GRE Vocabulary Flashcards
1
Q
Abridge
A
to shorten, reduce
2
Q
Compendium
A
comprehensive collection, publication containing many works
3
Q
Cursory
A
rapidly performed or produced
4
Q
Curtail
A
to slow down, put restrictions on, stop entirely
5
Q
Terse
A
using few words smoothly elegant
6
Q
Impetuous
A
marked by impulsive passion or force
7
Q
Baneful
A
seriously harmful
8
Q
Vociferous
A
marked by or given to intense outcry
9
Q
Neophyte
A
a new convert, beginner
10
Q
Cognoscenti
A
a person who has expert knowledge in a subject
11
Q
Malcontents
A
one who beard a grudge, is in active opposition
12
Q
Canonical
A
present in a canon (a generally accepted principle)
13
Q
Seminal
A
creative or having the power to originate; highly influential
14
Q
Antithetical
A
being in direct opposition
15
Q
Inchoate
A
being only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
16
Q
Incipient
A
beginning to come into being or be apparent
17
Q
Stalwart
A
marked by outstanding strength; an unwavering person
18
Q
Irrefragable
A
impossible to refute; impossible to break
19
Q
Fecund
A
fruitful in offspring; intellectually productive
20
Q
Ephemeral
A
lasting a very short time
21
Q
Incessant
A
continuing without interruption
22
Q
Elocution
A
the art of effective public speaking
23
Q
Paean
A
a joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph
24
Q
Oratory
A
the art of public speaking; art of making speeches
25
Panegyric
formal or elaborate praise
26
Diatribe
bitter speech or writing
27
Harangue
speech addressed to public
28
Repudiate
to refuse to accept, reject as untrue
29
Lionized
to treat as an object of great interest or importance
30
Obstinate
stubbornly adhering to an opinion; not easily subdued
31
Elucidation
to give a clarifying explanation
32
Obfuscation
to make obscure; confuse
33
Malapropism
unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase
34
Tepid
lacking in passion, force, or zest
35
Emaciated
very thin and feeble
36
Kismet
fate
37
Imbroglio
an embarrassing misunderstanding, scandal, complicated situation; confused mass
38
Bemuse
to make confused; to occupy the attention of; to cause to have feelings of wry
39
Excortiate
to wear off the skin of; to censure scathingly
40
Extol
to praise highly, glorify
41
Flippant
lacking proper respect or seriousness; glib, talkative
42
Aplomb
complete and confident composure or self-assurance
43
Derision
the use of ridicule or scorn to show contempt; an object of ridicule or scorn
44
Taciturn
temporarily disinclined to talk `
45
Furtive
done in a a quiet and secretive way to avoid being noticed; obtained shadily
46
Stentorian
extremely loud
47
Felicitous
very well suited or expressed; pleasantly delightful
48
Garrulous
pointlessly or annoyingly talkative
49
Poignant
painfully affecting the feelings, deeply affecting; designed to make an impression; pleasurably stimulating; being to the point; pungently pervasive
50
Imbibe
drink; to take up or in
51
Trepidation
a nervous or fearful feeling of uncertain agitation; a tremulous motion
52
Imperturbation
freedom from agitation
53
Ochlocracy
government by the mob
54
Plutocracy
government by the wealthy
55
Oligarchy
government by the few
56
Autocracy
government by one person
57
Scintillation
the act of emitting sparks; a brilliant outburst (of wit); a flash of the eye
58
Censure
a judgement involving condemnation; an official reprimand; to find fault with; to formally reprimand someone
59
Quittance
Discharging from a debt or obligation; a document evidencing quittance
60
Irascible
marked by hot temper and easily provoked anger
61
Lambaste
to assault violently; to attack verbally
62
Innocuous
producing no injury; not likely to give offense
63
Commensurate
corresponding in size, amount, or degree; equal in measure
64
Diffident
hesitant in acting or speaking through lack of self-confidence
65
Petulant
insolent or rude in speech or behavior
66
Disquietude
anxiety, agitation
67
Destitute
lacking something needed or desirable; lacking possessions and resources
68
Surreptitious
done, made, or acquired by stealth
69
Iconoclast
a person who attacks settled beliefs or institutions
70
Circuitous
having a circular or winding course; not being direct
71
Abnegate
deny, rennoucne; surrender, relinquish
72
Excogitate
to think out
73
Incongruous
lacking congruity
74
Quotidian
occurring everyday; commonplace
75
Intransigent
characterized by refusal to compromise or to abandon an often extreme position or attitude
76
Abstemious
marked by restraint
77
