Important GRE Words Flashcards
Abase
verb
(uh bays)
to humble; disgrace
My intention was not to abase the comedian.
Synonyms: demean, humiliate
Abate
verb
(uh bayt)
to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
As the hurricane’s force abated, the winds dropped and the sea became calm.
Synonyms: ebb; lapse; let up; moderate; relent;
slacken; subside; wane
Abdicate
verb
(aab duh kayt)
to give up a position, right, or power
With the angry mob clamoring outside the palace, the king abdicated his throne and fled.
Synonyms: cede; relinquish; resign; quit; yield
Aberrant
adj
(uh ber unt)
deviating from what is normal or expected
Since he had been a steady, cheerful worker for many years, his fellow postal workers did not expect his aberrant burst of rage.
Synonyms: abnormal; anomalous; deviant;
divergent; errant; irregular
Abeyance
noun
(uh bay uhns)
temporary suppression or suspension
The baseball game was held in abeyance while it continued to rain.
Synonyms: deferral; delay; dormancy;
postponement; remission
Abjure
verb
(aab jur)
to reject; abandon formally
The spy abjured his allegiance to the United States when he defected to Russia.
Synonyms: forswear; recall; recant; retract;
take back
Abscond
verb
(aab skahnd)
to leave secretly
The patron absconded from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the back door.
Synonyms: decamp; escape; flee
Abstain
verb
(uhb stayn)
to choose not to do something
Before the medical procedure, you must abstain
from eating.
Synonyms: forbear; refrain; withhold
Abstemious
adj
(aab stee me uhs)
moderate in appetite
Because Alyce is a vegetarian, she was only able to eat an abstemious meal at the Texas Steakhouse.
Synonyms: abstinent; continent; self-restraining;
sober; temperate
Abyss
noun
(uh bihs)
an extremely deep hole
The submarine dove into the abyss to chart the previously unseen depths.
Synonyms: chasm; void
Accretion
noun
(uh kree shuhn)
a growth in size; an increase in amount
The committee’s strong fund-raising efforts resulted in an accretion in scholarship money.
Synonyms: accumulation; buildup
Acidulous
adj
(uh si juh luhs)
sour in taste or manner
The acidulous taste of the spoiled milk made the young boy’s lips pucker.
Synonyms: acerbic; acetous; biting; piquant;
pungent; tart
Acme
noun
(aak mee)
highest point; summit; the highest level or degree attainable
Just when he reached the acme of his power, the dictator was overthrown.
Synonyms: apex; peak; summit
Adulterate
verb
(uh duhl tuhr ayt)
to make impure
The restaurateur made his ketchup last longer by adulterating it with water.
Synonyms: debase; doctor; load
Advocate
verb
(aad vuh kayt)
to speak in favor of
The vegetarian advocated a diet containing no meat.
Synonyms: back; champion; support
Aerie
noun
(ayr ee) (eer ee)
a nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling
Perched high among the trees, the eagle’s aerie
was filled with eggs.
Synonyms: perch; stronghold
Affected
adj
(uh fehk tihd)
phony; artificial
The affected hairdresser spouted French phrases, though she had never been to France.
Synonyms: insincere; pretentious; put-on
Aggrandize
verb
(uh graan diez) (aa gruhn diez)
to increase in power, influence, and reputation
The supervisor sought to aggrandize himself by claiming that the achievements of his staff were actually his own.
Synonyms: amplify; apotheosize; augment; dignify; elevate; enlarge; ennoble; exalt; glorify; magnify; swell; uplift; wax
Alacrity
noun
(uh laak crih tee)
speed or quickness
The restaurant won a reputation for fine service since the wait staff responded to their clients’ requests with alacrity.
Synonyms: celerity; dispatch; haste; swiftness
Alleviate
verb
(uh lee vee ayt)
to make more bearable
Taking aspirin helps to alleviate a headache.
Synonyms: allay; assuage; comfort; ease; lessen;
lighten; mitigate; palliate; relieve
Amalgamate
verb
(uh maal guh mayt)
to combine; to mix together
Giant Industries amalgamated with Mega Products to form Giant-Mega Products Incorporated.
Synonyms: admix; blend; coalesce; combine; commingle; commix; compound; fuse; intermingle; intermix; merge; mingle; mix; unite
Ambiguous
adj
(aam bihg yoo uhs)
doubtful or uncertain; can be interpreted several ways
The directions he gave were so ambiguous that we disagreed on which way to turn.
Synonyms: cloudy; doubtful; dubious; equivocal;
indeterminate; nebulous; obscure; unclear; vague
Ameliorate
verb
(uh meel yuhr ayt)
to make better; to improve
The doctor was able to ameliorate the patient’s suffering using painkillers.
Synonyms: amend; better; improve; pacify; upgrade
Amortize
verb
(uh mohr tiez)
to diminish by installment payments
While college students are notorious for accumulating credit card debt, they are not as well known for amortizing it.
