
to deliberately avoid using or partaking in, to reject
estimable
deserving great respect
estrange
to make no longer friendly, close, or associated
euphemism
an inoffensive word or expression used in place of an unpleasant or embarrassing one, a polite term
exacting
demanding; requiring careful attention and precision
exodus
a mass departure
exonerate
to free from blame
exorbitant
unreasonably high (of a price, demands, etc)
expeditious
speedy and efficient
extol
to praise highly
exuberant
cheerfully enthusiastic
faction
a smaller group, typically opposing, within a larger one
fallacious
based on a mistaken idea or faulty reasoning
feckless
irresponsible or ineffective; good for nothing
fervent
having or showing intense feeling
fester
to rot; to become worse bc ignored or neglected
fitness
suitability, appropriateness
florid
overly elaborate
fodder
low quality or readily available material used to meet a high demand (food for livestock)
foolhardy
foolishly bold or adventurous; reckless
forestall
to prevent by taking action beforehand
galvanize
to stimulate or excite into taking action
goad
to urge or provoke
grapple
to wrestle with (literally or figuratively), to struggle w a problem
gratifying
satisfying
grave
very serious
gregarious
social, friendly, outgoing
grudging
reluctant
heed
to pay attention to (advice / warning / etc)
heterogenous
consisting of diverse components
homogenous
composed of elements that are all similar or identical
hyperbole
exaggeration
hypocrisy
behavior that contradicts one’s stated views
idiosyncrasy
a quirk, an unusual behavior or characteristic unique to one person or thing
illicit
illegal, not permitted
immutable
unchangeable or unchanging
imperceptible
too small to perceive; unnoticeable
imperious
overbearingly and arrogantly controlling
impertinent
rude and disrespectful
impetus
a driving force or motive
implicit
understood without being stated
improvident
not providing for the future, esp. financially
imprudent
not sensible, unwise
impudent
rude and disrespectful
inadvertent
unintentional
inane
silly and pointless
incendiary
causing fire; stirring up conflict or anger
incense
to make angry
incessant
never stopping, continuous
incongruous
out of place, incompatible
incredulous
unwilling or unable to believe something
indefatigable
tireless
indelible
permanent; unforgettable
indigenous
native
indiscriminate
not done or chosen in a careful way, unrestrained or at random
indolent
lazy, prone to laziness
inert
not moving
ingenious
clever and inventive
ingrained
firmly established or deeply embedded
innocuous
harmless
inordinate
excessive, unusually or disproportionately large
inscrutable
impossible to understand or interpret
insipid
uninteresting; unexciting
insoluble
impossible to solve; incapable of being dissolved in liquid
insular
interested in only one’s own country or group; isolated
interloper
a person who inserts oneself into a situation in which they are unwelcome or don’t belong; an intruder
intractable
very difficult or impossible to control, deal with, or solve
intransigent
very stubborn
intrepid
fearless, bold, braver
irresolute
indecisive
irreverent
lacking proper respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously
itinerant
traveling from place to place
judicious
showing good judgment, sensible
lackadaisical
lazy and unenthusiastic, half-hearted, carelessly lazy
languish
to become weak or waste away
largesse
generous giving of money or gifts
laud
to praise highly esp publicly
levity
humor and lighthearted esp when seriousness is expected
lionize
to give a lot of public attention and approval
lucid
clear and easy to understand
lurid
shocking, esp in a way that causes horror or disgust
magnanimous
generous and forgiving
maladroit
unskilled, awk, and clumsy
meander
to follow a winding course (lit or fig for both); to wander without purpose
mesmerize
to hold the complete attention of
mire
to cause to become stuck in mud (lit or fig); to trap in a difficult situation
misconstrue
to interpret something wrongly
misnomer
a wrong or inaccurate name
mollify
to make someone less angry or upset; to make less severe
mount
to organize and begin (activity etc) or to increase in amount
multifarious
of many different types
nefarious
evil or criminal
nominal
very small or insignificant; existing in name only
omnipresent
present everywhere
omniscient
all-knowing
orthodox
traditional; conventional
outmoded
out of style; out dated
outstrip
to go faster than, to exceed
overwrought
overly elaborate or complicated, done to excess; very upset or agitated
palpable
able to be touched or noticed; obvious
pantheon
an group of important or notable people or things
paradox
a person or thing that has seemingly contradictory qualities
paramount
most important
pariah
a person who is despised and rejected by others; an outcast
pastoral
of the countryside, esp, its pleasant peacefulness
patent
obvious
pedantic
nit picky
pejorative
expressing disapproval or criticism of a word or phrase
pious
devoutly religious
pithy
using few words but well-expressed
plaintive
sad and mournful, sorrowful
plastic
easily shapeable
platitude
an overused and thus uninteresting statement
plethora
a large or excessive amount
pliant
bendable (lit or fig); easily influenced
plodding
slow and boring, esp in an effort full way
plummet
to fall quickly
poignant
evoking tender sadness, touching
polarize
to divide into two contrasting groups or to cause to become divided in such a way
pragmatic
practical and reasonable
precipitate
to cause to happen suddenly
precipitous
dangerously steep, sudden and steep (of a decline etc); done too quickly and without careful thought
preclude
to prevent an action or occurrence
precocious
exhibiting qualities or abilities of an adult art an unusually early age
proclivity
a tendency, esp towards something bad
prodigal
foolishly wasteful with money, resources, etc.