Affable
being pleasant and at ease in talking to others; characterized by ease and friendliness
78
Reticent
inclined to be silent in speech; restrained in expression, presentation, or appearance
79
Veracity
conformity with truth or fact; devotion to the truth; something true
80
Vacillate
to waver in mind, will, or feeling
81
Probity
adherence to the highest principles and ideals
82
Melodious
having a pleasing melody
83
Acerbic
sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper or mood
84
Unctuous
having, revealing, or marked by a smug and false earnestness or spirituality
85
Caustic
corrosive; marked by incisive sarcasm
86
Sonorous
producing sound; full or loud in sound; imposing or impressive in effect or style
87
Esoteric
requiring knowledge that is restricted to a small group
88
Abstruse
difficult to understand
89
Lackadaisical
lacking life, spirit, or zest
90
Hapless
having no luck
91
Duplicitous
deceptive in words or actions
92
Listless
characterized by a lack of interest, energy, or spirit
93
Artless
made without skill; free from guile
94
Mendacious
characterized by deception
95
Efficacious
having the power to produce a desired effect
96
Interpolate
to alter or corrupt by inserting something new; to insert between other things
97
Apogee
the farthest or highest point
98
Impugn
to assail by words or arguments
99
Acrimony
anger and bitterness
100
Cacophony
harsh sound; a striking mixture
101
Sinecure
an office or position that requires little or no work and provides and income; an ecclesiastical benefice without the care of souls
102
Paltry
inferior; mean; trivial; meager
103
Abhorrent
causing or deserving strong dislike or hatred
104
Desultory
marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose; not connected to the main subject; disappointing in progress
105
Truculent
aggressively self-assertive
106
Sacrosanct
most sacred or holy
107
Enmity
active hatred
108
liminal
barely perceptible
109
Approbation
praise
110
Largesse
liberal giving
111
Galvanize
to subject to the action of an electric current
112
Miscreant
unbelieving, heretical; depraved, villainous
113
Interloper
one that intrudes; an illegal trader
114
Duress
forcible restraint
115
Ebullience
quality of lively expression of thoughts
116
Inscrutable
not readily investigated, mysterious
117
Capitulate
to cease resisting
118
Insipid
lacking qualities that interest; lacking taste
119
Draconian
characteristic of Draco; cruel
120
Prolocutor
spokesman; presiding officer
121
Despot
ruler with absolute power
122
Cognizant
knowledgeable of something especially through personal experience
123
Phlegmatic
relating to the humor phlegm; having a slow temperament
124
Conciliate
appease; to gain by pleasing acts; to make compatible
125
Cantankerous
difficult to deal with
126
Ignoble
characterized by lowness; Plebeian
127
Facetious
joking inappropriately; intended to be funny
128
Ingratiate
to gain favor by deliberate effort
129
Avuncular
of or relating to an uncle
130
Eidetic
marked by extraordinarily accurate recall
131
Obtrusive
forward in conduct; protruding
132
Minutia
a minor detail
133
Magnanimous
showing a lofty and courageous spirit
134
Monotony
tedious sameness
135
Arbitrate
to settle a dispute
136
Acrid
sharp and harsh in taste or odor, deeply bitter
137
Concord
a state of agreement
138
Propitious
tending to favor; being a good omen
139
Salubrious
favorable to health
140
Aspersion
a false charge meant to harm one's reputation; a sprinkling of water (religious ceremony)
141
Facsimile
an exact copy
142
Foible
a minor flaw
143
Enervate
to reduce the mental vigor of; to lessen the strength of
144
Promulgate
to proclaim
145
Epitome
an ideal example; a summary of a written work; a miniature form
146
Ontology
branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature and relations of being
147
Countenance
look, expression; mental composure; face, visage; to extend approval to
148
Tempestuous
relating to a tempest
149
Placid
serenely free of interruption
150
Mercurial
having qualities of eloquence, ingenuity, or thievishness attributed to the god Mercury or influence of the planet Mercury; characterized by rapid mood change
151
Pliant
easily influenced; suitable for varied uses
152
Frenetic
marked by fast and energetic activity
153
Arrogate
to claim without justification; to claim on behalf of another
154
Eschew
to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds
155
Imbue
to provide with something freely; to permeate or influence; to dye deeply