Synonyms: conviviality
Amulet
noun
(aam yoo liht)
ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
Though she claimed it was not because of superstition, Vivian always wore an amulet around her neck.
Synonyms: fetish; talisman
Anachronism
noun
(uh naak ruh nih suhm)
something out of place in time
The aged hippie used anachronistic phrases like “groovy” and “far out” that had not been popular for years.
Synonyms: archaism; incongruity
Analgesia
noun
(aah nuhl jee zhuh)
a lessening of pain without loss of consciousness
After having her appendix removed, Tatiana welcomed the analgesia that the painkillers provided.
Synonyms: insentience; anodyne
Analogous
adj
(uh naal uh guhs)
similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
His mother argued that not going to college was
analogous to throwing his life away.
Synonyms: alike; comparable; corresponding;
equivalent; homogeneous; parallel; similar
Anodyne
noun
(aah nuh dien)
something that calms or soothes pain
The anodyne massage helped remove the knots from the lawyer’s tense shoulders.
Synonyms: narcotic; nepenthe; opiate
Anomaly
noun
(uh nahm uh lee)
deviation from what is normal
Albino animals may display too great an anomaly in their coloring to attract normally colored mates.
Synonyms: aberrant; aberration; abnormality;
deviance; deviation; irregularity; preternaturalness
Antagonize
verb
(aan taa guh niez)
to annoy or provoke to anger
The child discovered that he could antagonize the cat by pulling its tail.
Synonyms: clash; conflict; incite; irritate; oppose;
pester; provoke; vex
Antipathy
noun
(aan tih puh thee)
extreme dislike
The antipathy between fans of the rival soccer teams made the game even more electrifying to watch.
Synonyms: abhorrence; animosity; animus; antagonism; aversion; dislike; enmity; hatred; hostility; loathing; repellence; repugnance; repulsion; revulsion
Apathy
noun
(aa pah thee)
lack of interest or emotion
The apathy of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually bother to do so.
Synonyms: coolness; disinterest; disregard; impassivity; indifference; insensibility; lassitude; lethargy; listlessness; phlegm; stolidity; unconcern; unresponsiveness
Apocryphal
adj
(uh pahk ruh fuhl)
of questionable authority or authenticity
There is no hard or authoritative evidence to support the apocryphal tales that link the Roswell, New Mexico, incident to a downed UFO.
Synonyms: disputed; doubtful; fictitious; fraudulent
Apostate
noun
(uh pahs tayt)
one who renounces a religious faith
So that he could divorce his wife, the king scoffed at the church doctrines and declared himself an apostate.
Synonyms: defector; deserter; traitor
Approbation
noun
(aa pruh bay shuhn)
approval and praise
The approbation that Jerry Lewis received in France included a medal from the Ministry of Culture.
Synonyms: acclaim; adulation; applause; commendation; compliments; exalt; extol; hail; kudos; praise
Arbitrary
adj
(ahr bih trayr ee)
determined by chance or impulse
When you lack the information to judge what to do next, you will be forced to make an arbitrary decision.
Synonyms: changeable; erratic; indiscriminate;
random; wayward
Arbitrate
verb
(ahr bih trayt)
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
Since the couple could not come to an agreement, a judge was forced to arbitrate their divorce proceedings.
Synonyms: adjudge; adjudicate; determine; intermediate; intervene; judge; moderate; referee; rule
Archaic
adj
(ahr kay ihk)
ancient; old-fashioned
Her archaic Commodore computer could not run the latest software.
Synonyms: ancient; antediluvian; antique; archaic; bygone; dated; dowdy; fusty; obsolete; old- fashioned; outdated; outmoded; passé; prehistoric; stale; superannuated; superseded; vintage
Ardor
noun
(ahr duhr)
intense and passionate feeling
Bishop’s ardor for landscape was evident when
he passionately described the beauty of the scenic
Hudson Valley.
Synonyms: devotion; enthusiasm; fervency; fervidity; fervidness; fervor; fire; passion; zeal; zealousness
Arrogate
verb
(aa ruh gayt)
to claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right
Gretchen watched in astonishment as her boss arrogated the credit for her brilliant work on the project.
Synonyms: appropriate; presume; take
Articulate
adj
(ahr tih kyuh luht)
able to speak clearly and expressively
She is extremely articulate when it comes to expressing her pro-labor views; as a result, unions are among her strongest supporters.
Synonyms: eloquent; expressive; fluent; lucid;
silver-tongued; smooth-spoken
Assail
verb
(uh sayl)
to attack; assault
The foreign army will try to assail our bases, but they will not be successful in their attack.
Synonyms: beset; strike; storm
Assuage
verb
(uh swayj) (uh swayzh) (uh swahzh)
to make something unpleasant less severe
Like many people, Philip Larkin used alcohol to
assuage his sense of meaninglessness and despair.
Synonyms: allay; alleviate; appease; comfort; conciliate; ease; lighten; mitigate; mollify; pacify; palliate; placate; propitiate; relieve; soothe; sweeten
Attenuate
verb
(uh tehn yoo ayt)
to reduce in force or degree; weaken
The Bill of Rights attenuated the traditional power of government to change laws at will.