prodigious
impressively large or great
prodigy
a young person of exceptional talent in a particular domain
profuse
in large amounts
provincial
narrow minded and unsophisticated; small town
prowess
great skill or ability
purport
to appear or claim to be or do something, esp. falsely
quandary
a state of uncertainty or confusion; a difficult situation
quintessential
typical, most perfect of its kind
rapport
friendly communication and relationship
rebut
to disapprove or deny, to counter
rebuke
to scold or criticize sharply
rectify
to make right, to correct
redouble
to intensify or greatly increase
reiterate
to repeat a statement in order to emphasize it
remedial
intended as a remedy or cure; intended for students with learning disabilities
reprisal
an act of retaliation or revenge
reproach
to scold
rescind
to revoke, repeal, or cancel
respite
a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant
reticent
reluctant to reveal one’s thoughts or feelings
revamp
to revise, remake, or renovate
revel
to take great pleasure in; to engage in unrestrained festivity, to party noisily
revere
to greatly admire and respect
rhetoric
language intended to persuade or influence
salable
able to fit or be sold
salient
relevant, most important
satire
the use of humor, sarcasm, and/or exaggeration to criticize the faults of someone or something; a piece of writing or performance that uses these tactics
schism
a split or division, esp. because of disagreement
scintillating
sparkling and brilliant (lit or fig); very interesting, clever, and exciting
scoff
to dismiss as silly or stupid (in speech or writing)
secular
not religious or spiritual
siphon
to draw or transfer from a source, to drain (into something else)
slew
a large amount
slight
an insulting act of disrespect
solicitous
showing care and concern for the needs of others, attentive
solvent
able to pay one’s debts
spurious
false or fake, esp. in a deceitful way; based on false ideas or faulty reasoning (of an argument, etc.)
stilted
of speech or writing - stiff and unnatural seeming, too formal
stinting
stingy
stoic
not complaining or showing feelings, accepting events without emotion
stopgap
a temporary measure or solution
strife
angry or bitter disagreement or conflict
subservient
very submissive; less important than something or someone else
subvert
to weaken or make less effective
suffuse
to spread throughout and fill every part of (literally and figuratively)
supersede
to take the place of, to replace, esp. something older or less useful
supplant
to take the place of
supplant
to the place of
supple
bending and moving easily and gracefully, flexible
surmise
to suppose something is true without strong evidence
surreal
so bizarre that it doesn’t seem real, dreamlike
surreptitious
done secretly
sycophant
a suck-up
synonymous
basically the same in meaning or implication
taboo
not socially acceptable to do or talk about
tacit
understood without being stated
tact
skillful inoffensiveness in speech or manners, esp. when dealing with sensitive issues
temper
to make less extreme or balance out by adding something else
temperate
mild or moderate, not extreme
tenable
able to be maintained or defended
titillate
to interest or excite, esp in a sexual way
transfix
to render motionless, as with amazement, fear, etc.
transgression
a violation of a law, rule, or code of conduct
transient
short-lived, passing
transitory
temporary
treacherous
involving betrayal; having hidden dangers
trifling
insignificant, unimportant, of little value
trite
unoriginal and overused
truncate
to shorten, to cut short
tumultuous
noisy and excited; full of ups and downs or violent disorder
typify
to be a typical or representative example of
uncanny
strange or mysterious, esp in a seemingly supernatural way
unencumbered
free from burdens, restrictions, or obstacles
unflappable
able to stay calm and composed in a difficult situation
unremitting
never stopping or weakening
unvarnished
plain and straightforward
unwieldy
difficult to handle, manage, or use because of size, shape, complexity, etc.
urbane
polished and polite in manner
utilitarian
designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive
venerate
regard to treat with deep respect
veracity
truthfulness, accuracy
virtuoso
a person who is highly skilled at something
vociferous
loud and forceful (of demands, criticisms, etc.)
whitewash
to make something seem not as bad as it was, to downplay or hide unpleasant facts about something
xenophobic
having or showing fear or dislike of foreigners
nexus
a connection between things, a connected group; a central point or place
hetero
different
heterochromatic
of several different colors or wavelengths
heterodox
different from a religious or other acknowledged standard
heterogenous
of different origins
hom/homo
same
homeostasis
a stable environment or condition of equilibrium (remaining the same)
homocentric
having the same center
homologous
having the same relative position or structure
homonym
one of two or more words with the same spelling and pronunciation but different meanings
hydr/hydra/hydro
water
hydroelectric
relating to the generation of electricity by water power
hydrophyte
a plant that grows submerged in water
hydroponics
the growing of plants with water and added nutrients but without soil
hyper
over, excessive, above
hyperbole
an extravagant exaggeration
hypercritical
overly critical
hyperglycemia
excessive sugar in the blood
hypertension
above average blood pressure
hypo
under, beneath, less than
hypodermic
beneath the skin
hypoglycemia
a condition characterized by a less than normal amount of sugar in the blood
hypoplasia
a condition in which an organ or body part remains underdeveloped
ig/im/in
not, without
ignominious
not having honour
impecunious
not having money; indigent
impervious
not able to penetrate; not capable of being disturbed
inchoate
without form; not yet perfected
indigent
being without; not having something of value
indolence
not being disposed to labor; laziness
inimical
not friendly; hostile
innocuous
not harmful; inoffensive
intractable
not easily managed
inter
between, among
internecine
deadly; marked by conflict between members in a group
interpolate
to alter, often to falsify or corrupt, by inserting between
interregnum
the time between reigns when a throne is vacant
intra/intro
into, inward, within
intramural
being within the limits of a community
intraocular
implanted in the eyeball
intravenous
taking place within a vein
ject
throw, throw down
abject
cast down in spirit
conjecture
an inference drawn from incomplete information; a conclusion thrown together
join/junct
meet, join
adjoin
to join or attach
juncture
a point of joining