GRE Vocabulary Flashcards
Abridge
to shorten, reduce
Compendium
comprehensive collection, publication containing many works
Cursory
rapidly performed or produced
Curtail
to slow down, put restrictions on, stop entirely
Terse
using few words smoothly elegant
Impetuous
marked by impulsive passion or force
Baneful
seriously harmful
Vociferous
marked by or given to intense outcry
Neophyte
a new convert, beginner
Cognoscenti
a person who has expert knowledge in a subject
Malcontents
one who beard a grudge, is in active opposition
Canonical
present in a canon (a generally accepted principle)
Seminal
creative or having the power to originate; highly influential
Antithetical
being in direct opposition
Inchoate
being only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
Incipient
beginning to come into being or be apparent
Stalwart
marked by outstanding strength; an unwavering person
Irrefragable
impossible to refute; impossible to break
Fecund
fruitful in offspring; intellectually productive
Ephemeral
lasting a very short time
Incessant
continuing without interruption
Elocution
the art of effective public speaking
Paean
a joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph
Oratory
the art of public speaking; art of making speeches
Panegyric
formal or elaborate praise
Diatribe
bitter speech or writing
Harangue
speech addressed to public
Repudiate
to refuse to accept, reject as untrue
Lionized
to treat as an object of great interest or importance
Obstinate
stubbornly adhering to an opinion; not easily subdued
Elucidation
to give a clarifying explanation
Obfuscation
to make obscure; confuse
Malapropism
unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase
Tepid
lacking in passion, force, or zest
Emaciated
very thin and feeble
Kismet
fate
Imbroglio
an embarrassing misunderstanding, scandal, complicated situation; confused mass
Bemuse
to make confused; to occupy the attention of; to cause to have feelings of wry
Excortiate
to wear off the skin of; to censure scathingly
Extol
to praise highly, glorify
Flippant
lacking proper respect or seriousness; glib, talkative
Aplomb
complete and confident composure or self-assurance
Derision
the use of ridicule or scorn to show contempt; an object of ridicule or scorn
Taciturn
temporarily disinclined to talk `
Furtive
done in a a quiet and secretive way to avoid being noticed; obtained shadily
Stentorian
extremely loud
Felicitous
very well suited or expressed; pleasantly delightful
Garrulous
pointlessly or annoyingly talkative
Poignant
painfully affecting the feelings, deeply affecting; designed to make an impression; pleasurably stimulating; being to the point; pungently pervasive
Imbibe
drink; to take up or in
Trepidation
a nervous or fearful feeling of uncertain agitation; a tremulous motion
Imperturbation
freedom from agitation
Ochlocracy
government by the mob
Plutocracy
government by the wealthy
Oligarchy
government by the few
Autocracy
government by one person
Scintillation
the act of emitting sparks; a brilliant outburst (of wit); a flash of the eye
Censure
a judgement involving condemnation; an official reprimand; to find fault with; to formally reprimand someone
Quittance
Discharging from a debt or obligation; a document evidencing quittance
Irascible
marked by hot temper and easily provoked anger
Lambaste
to assault violently; to attack verbally
Innocuous
producing no injury; not likely to give offense
Commensurate
corresponding in size, amount, or degree; equal in measure
Diffident
hesitant in acting or speaking through lack of self-confidence
Petulant
insolent or rude in speech or behavior
Disquietude
anxiety, agitation
Destitute
lacking something needed or desirable; lacking possessions and resources
Surreptitious
done, made, or acquired by stealth
Iconoclast
a person who attacks settled beliefs or institutions
Circuitous
having a circular or winding course; not being direct
Abnegate
deny, rennoucne; surrender, relinquish
Excogitate
to think out
Incongruous
lacking congruity
Quotidian
occurring everyday; commonplace
Intransigent
characterized by refusal to compromise or to abandon an often extreme position or attitude
Abstemious
marked by restraint
Affable
being pleasant and at ease in talking to others; characterized by ease and friendliness
Reticent
inclined to be silent in speech; restrained in expression, presentation, or appearance
Veracity
conformity with truth or fact; devotion to the truth; something true