Synonyms: debilitate; devitalize; dilute; enervate; enfeeble; rarefy; sap; thin; undermine; undo; unnerve; water; weaken
Audacious
adj
(aw day shuhs)
fearless and daring
The audacious peasant dared to insult the king’s mother.
Synonyms: adventuresome; aggressive; assertive; bold; brave; courageous; daring; dauntless; doughty; fearless; gallant; game; heroic; intrepid; mettlesome; plucky; stout; stouthearted; unafraid; undaunted; valiant; valorous; venturesome; venturous
Augury
noun
(aw gyuh ree) (aw guh ree)
prophecy; prediction of events
Troy hoped the rainbow was an augury of good things to come.
Synonyms: auspices; harbinger; omen; portent;
presage
August
adj
(aw guhst)
dignified; grandiose
The august view of the Grand Teton summit took my breath away.
Synonyms: admirable; awesome; grand; majestic
Austere
adj
(aw steer)
severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
The lack of decoration makes Zen temples seem
austere to the untrained eye.
Synonyms: bleak; dour; grim; hard; harsh; severe
Axiom
noun
(aak see uhm)
premise; postulate; self-evident truth
Halle lived her life based on the axioms her grandmother had passed on to her.
Synonyms: adage; apothegm; aphorism; maxim;
rule
Banal
adj
(buh naal) (bay nuhl) (buh nahl)
predictable; clichéd; boring
His conversation consisted of banal phrases like
“Have a nice day” or “Another day, another dollar.”
Synonyms: bland; bromidic; clichéd; commonplace; fatuous; hackneyed; innocuous; insipid; jejune; musty; platitudinous; prosaic; quotidian; shopworn; stale; stereotypic; threadbare; timeworn; tired; trite; vapid; worn-out
Belfry
noun
(behl free)
bell tower; room in which a bell is hung
The town was shocked when a bag of money was found stashed in the old belfry of the church.
Synonyms: spire; steeple
Bevy
noun
(beh vee)
group
As predicted, a bevy of teenagers surrounded the rock star’s limousine.
Synonyms: band; bunch; gang; pack; troop
Bifurcate
verb
(bi fuhr kayt) (bi fuhr kayt)
to divide into two parts
The large corporation just released a press statement announcing its plans to bifurcate.
Synonym: bisect
Bilk
verb
(bihlk)
to cheat; defraud
When the greedy salesman realized that his customer spoke poor French, he bilked the tourist out of 20 euros.
Synonyms: beat; defraud; diddle; gyp; overreach
Blight
verb
(bliet)
to afflict; destroy
The farmers feared that the night’s frost would
blight the potato crops entirely.
Synonyms: damage; plague
Blithe
adj
(blieth)
joyful, cheerful, or without appropriate thought
Summer finally came, and the blithe students spent their days at the beach.
Synonyms: carefree; lighthearted; merry
Bolster
verb
(bohl stuhr)
to support; prop up
The presence of giant footprints bolstered the argument that Bigfoot was in the area.
Synonyms: brace; buttress; crutch; prop; stay;
support; sustain; underpinning; uphold
Bombastic
adj
(bahm baast ihk)
pompous in speech and manner
Mussolini’s speeches were mostly bombastic;
his boasting and outrageous claims had no basis in fact.
Synonyms: bloated; declamatory; fustian; grandiloquent; grandiose; high-flown; magniloquent; orotund; pretentious; rhetorical; self-important
Bonhomie
noun
(bah nuh mee)
good-natured geniality; atmosphere of good cheer
The aspects of her job that Dana loved the most were the flexible hours and the pleasant bonhomie in the office.
Synonyms: affability; camaraderie
Boor
noun
(bohr)
crude person, one lacking manners or taste
“That utter boor ruined my recital with his constant guffawing!” wailed the pianist.
Synonyms: clod; lout; oaf; vulgarian; yahoo
Burgeon
verb
(buhr juhn)
to grow and flourish
Faulkner neither confirmed nor denied stories about himself, allowing rumor to burgeon where it would.
Synonyms: bloom; flourish; prosper; thrive
Burnish
verb
(buhr nihsh)
to polish
He burnished the silver coffee pot until it shone brightly.
Synonyms: buff; luster; polish; scour
Cabal
noun
(kuh bahl)
a secret group seeking to overturn something
The boys on the street formed a cabal to keep girls out of their tree house.
Synonyms: camp; circle; clan; clique; coterie; in- group; mafia; mob; ring
Cacophony
noun
(kuh kah fuh nee)
harsh, jarring noise
The junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable cacophony as they tried to tune their instruments.
Synonyms: chaos; clamor; din; discord; disharmony;
noise
Calumny
noun
(kaa luhm nee)
a false and malicious accusation;
misrepresentation
The unscrupulous politician used calumny to bring down his opponent in the senatorial race.