156
Sectarian
characteristic of a sect; limited in character or scope
157
`Riposte
a retaliatory maneuver
158
Harried
beset by problems
159
Noisome
noxious; highly obnoxious
160
Penury
an oppressive lack of resources; extreme frugality
161
Sanguine
marked by eager hopefulness; relating to blood
162
Descry
to catch sight of; discover
163
Adumbrate
to foreshadow vaguely; overshadow, obscure
164
Insouciance
nonchalance
165
Attenuate
to reduce the severity of; to make thin
166
Castigate
to subject to severe punishment or criticism
167
Sojourn
a temporary stay
168
Tenet
a belief or doctrine generally held to be true
169
Polity
political organization
170
Spurious
falsified origin; of a deceitful nature
171
Fallacious
embodying a fallacy; tending to deceive
172
Bellicose
inclined to start fights or wars
173
Blithe
lacking consideration; of lighthearted character
174
Arduous
hard to accomplish
175
Penchant
a strong inclination
176
Apace
at a quick pace
177
Headlong
without deliberation; without delay
178
Precipitate
to throw violently; to bring about abruptly; to cause to separate from solution
179
Abet
to encourage; to assist or support in the achievement of a purpose
180
Ancillary
subordinate; supplementary
181
Espouse
to marry; to take up and support as a cause
182
Mainstay
a chief support
183
Munificent
very liberal in giving
184
Bilious
of an ill-natures disposition
185
Dudgeon
a state of indignation
186
Pettish
fretful, peevish
187
Pique
to excite or arouse; to arouse anger in
188
Querulous
habitually complaining
189
Umbrage
the feeling of resentment; shade, shadow
190
Waspish
resembling a wasp in behavior
191
Dilettante
a person having a superficial interest
192
Novitiate
novice
193
Proselyte
a new convert
194
Tyro
a beginner in learning
195
Burgeoning
growing rapidly
196
Callow
lacking adult sophistication
197
Engender
beget, procreate; to cause to exist
198
Nascent
having recently come into existence
199
Acidulous
somewhat acid or harsh in nature
200
Asperity
roughness in manner
201
Mordacious
biting or sharp in manner
202
Mordant
biting and caustic in manner
203
Trenchant
sharply perceptive
204
Banal
lacking originality
205
Hackneyed
lacking in freshness or originality
206
Platitude
the quality of being dull
207
Prosaic
characteristic of prose; ordinary
208
Quotidian
occurring everyday
209
Trite
boring from much use
210
Depraved
marked by corruption
211
Dissipation
an act of self-indulgence; dispersion
212
Iniquity
gross injustice; a wicked act or thing
213
Libertine
a freethinker (especially in religious matter); a person unrestrained by convention or morality
214
Libidinous
marked by lustful desires
215
Reprobate
a depraved person; scoundrel
216
Ribald
marked by coarseness or lewdness
217
Salacious
arousing sexual desire or imagination
218
Sordid
vile; wretched
219
Turpitude
inherent baseness, depravity
220
Caprice
disposition to do things impulsively
221
Volatile
subject to rapid change; tending to erupt in violence
222
Calumny
a misrepresentation intended to harm another's reputation
223
Decry
to depreciate officially or publicly; to express strong disapproval of
224
Disparge
to speak slightingly about; to degrade
225
Gainsay
to declare to be untrue; contradict
226
Inveigh
to protest or complain bitterly
227
Objurgation
a harsh rebuke
228
Obloquy
abusive language; bad repute
229
Opprobrium
something that brings disgrace
230
Pillory
to expose to public ridicule; a device used to publicly punish offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes for the head and hands
231
Remonstrate
to urge reasons in opposition
232
Reprove
to scold or correct gently; to express disapproval of
233
Revile
to subject to verbal abuse
234
Tirade
a protracted speech usually marked by abusive language
235
Vituperate
to berate; to use harsh condemnatory language
236
Bereave
to deprive of something
237
Defunct
no longer living, existing, or functioning
238
Dolorous
causing or marked by misery or grief
239
Knell
an indication of the end or failure of something; a sound of a bell rung slowly (for death)
240
Macabre
having death as a subject; dwelling on the gruesome
241
Moribund
approaching death; being in a state of inactivity
242
Obsequies
funeral or burial rites
243
Sepulcher
a place of burial
244
Wraith
ghost; an insubstantial form
245
Ascetic
practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal discipline; austere in appearance or nature
246
Hegemony
authority over others
247
Imperious
marked by arrogant assurance
