GRE Words Flashcards
Vitriolic
filled with bitter criticism or malice.
“vitriolic attacks on the politicians”
Cosmopolitan
including or containing people from many different countries.
“immigration transformed the city into a cosmopolitan metropolis”
Proselytize
convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another.
“the program did have a tremendous evangelical effect, proselytizing many”
Buttressed
increase the strength of or justification for; reinforce.
“authority was buttressed by religious belief”
Ethereal vs Ephemeral
Magical vs short lived
Faddish
Fashionable but not likely to stay
Convivial
(of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable.
“a convivial cocktail party”
Tributaries
.
a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake.
“the Illinois River, a tributary of the Mississippi”
Sedulously
carefully and with a lot of effort and determination
Pristine
in its original condition; unspoiled.
“pristine copies of an early magazine”
clean and fresh as if new; spotless.
“a pristine white shirt”
Contrive
: to form or create in an artistic or ingenious manner
contrived household utensils from stone
Native Americans contrived weapons out of stone, wood, and bone
Avail
to be of use or advantage : SERVE
Our best efforts did not avail.
Affront
an action or remark that causes outrage or offense.
“he took his son’s desertion as a personal affront”
Edifice
a building, especially a large, imposing one.
Or
a complex system of beliefs.
“the concepts on which the edifice of capitalism was built”
Churlish
Rude or unmannered; rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
“it seems churlish to complain”
Preeminent
surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way.
“the world’s preeminent expert on asbestos”
Posthumous
occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator.
“he was awarded a posthumous Military Cross”
Hapless
(especially of a person) unfortunate.
“if you’re one of the many hapless car buyers who’ve been shafted”
Congenial
(of a person) pleasant because of a personality, qualities, or interests that are similar to one’s own.
“his need for some congenial company”
Smitten
be strongly attracted to someone or something.
“she was so smitten with the boy”
Tackless
lacking tact; showing no tact; undiplomatic; offendingly blunt: a tactless remark.
Immutable
unchanging over time or unable to be changed.
“an immutable fact”
Superfluity
an unnecessary thing.
“they thought the garrison a superfluity”
the state of being superfluous.
“servants who had nothing to do but to display their own superfluity”
Precocious
(of behavior or ability) indicative of early development.
“a precocious talent for computing”
Reticent
Secretive, quiet
Insular
ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one’s own experience.
“a stubbornly insular farming people”
Pervasive
(especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people.
“ageism is pervasive and entrenched in our society”
Patent
easily recognizable; obvious.
“she was smiling with patent insincerity”
Austere
Strict, simple, unadorned
Solicitous
characterized by or showing interest or concern.
Fitfully
Not regular or consistent (sporadically)
Judiciously
With good judgement
Mendacity
Untruthfulness
Puerile
Childish, trivial
Cursory
Hastily, not throughly nor detailed
Placate
Make less mad
Misnomer
Inaccurate name
Flouted
Went against (flouted against tradition)
Didactic
Patronizing, OR could mean intended to teach
Cerebral
Deep, intelligent
Quixotic
Exceedingly idealistic
Trite
Overused, unoriginal
Deified
Worship (not to be confused with defied)
Proclivity
Tendency
Abounds
Overflowing, a lot
Diatribe
Angry and critical speech
Demurred
Show reluctance, objections
Incredulous
Doubtful, not believe
Audacious
Bold risks (could be negative meaning such as impudent lack of respect)
Caustic
Sarcastic in a scathing bitter way
Decorum
Propriety, keep with etiquette
Contrite
Remorseful
Desiccated
Dried out (not destroyed or desecrated)
Abated
Lessen, less intense
Artless
Guileless
Censured vs censored
Scold vs block
Rustic and bucolic
Pleasant nature of the countryside
Desultory
Random, unplanned
Mitigated
Make less severe
Contend
Assert
Abjure
Reject
Prodigious
Tremendous, extremely impressive