Synonyms: defamation; libel; slander
Canard
noun
(kuh nard)
a lie
That tabloid’s feature story about a goat giving birth to a human child was clearly a canard.
Synonyms: falsehood; falsity; fib; misrepresentation;
prevarication; tale; untruth
Candid
adj
(kaan did)
impartial and honest in speech
The observations of a child can be charming since they are candid and unpretentious.
Synonyms: direct; forthright; frank; honest; open;
sincere; straight; straightforward; undisguised
Capricious
adj
(kuh pree shuhs) (kuh prih shuhs)
changing one’s mind quickly and often
Queen Elizabeth I was quite capricious; her courtiers could never be sure which one would catch her fancy.
Synonyms: arbitrary; chance; changeable; erratic; fickle; inconstant; mercurial; random; whimsical; willful
Cartography
noun
(kahr tahg ruh fee)
science or art of making maps
Gail’s interest in cartography may stem from the extensive traveling she did as a child.
Synonyms: charting; surveying; topography
Castigate
verb
(kaa stih gayt)
to punish or criticize harshly
Martina castigated her boyfriend for not remembering her birthday.
Synonyms: admonish; chastise; chide; rebuke;
reprimand; reproach; reprove; scold; tax; upbraid
Catalyst
noun
(kaa tuh lihst)
something that brings about a change in something else
The imposition of harsh taxes was the catalyst
that finally brought on the revolution.
Synonyms: accelerator; goad; impetus; impulse;
incentive; motivation; spur; stimulant
Catholic
adj
(kaa thuh lihk) (kaa thlihk)
universal; broad and comprehensive
Hot tea with honey is a catholic remedy for a sore throat.
Synonyms: extensive; general
Caustic
adj
(kah stihk)
biting in wit
Dorothy Parker gained her caustic reputation from her cutting, yet witty, insults.
Synonyms: acerbic; biting; mordant; trenchant
Chaos
noun
(kay ahs)
great disorder or confused situation
In most religious traditions, God created an ordered universe from chaos.
Synonyms: clutter; confusion; disarrangement; disarray; disorder; disorderliness; disorganization; jumble; mess; muddle; scramble; snarl; topsy- turviness; turmoil
Chauvinist
noun
(shoh vuh nist)
someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
The attitude that men must be obeyed since they are inherently superior to women is common among male chauvinists.
Synonyms: biased; colored; one-sided; partial;
partisan; prejudicial; prepossessed; tendentious
Chicanery
noun
(shih kayn ree) (shi kay nuh ree)
deception by means of craft or guile
Dishonest used-car salesmen often use chicanery
to sell their beat-up old cars.
Synonyms: artifice; conniving; craftiness; deception; deviousness; misrepresentation; pettifoggery; shadiness; sneakiness; sophistry; subterfuge; underhandedness
Circumspect
adj
(suhr kuhm spehkt
cautious; aware of potential consequences
She was very circumspect in her language and behavior when first introduced to her fiancee’s parents.
Synonyms: alert; cautious; heedful; mindful;
prudent; solicitous; vigilant; war
Cloying
adj
(kloy ing)
sickly sweet; excessive
When Enid and Jay first started dating, their cloying affection towards one another often made their friends ill.
Synonyms: excessive; fulsome
Coalesce
verb
(koh uh lehs)
to grow together to form a single whole
The sun and planets eventually coalesced out of a vast cloud of gas and dust.
Synonyms: amalgamate; blend; coalesce; condense;
consolidate; fuse; unite
Coffer
noun
(kah fuhr)
strongbox; large chest for money
The bulletproof glass of the coffer is what keeps the crown jewels secure.
Synonyms: treasury; chest; exchequer; war chest
Cogent
adj
(koh juhnt)
convincing and well-reasoned
Swayed by the cogent argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant.
Synonyms: convincing; persuasive; solid; sound;
telling; valid
Collusion
noun
(kuh loo zhuhn)
collaboration; complicity; conspiracy
It came to light that the police chief and the mafia had a collusion in running the numbers racket.
Synonyms: connivance; intrigue; machination
Condone verb (kuhn dohn)
o overlook, pardon, or disregard
Some theorists believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as condoning an air
of lawlessness.
Synonyms: exculpate; excuse; pardon; remit
Connoisseur
noun
(kah nuh suhr)
a person with expert knowledge or discriminating tastes
Dr. Crane was a connoisseur of fine food and wine, drinking and eating only the best.
Synonyms: authority; epicure; expert; gastronome;
gourmet
Contrite
adj
(kuhn triet)
deeply sorrowful and repentant for a wrong
After three residents were mugged in the lobby while the watchman was away from his post,
he felt very contrite.
Synonyms: apologetic; regretful; remorsefu
Contumacious
adj
(kahn tuh may shuhs)
rebellious
The contumacious teenager ran away from home when her parents told her she was grounded.