Vacillate
to waver in mind, will, or feeling
Probity
adherence to the highest principles and ideals
Melodious
having a pleasing melody
Acerbic
sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper or mood
Unctuous
having, revealing, or marked by a smug and false earnestness or spirituality
Caustic
corrosive; marked by incisive sarcasm
Sonorous
producing sound; full or loud in sound; imposing or impressive in effect or style
Esoteric
requiring knowledge that is restricted to a small group
Abstruse
difficult to understand
Lackadaisical
lacking life, spirit, or zest
Hapless
having no luck
Duplicitous
deceptive in words or actions
Listless
characterized by a lack of interest, energy, or spirit
Artless
made without skill; free from guile
Mendacious
characterized by deception
Efficacious
having the power to produce a desired effect
Interpolate
to alter or corrupt by inserting something new; to insert between other things
Apogee
the farthest or highest point
Impugn
to assail by words or arguments
Acrimony
anger and bitterness
Cacophony
harsh sound; a striking mixture
Sinecure
an office or position that requires little or no work and provides and income; an ecclesiastical benefice without the care of souls
Paltry
inferior; mean; trivial; meager
Abhorrent
causing or deserving strong dislike or hatred
Desultory
marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose; not connected to the main subject; disappointing in progress
Truculent
aggressively self-assertive
Sacrosanct
most sacred or holy
Enmity
active hatred
liminal
barely perceptible
Approbation
praise
Largesse
liberal giving
Galvanize
to subject to the action of an electric current
Miscreant
unbelieving, heretical; depraved, villainous
Interloper
one that intrudes; an illegal trader
Duress
forcible restraint
Ebullience
quality of lively expression of thoughts
Inscrutable
not readily investigated, mysterious
Capitulate
to cease resisting
Insipid
lacking qualities that interest; lacking taste
Draconian
characteristic of Draco; cruel
Prolocutor
spokesman; presiding officer
Despot
ruler with absolute power
Cognizant
knowledgeable of something especially through personal experience
Phlegmatic
relating to the humor phlegm; having a slow temperament
Conciliate
appease; to gain by pleasing acts; to make compatible
Cantankerous
difficult to deal with
Ignoble
characterized by lowness; Plebeian
Facetious
joking inappropriately; intended to be funny
Ingratiate
to gain favor by deliberate effort
Avuncular
of or relating to an uncle
Eidetic
marked by extraordinarily accurate recall
Obtrusive
forward in conduct; protruding
Minutia
a minor detail
Magnanimous
showing a lofty and courageous spirit
Monotony
tedious sameness
Arbitrate
to settle a dispute
Acrid
sharp and harsh in taste or odor, deeply bitter
Concord
a state of agreement
Propitious
tending to favor; being a good omen
Salubrious
favorable to health
Aspersion
a false charge meant to harm one’s reputation; a sprinkling of water (religious ceremony)
Facsimile
an exact copy
Foible
a minor flaw
Enervate
to reduce the mental vigor of; to lessen the strength of
Promulgate
to proclaim
Epitome
an ideal example; a summary of a written work; a miniature form
Ontology
branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature and relations of being
Countenance
look, expression; mental composure; face, visage; to extend approval to
Tempestuous
relating to a tempest
Placid
serenely free of interruption
Mercurial
having qualities of eloquence, ingenuity, or thievishness attributed to the god Mercury or influence of the planet Mercury; characterized by rapid mood change
Pliant
easily influenced; suitable for varied uses
Frenetic
marked by fast and energetic activity
Arrogate
to claim without justification; to claim on behalf of another
Eschew
to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds
Imbue
to provide with something freely; to permeate or influence; to dye deeply
Sectarian
characteristic of a sect; limited in character or scope
`Riposte
a retaliatory maneuver
Harried
beset by problems
Noisome
noxious; highly obnoxious
Penury
an oppressive lack of resources; extreme frugality
Sanguine
marked by eager hopefulness; relating to blood
Descry
to catch sight of; discover
Adumbrate
to foreshadow vaguely; overshadow, obscure
Insouciance
nonchalance
Attenuate
to reduce the severity of; to make thin
Castigate
to subject to severe punishment or criticism
Sojourn
a temporary stay