248
Peremptory
putting an end to something
249
Arcane
known to only a few people
250
Opaque
blocking light; hard to understand or explain; thickheaded
251
Recondite
difficult to understand; something obscure; hidden from sight
252
Turbid
deficient in clarity
253
Fetid
having a bad smell
254
Invidious
of an unpleasant nature; tending to cause discontent; envious
255
Odious
arousing or deserving hatred or repugnance
256
Rebarbative
repellent, irritating
257
Cogent
convincing; having power to compel
258
Limpid
clear and simple in style; absolutely serene and untroubled
259
Lucid
clear to the understanding; having full use of one's faculties
260
Pellucid
admitting maximum passage of light without distortion; easy to understand
261
Aberrant
deviating from the usual
262
Anachronism
a person or thing that is chronologically out of place
263
Abash
to destroy one's self confidence
264
Compunction
anxiety arising from awareness of guilt
265
Contrite
feeling sorrow and remorse for a sin
266
Expiate
to make amends for
267
Gaucherie
a tactless or awkward act
268
Rue
regret, sorrow
269
Tantamount
equivalent in value, significance, or effect
270
Apocryphal
of doubtful authenticity
271
Canard
a false or unfounded story
272
Chicanery
trickery
273
Dissemble
to hide under false appearance
274
Equivocal
of uncertain nature
275
Ersatz
being a usually artificial and inferior substitution or imitation
276
Perfidy
the quality or state of being faithless or disloyal
277
Prevaricate
to deviate from the truth
278
Specious
having a false look of truth; having deceptive attraction or allure
279
Consanguine
of the same blood or origin
280
Distaff
female, maternal; a staff for holding wool in spinning
281
Endogamy
marriage within a certain group as required by custom or law
282
Filial
relating to a son or daughter
283
Scion
descendent, child; heir; graft for a plant
284
Doctrinaire
stubbornly devoted to a doctrine or theory without regard to practical considerations
285
Fervid
burning; marked by intense feeling
286
Palliate
to moderate the intensity of
287
Droll
having a humorous or odd quality
288
Gibe
to utter taunting words
289
Jocular
said or done as a joke
290
Levity
excessive frivolity
291
Raillery
good natured ridicule
292
Abate
to decrease force or intensity; to put an end to
293
Interregnum
a lapse or pause in a continuous series (especially between two regimes)
294
Interstice
a space that intervenes between things
295
Unstinting
not restricted or holding back; giving generously
296
Rapacious
excessively covetous
297
Venal
purchasable; associated with corrupt bribery
298
Baleful
deadly in influence
299
Dour
stern, harsh; gloomy, sullen
300
Fell
fierce, sinister
301
Sardonic
disdainfully or skeptically humorous
302
Vitriol
bitterly harsh in language or criticism
303
Inimical
being adverse often by reason of hostility
304
Minatory
having a menacing quality
305
Pernicious
highly injurious or destructive
306
Din
a loud continuous noise
307
Dissonance
lack of agreement; mingling of discordant sounds
308
Raucous
disagreeably harsh
309
Strident
characterized by harsh, insistent, discordant sound
310
Anathema
something intensely disliked
311
Odium
hatred accompanied by contempt
312
Rancor
bitterly deep-seated ill-will
313
Dither
tremble; to act indecisively
314
Churlish
marked by a lack of civility
315
Curmudgeon
a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man
316
Credulous
ready to believe on slight evidence
317
Ingenuous
lacking craft or subtlety
318
Fulsome
characterized by abundance
319
Indolent
habitually lazy; causing little or no pain
320
Inert
lacking the power to move
321
Languid
drooping from exhaustion; sluggish in character or disposition
322
Lassitude
condition of weariness
323
Quiscent
marked by inactivity; causing no trouble or symptoms
324
Torpid
sluggish in function
325
Auspicious
showing that the future is likely
326
Portentous
eliciting amazement; relating to a foreshadowing
327
Providential
marked by foresight
328
Admonish
to indicate duties to; to give advice to
329
Cavil
to raise trivial objection
330
Enjoin
to direct of impose by authoritative order; forbid
331
Hector
to behave in an arrogant or intimidating way
332
Martinet
a strict disciplinarian
333
Reproof
criticism for a fault
334
Askance
with disapproval; with a side-glance, obliquely
335
Carom
to strike and rebound
336
Sidle
to cause to move or turn sideways
337
Sinuous
of a serpentine or wavy from
338
Undulate
having a wavy surface; to from or move in waves