Synonyms: factious; insubordinate; insurgent;
mutinous; rebellious; seditious
Convoluted
adj
(kahn vuh loo tehd)
intricate and complicated
Although many people bought the professor’s book, few people could follow its convoluted ideas and theories.
Synonyms: Byzantine; complex; elaborate; intricate;
knotty; labyrinthine; perplexing; tangled
Corroborate
verb
(kuh rahb uhr ayt)
to support with evidence
All the DA needed were fingerprints to corroborate the witness’s testimony that he saw the defendant in the victim’s apartment.
Synonyms: authenticate; back; buttress; confirm;
substantiate; validate; verify
Cosset
verb
(kah suht)
to pamper; treat with great care
Marta just loves to cosset her first and only grandchild.
Synonyms: cater to; cuddle; dandle; fondle;
love; pamper; pet; spoil
Coterie
noun
(koh tuh ree) (koh tuh ree)
an intimate group of persons with a similar purpose
Angel invited a coterie of fellow stamp enthusiasts to a stamp-trading party.
Synonyms: clique; set
Craven
adj
(kray vuhn)
lacking courage
The craven lion cringed in the corner of his cage, terrified of the mouse.
Synonyms: fainthearted; spineless; timid
Credulous
adj
(kreh juh luhs)
too trusting; gullible
Although some 4-year-olds believe in the Tooth Fairy, only the most credulous 9-year-olds also believe in her.
Synonyms: naïve; susceptible; trusting
Crescendo noun (kruh shehn doh)
steadily increasing in volume or force
The crescendo of tension became unbearable as Evel Knievel prepared to jump his motorcycle over the school buses.
Synonyms: acme; capstone; climax; crest; culmen;
culmination; meridian; peak
Cupidity
noun
(kyoo pih dih tee)
greed; strong desire
The thief stared at the shining jewels with cupidity
in his gleaming eyes.
Synonyms: avarice; covetousness; rapacity
Curmudgeon
noun
(kuhr muh juhn)
cranky person, usually old
Ernesto was a notorious curmudgeon who snapped at anyone who disturbed him for any reason.
Synonyms: crab; coot; grouch
Debutante
noun
(dehb yoo tahnt)
young woman making debut in high society
The debutante spent hours dressing for her very first ball, hoping to catch the eye of an eligible bachelor.
Synonyms: lady; maiden
Declivity
noun
(dih klih vih tee)
downward slope
Because the village was situated on the declivity
of a hill, it never flooded.
Synonyms: decline; descent; grade; slant; tilt
Decorous
adj
(deh kuhr uhs) (deh kohr uhs)
proper; tasteful; socially correct
The countess trained her daughters in the finer points of decorous behavior, hoping they would make a good impression when she presented them at Court.
Synonyms: appropriate; comme il faut; courteous;
polite
Decorum
noun
(deh kohr uhm)
appropriateness of behavior or conduct;
propriety
The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the decorum appropriate for a visit to the palace.
Synonyms: correctness; decency; etiquette; manners;
mores; propriety; seemliness
Deface
verb
(dih fays)
to mar the appearance of; vandalize
After the wall was torn down, the students began to deface the statues of Communist leaders of
the former Eastern Bloc.
Synonyms: disfigure; impair; spoil
Deference
noun
(deh fuh ruhn(t)s) (def ruhn(t)s)
respect; courtesy
The respectful young law clerk treated the
Supreme Court justice with the utmost deference.
Synonyms: courtesy; homage; honor; obeisance;
respect; reverence; veneration
Deleterious
adj
(dehl ih teer ee uhs)
subtly or unexpectedly harmful
If only we had known the clocks were defective before putting them on the market, it wouldn’t have been quite so deleterious to our reputation.
Synonyms: adverse; inimical; injurious; hurtful
Demagogue
noun
(deh muh gahg) (deh muh gawg)
a leader or rabble-rouser, usually appealing to emotion or prejudice
He began his career as a demagogue, giving fiery speeches at political rallies.
Synonyms: agitator; inciter; instigator
Demur
verb
(dih muhr)
to express doubts or objections
When scientific authorities claimed that all the planets revolved around the Earth, Galileo, with his superior understanding of the situation, was forced to demur.
Synonyms: dissent; expostulate; kick; protest;
remonstrate
Deride
verb
(dih ried)
to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
The awkward child was often derided by his
“cooler” peers.
Synonyms: gibe; jeer; mock; ridicule; scoff;
sneer; taunt
Desiccate
verb
(deh sih kayt)
to dry out thoroughly
After a few weeks lying on the desert’s baking sands, the cow’s carcass became completely desiccated.
Synonyms: dehydrate; dry; parch
Desultory
adj
(dehs uhl tohr ee) (dehz uhl tohr ee)
jumping from one thing to another;
disconnected
Athena had a desultory academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in 3 years.
Synonyms: aimless; disconnected; erratic; haphazard; indiscriminate; objectless; purposeless; random; stray; unconsidered; unplanned
Diaphanous
adj
(die aaf uh nuhs)
allowing light to show through; delicate
These diaphanous curtains do nothing to block out the sunlight.
