GRE Word Groups Flashcards
Abbreviated Communication
abridge - shorten without losing the sense.
compendium - a collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject, especially in a book or other publication
cursory - hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.
curtail - reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on.
syllabus - an outline of the subjects in a course of study or teaching.
synopsis - a brief summary or general survey of something.
terse - sparing in the use of words; abrupt.
Act Quickly
apace- swiftly; quickly.
abrupt - sudden and unexpected.
headlong - in a rush; with reckless haste.
impetuous - acting or done quickly and without thought or care; moving forcefully or rapidly.
precipitate - cause to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely.
Assist
abet - encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular, to commit a crime or other offense.
advocate
ancillary - providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, institution, industry, or system.
bolster
corroborate - confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding).
countenance - support
espouse - adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life).
mainstay - a thing on which something else is based or depends.
munificent - very generous.
proponent - a person who advocates a theory, proposal, or project.
stalwart - a loyal, reliable, and hardworking supporter or participant in an organization or team.
sustenance - food and drink regarded as a source of strength; nourishment.
Bad Mood
bilious - spiteful; bad-tempered.
dudgeon - a feeling of offense or deep resentment.
irascible - having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.
pettish - childishly bad-tempered and petulant.
petulant - childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
pique - feel irritated or resentful.
querulous - complaining in a petulant or whining manner.
umbrage - offense or annoyance.
waspish - readily expressing anger or irritation.
Beginner/Amateur
dilettante - a person with an amateur interest in the arts (or other fields).
fledgling - person or organization that is immature, inexperienced, or underdeveloped.
neophyte - a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief.
novitiate - the period or state of being a novice, especially in a religious order.
proselyte - a person who has converted from one opinion, religion, or party to another, especially recently.
tyro - a beginner or novice.
Beginning/Young
burgeoning - begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish.
callow - inexperienced and immature.
engender - cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition).
inchoate - just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary.
incipient - in an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop.
nascent - just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential.
Biting (as in wit or temperament)
acerbic - (esp. style of speaking) sharp and forthright.
acidulous - sharp, caustic.
acrimonious - angry and bitter.
asperity - harshness of tone or manner.
caustic - sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way.
mordacious - denoting or using biting sarcasm or invective.
mordant - (especially of humor) having or showing a sharp or critical quality;
trenchant - vigorous or incisive in expression or style.
Bold
audacious - showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.
courageous
dauntless - showing fearlessness and determination.
Boring
banal - so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.
fatuous - silly and pointless.
hackneyed - (of a phrase or idea) lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite.
insipid - lacking flavor; lacking vigor or interest.
mundane
pedestrian - lacking inspiration or excitement; dull.
platitude - a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.
prosaic - commonplace; unromantic.
quotidian - ordinary or everyday, especially when mundane.
trite - (of a remark, opinion, or idea) overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness.
Carousal (a noisy or drunken feast or social gathering; revelry)
bacchanalian - a drunken feast; orgy.
debauchery
depraved - corrupt, wicked, or perverted.
dissipated - indulging in or characterized by excessive devotion to pleasure; intemperate; dissolute.
iniquity
libertine - a person who is morally or sexually unrestrained, especially a dissolute man; a profligate; rake.
libidinous - full of sexual lust; lustful; lewd; lascivious.
licentious - sexually unrestrained; lascivious; libertine; lewd.
reprobate - a depraved, unprincipled, or wicked person:
ribald - vulgar or indecent in speech, language, etc.; coarsely mocking, abusive, or irreverent; scurrilous.
salacious - lustful or lecherous.
sordid - morally ignoble or base; vile:
turpitude - vile, shameful, or base character; depravity; a vile or depraved act.
Changing Quickly
capricious - erratic; subject to, led by, or indicative of a sudden, odd notion or unpredictable change;
mercurial - changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic:
volatile
Copy
counterpart
emulate
facsimile
factitious - not spontaneous or natural; artificial; contrived:
paradigm - an example serving as a model; pattern
precursor
quintessence - the most perfect embodiment of something.
simulated
vicarious - performed, exercised, received, or suffered in place of another.
Criticize/Criticism
aspersion - a damaging or derogatory remark or criticism; slander:
belittle
berate
calumny - a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something:
castigate - to punish or criticize harshly
decry
defamation
denounce
deride/derisive
diatribe
disparage
excoriate - to denounce or berate severely; flay verbally:
gainsay
harangue
impugn
inveigh
lambaste
objurgate
obloquy
opprobrium
pillory
rebuke
remonstrate
reprehend
reprove
revile
tirade
vituperate
Death/Mourning
bereave
cadaver
defunct
demise
dolorous - feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress.
elegy - a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead.
knell - the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral.
lament
macabre
moribund - at the point of death.
obsequies - funeral rites.
sepulchral - of or relating to a tomb or interment.
wraith - a ghost or ghostlike image of someone, especially one seen shortly before or after their death
Denying of Self
abnegate - renounce or reject (something desired or valuable).
abstain
ascetic
spartan - showing the indifference to comfort or luxury.
stoic
temperate
Dictatorial
authoritarian
despotic
dogmatic
hegemonic (hegemony) - ruling or dominant in a political or social context.
imperious - assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering.
peremptory - insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way.
tyrannical
Difficult to Understand
abstruse
ambigous
arcane
bemusing
cryptic
enigmatic
esoteric
inscrutable
obscure
opaque
paradoxical
perplexing
recondite
turbid
Disgusting/Offensive
defile
fetid - smelling extremely unpleasant.
invidious - likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others.
noisome
odious
putrid
rebarbative - unattractive and objectionable.
Easy to Understand
articulate
cogent
eloquent
evident
limpid - clear.
lucid
pellucid - translucently clear.
Eccentric/Dissimilar
aberrant - departing from an accepted standard.
anachronism
anomalous - deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.
discrete - individually separate and distinct.
eclectic - deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
esoteric - intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.
iconoclast - a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions.
Embarrass/Guilt/Shy
abash - cause to feel embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed.
chagrin - feel distressed or humiliated.
compunction - a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that follows the doing of something bad.
contrition - the state of feeling remorseful and penitent.
diffidence - modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence.
expiate - atone for (guilt or sin).
foible - a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone’s character.
gaucherie - awkward, embarrassing, or unsophisticated ways.
rue - repentance; regret.
Equal
equitable
equity
tantamount
Falsehood
apocryphal
canard
chicanery
dissemble
duplicity
equivocate
erroneous
ersatz
fallacious
feigned
guile
mendacious/mendacity
perfidy
prevaricate
specious
spurious
Family
conjugal
consanguine
distaff
endogamous
filial
fratricide
progenitor
scion