339
Bombastic
speech or writing that is given exaggerated importance by artificial means
340
Circumlocution
use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea; evasion in speech
341
Grandiloquence
a lofty, pompous style or manner especially in language
342
Loquacious
full of excessive talk
343
Periphrasis
use of a longer phrase in place of a short one
344
Prolix
drawn out; using an excess of words
345
Turgid
excessively embellished in style; being in a state of distention
346
Ameliorate
to make more tolerable
347
Assuage
to lessen the intensity of (something that pains); to put an end to by satisfying
348
Mollify
to soothe in temper; reduce intensity or rigidity
349
Slake
to lessen the force of; satisfy
350
Euphonious
pleasing to the ear
351
Esurient
hungry, greedy
352
Impecunious
having very little or no money
353
Indigent
suffering from extreme poverty
354
Accolade
an expression of praise; a salutation marking the conferring of knighthood
355
Encomium
glowing praise
356
Eulogize
to speak or write in high praise
357
Augur
an official diviner of ancient Rome; to foretell, give promise of
358
Fey
able to see into the future; marked by an otherworldly air
359
Harbinger
something that foreshadows a future event; one that initiates a major change
360
Presage
something that foreshadows an event; an intuition about what the future will bring
361
Prescience
foreknowledge of events
362
Prognosticate
to foretell from signs
363
Discomfit
to put in a state of embarrassment; to thwart the plans of
364
Encumber
to weigh down; to impede or hamper the function of
365
Forfend
to ward off; protect, preserve
366
Astute
mentally sharp or clever
367
Perspicuous
plain to the understanding
368
Perspicacious
of acute mental vision or discernment
369
Discountable
cheerless; dejected, downcast
370
Doleful
full of grief; causing grief
371
Dolor
mental suffering
372
Elegiac
of, relating to, or comprising an elegy (especially expressing sorrow)
373
Forlorn
sad and lonely because of isolation; nearly hopeless
374
Lugubrious
mournful; dismal
375
Morose
having a sullen and gloomy disposition
376
Cimmerian
very dark or gloomy; mythical people described by Homer as dwelling in a remote realm of mist and gloom
377
Plaintive
melancholy
378
Threnody
a song of lamentation for the dead, elegy
379
Inexorable
not to be persuaded or stopped
380
Obdurate
stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
381
Recalcitrant
defiant or authority; resistant
382
Renitent
resisting physical pressure
383
Untoward
difficult to guide; marked by trouble
384
Laconic
using minimal words
385
Antedate
to precede in time
386
Craven
lacking the least bit or courage
387
Pusillanimous
lacking courage and resolution
388
Recreant
cowardly; unfaithful to duty
389
Timorous
of a timid disposition
390
Fealty
intense fidelity
391
Indubitable
too evident to be doubted
392
Verity
the quality or state of being true
393
Idiosyncrasy
characteristic peculiarity
394
Ambulatory
able to walk about
395
Itinerant
traveling from place to place
396
Peripatetic
relating to waling, moving from place to place; pedestrian
397
Discursive
moving from topic to topic without order
398
Expatiate
to move about freely; to speak or write in great detail
399
Peregrinate
to travel especially on foot; to travel or walk all over
400
Adulterate
to corrupt or make impure by the addition of a foreign or inferior substance or element; tainted with adultery
401
Obviate
to anticipate and prevent something
402
Stultify
to have an inhibiting effect on; to cause something to appear or be foolish
403
Vitiate
to make faulty; to debase in moral or aesthetic status
404
Aphorism
a concise statement of a principle; a short formulation of a truth or sentiment
405
Apothegm
a short, pithy, and instructive saying or formulation
406
Bromide
a commonplace or tiresome person, bore
407
Dictum
a noteworthy statement
408
Epigram
a concise poem; a terse, witty saying
409
Sententious
given to or abounding in aphoristic expression
410
Truism
an undoubted self-evident truth
411
Abeyance
a state of temporary inactivity; a lapse in succession
412
Abjure
to renounce upon oath; to abstain from
413
Abrogate
to abolish by authoritative action; to treat as nonexistent
414
Decamp
to depart suddenly
415
Recidivism
a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or behavior
416
Renege
to go back on a promise; to deny, renounce
417
Sycophantic
describing a self-seeking flatterer
418
Egregious
conspicuous, especially bad