Synonyms: gauzy; sheer; tenuous; translucent;
transparent
Diatribe
noun
(die uh trieb)
an abusive, condemnatory speech
The trucker bellowed a diatribe at the driver who had cut him off.
Synonyms: fulmination; harangue; invective;
jeremiad; malediction; obloquy; tirade
Dictum
noun
(dihk tuhm)
authoritative statement
“You have time to lean, you have time to clean,”
was the dictum our boss made us live by.
Synonyms: adage; apothegm; aphorism; decree;
edict
Diffident
adj
(dih fih dint)
lacking self-confidence
Steve’s diffidence during the job interview stemmed from his nervous nature and lack of experience in the field.
Synonyms: backward; bashful; coy; demure;
modest; retiring; self-effacing; shy; timid
Dilate
verb
(die layt) (die layt)
to make larger; expand
When you enter a darkened room, the pupils of your eyes dilate so as to let in more light.
Synonyms: amplify; develop; elaborate; enlarge;
expand; expatiate
Dilatory
adj
(dihl uh tohr ee)
intended to delay
The congressman used dilatory measures to delay the passage of the bill.
Synonyms: dragging; flagging; laggard; lagging;
slow; slow-footed; slow-going; slow-paced; tardy
Dilettante
noun
(dih luh tahnt)
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
Jerry’s friends were such dilettantes they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week.
Synonyms: amateur; dabbler; superficial; tyro
Dirge
noun
(duhrj
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
Melville wrote the poem “A Dirge for James McPherson” for the funeral of a Union general who was killed in 1864.
Synonyms: elegy; lament
Disabuse
verb
(dih suh byuze
to set right; free from error
Galileo’s observations disabused scholars of the notion that the sun revolved around the Earth.
Synonyms: correct; undeceive
Discern
verb
(dihs uhrn)
to perceive or recognize
It is easy to discern the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping.
Synonyms: catch; descry; detect; differentiate; discriminate; distinguish; espy; glimpse; know; separate; spot; spy; tell
Disparate
adj
(dih spuh ruht) (di spar uht)
fundamentally different; entirely unlike
Although the twins are physically identical, their personalities are disparate.
Synonyms: different; dissimilar; divergent; diverse;
variant; various
Dissemble
verb
(dihs sehm buhl)
to present a false appearance; to disguise one’s real intentions or character
The villain could dissemble to the police no longer—he admitted the deed and tore up the floor to reveal the stash of stolen money.
Synonyms: act; affect; assume; camouflage; cloak; counterfeit; cover up; disguise; dissimulate; fake; feign; mask; masquerade; pose; pretend; put on; sham
Dissonance
noun
(dihs uh nuhns)
a harsh and disagreeable combination, especially of sounds
Cognitive dissonance is the inner conflict produced when long-standing beliefs are contradicted by new evidence.
Synonyms: clash; contention; discord; dissension;
dissent; dissidence; friction; strife; variance
Distaff
noun
(dis taf )
the female branch of a family
The lazy husband refused to cook dinner for his wife, joking that the duty belongs to the distaff ’s side.
Synonyms: maternal
Distend
verb
(dih stehnd)
to swell, inflate, or bloat
Her stomach was distended after she gorged on the six-course meal.
Synonyms: broaden; bulge
Dither
verb
(dihth uhr)
to act confusedly or without clear purpose
Ellen dithered around her apartment, uncertain how to tackle the family crisis.
Synonyms: falter; hesitate; vacillate; waffle; waver
Diurnal
adj
(die uhr nuhl)
existing during the day
Diurnal creatures tend to become inactive during the night.
Synonyms: daylight; daytime
Divine
verb
(dih vien)
to foretell or know by inspiration
The fortune-teller divined from the pattern of the tea leaves that her customer would marry five times.
Synonyms: auger; foresee; intuit; predict; presage
Doctrinaire
adj
(dahk truh nayr)
rigidly devoted to theories without regard for practicality; dogmatic
The professor’s manner of teaching was considered doctrinaire for such a liberal school.
Synonyms: dictatorial; inflexible
Dogma
noun
(dahg muh) (dawg muh)
a firmly held opinion, especially a religious belief
Linus’s central dogma was that children who believed in the Great Pumpkin would be rewarded.
Synonyms: creed; doctrines; teaching; tenet
Dogmatic
adj
(dahg maat ihk) (dawg maat ihk
dictatorial in one’s opinions
The dictator was dogmatic, claiming he, and only he, was right.
Synonyms: authoritarian; bossy; dictatorial; doctrinaire; domineering; imperious; magisterial; masterful; overbearing; peremptory
Droll
adj
(drohl)
amusing in a wry, subtle way
Although the play couldn’t be described as hilarious, it was certainly droll.
Synonyms: comic; entertaining; funny; risible; witty
Dupe
verb
(doop)
to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
Bugs Bunny was able to dupe Elmer Fudd by dressing up as a lady rabbit.
Synonyms: beguile; betray; bluff; cozen; deceive; delude; fool; hoodwink; humbug; mislead; take in trick
Dyspeptic
adj
(dihs pehp tihk)
suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable
The dyspeptic young man cast a gloom over the party the minute he walked in.
Synonyms: acerbic; melancholy; morose; solemn;
sour
Ebullient
adj
(ih byool yuhnt) (ih buhl yuhnt)
exhilarated; full of enthusiasm and high spirits
The ebullient child exhausted the baby-sitter, who lacked the energy to keep up with her.
Synonyms: ardent; avid; bubbly; zestful
Eclectic
adj
(ih klehk tihk) (eh klehk tihk)
selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
Budapest’s architecture is an eclectic mix of eastern and western styles.
Synonyms: broad; catholic; selective
Edify
verb
(eh duh fie)
to instruct morally and spiritually
The guru was paid to edify the actress in the ways of Buddhism.
Synonyms: educate; enlighten; guide; teach
Efficacy
noun
(eh fih kuh see)
effectiveness
The efficacy of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced, completely eliminating almost all bacterial infections.
Synonyms: dynamism; effectiveness; efficiency; force; power; productiveness; proficiency; strength; vigor
Effigy
noun
(eh fuh jee)
stuffed doll; likeness of a person
In England, effigies of the historic rebel Guy
Fawkes are burned in commemoration of his life.
Synonyms: dummy; figure; image
Effrontery
noun
(ih fruhnt uhr ee) (eh fruhnt uhr ee)
impudent boldness; audacity
The receptionist had the effrontery to laugh out loud when the CEO tripped over a computer wire and fell flat on his face.
Synonyms: brashness; gall; nerve; presumption;
temerity
Elegy
noun
(eh luh jee)
a sorrowful poem or speech
Though Thomas Gray’s Elegy is about death and loss, it urges its readers to endure this life, and to trust in spirituality.
Synonyms: dirge; lament
Eloquent
adj
(ehl uh kwunt)
persuasive and moving, especially in speech
The Gettysburg Address is moving not only because of its lofty sentiments but because of its eloquent words.
Synonyms: articulate; expressive; fluent;
meaning ful; significant; smooth-spoken
Embellish
verb
(ehm behl ihsh)
to add ornamental or fictitious details
Britt embellished her résumé, hoping to make the lowly positions she had held seem more important.
Synonyms: adorn; bedeck; elaborate; embroider;
enhance; exaggerate
Emulate
verb
(ehm yuh layt)
to copy; to try to equal or excel
The graduate student sought to emulate his professor in every way, copying not only how she taught but also how she conducted herself outside of class.
Synonyms: ape; imitate; simulate
Encomium
noun
(ehn koh me uhm)
warm praise
Georgias’s “Encomium to Helen” was written as a tribute to Helen of Troy.
Synonyms: citation; eulogy; panegyric; salutation;
tribute
Endemic
adj
(ehn deh mihk)
belonging to a particular area; inherent
The health department determined that the outbreak was endemic to the small village, so they quarantined the inhabitants before the virus could spread.
Synonyms: indigenous; local; native
Enervate
verb
(ehn uhr vayt)
Engender
verb
(ehn gehn duhr)
to produce, cause, or bring about
His fear and hatred of clowns was engendered when he witnessed a bank robbery carried out by five men wearing clown suits and make-up.
Synonyms: beget; generate; procreate; proliferate;
reproduce; spawn
Enigma
noun
(ih nig muh)
a puzzle; a mystery
Speaking in riddles and dressed in old robes, the artist gained a reputation as something of an enigma.
Synonyms: conundrum; perplexity
Enumerate
verb
(ih noo muhr ayt)
to count, list, or itemize
Before making his decision, Jacob asked the waiter to enumerate the different varieties of ice cream that the restaurant carried.
Synonyms: catalog; index; tabulate
Ephemeral
adj
(ih fehm uhr uhl)
lasting a short time
The lives of mayflies seem ephemeral to us, since the flies’ average life span is a matter of hours.
Synonyms: evanescent; fleeting; momentary;
transient
Epicure
noun
(eh pih kyoor) (eh pih kyuhr)
person with refined taste in food and wine
Niren is an epicure who always throws the most splendid dinner parties.
Synonyms: bon vivant; connoisseur; gastronome;
gastronomist; gourmand; gourmet
Equivocate
verb
(ih kwihv uh kayt)
to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
When faced with criticism of his policies, the politician equivocated and left all parties thinking he agreed with them.
Synonyms: ambiguous; evasive; waffling
Erratic
adj
(ih raat ihk)
wandering and unpredictable
The plot seemed predictable until it suddenly took a series of erratic turns that surprised
the audience.
Synonyms: capricious; inconstant; irresolute;
whimsical
Ersatz
adj
(uhr sats) (uhr sats)
ake
Edda, a fashion maven, knew instantly that her friend’s new Kate Spade bag was really an ersatz version purchased on the street.
Synonyms: artificial; dummy; false; imitation;
mock; sham; simulated; spurious; substitute
Erudite
adj
(ehr yuh dite) (ehr uh dite)
learned; scholarly; bookish
The annual meeting of philosophy professors was a gathering of the most erudite, well-published individuals in the field.
Synonyms: learned; scholastic; wise
Eschew
verb
(ehs choo)
to shun; to avoid (as something wrong or distasteful)
The filmmaker eschewed artificial light for her actors, resulting in a stark movie style.
Synonyms: avoid; bilk; elude; escape; evade;
shun; shy
Esoteric
adj
(eh suh tehr ihk)
known or understood only by a few
Only a handful of experts are knowledgeable about the esoteric world of particle physics.
Synonyms: abstruse; arcane; obscure
Estimable
adj
(eh stuh muh buhl)
admirable
Most people consider it estimable that Mother
Teresa spent her life helping the poor of India.
Synonyms: admirable; commendable; creditable; honorable; laudable; meritorious; praiseworthy; respectable; venerable; worthy
Ethos
noun
(ee thohs)
beliefs or character of a group
It is the Boy Scouts’ ethos that one should always be prepared.
Synonyms: culture; ethic; philosophy
Eulogy
noun
(yoo luh jee)
speech in praise of someone
His best friend gave the eulogy, outlining his many achievements and talents.
Synonyms: commend; extol; laud
Euphemism
noun
(yoo fum ih zuhm)
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
The funeral director preferred to use the
euphemism “sleeping” instead of the word ‘dead’.
Synonym: nice-nellyism
Euphony
noun
(yoo fuh nee)
pleasant, harmonious sound
To their loving parents, the children’s orchestra performance sounded like euphony, although an outside observer probably would have called it
a cacophony of hideous sounds.
Synonyms: harmony; melody; music; sweetness
Exacerbate
verb
(ihg zaas uhr bayt)
to make worse
It is unwise to take aspirin to try to relieve heartburn since instead of providing relief it will only exacerbate the problem.
Synonyms: aggravate; annoy; intensify; irritate;
provoke
Exculpate
verb
(ehk skuhl payt) (ihk skuhl payt
to clear from blame; prove innocent
The legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and exculpate those who are innocent.
Synonyms: absolve; acquit; clear; exonerate;
vindicate
Exigent
adj
(ehk suh juhnt)
urgent; requiring immediate action
The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was exigent to stop the source of the bleeding.
Synonyms: critical; imperative; needed; urgent
Exonerate
verb
(ihg zahn uh rayt)
to clear of blame
The fugitive was exonerated when another criminal confessed to committing the crime.
Synonyms: absolve; acquit; clear; exculpate;
vindicate
Explicit
adj
(ehk splih siht)
clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
In Reading Comprehension, questions that ask directly about a detail in the passage are sometimes called Explicit Text questions.
Synonyms: candid; clear-cut; definite; definitive; express; frank; specific; straightforward; unambiguous; unequivocal
Exponent
noun
(ihk spoh nuhnt) (ehk spoh nuhnt
one who champions or advocates
The vice president was an enthusiastic exponent of computer technology.
Synonyms: representative; supporter
Expurgate
verb
(ehk spuhr gayt)
to censor
Government propagandists expurgated all negative references to the dictator from the film.
Synonyms: bowdlerize; cut; sanitize
Fallow
noun
(faa loh
dormant; unused
This field should lie fallow for a year so the soil does not become completely depleted.
Synonyms: idle; inactive; unseeded
Fanatical
adj
(fuh nah tih kuhl)
acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion
The storm troopers were fanatical in their devotion to the emperor, readily sacrificing their lives for him.
Synonyms: extremist; fiery; frenzied; zealous
Fatuous
adj
(fah choo uhs)
stupid; foolishly self-satisfied
Ted’s fatuous comments always embarrassed his keen-witted wife at parties.
Synonyms: absurd; ludicrous; preposterous;
ridiculous; silly
Fawn
verb
(fahn)
to grovel
The understudy fawned over the director in hopes of being cast in the part on a permanent basis.
Synonyms: bootlick; grovel; pander; toady
Fecund
adj
(fee kuhnd) (feh kuhnd)
fertile; fruitful; productive
The fecund couple yielded a total of 20 children.
Synonyms: flourishing; prolific
Fervid
adj
(fuhr vihd)
intensely emotional; feverish
The fans of Maria Callas were particularly fervid, doing anything to catch a glimpse of the great opera singer.
Synonyms: burning; impassioned; passionate;
vehement; zealous
Fetid
adj
(feh tihd)
foul-smelling; putrid
The fetid stench from the outhouse caused
Francesca to wrinkle her nose in disgust.
Synonyms: funky; malodorous; noisome; rank;
stinky
Flag
verb
(flaag)
to decline in vigor, strength, or interest
The marathon runner slowed down as his strength flagged.
Synonyms: dwindle; ebb; slacken; subside; wane
Florid
adj
(flohr ihd) (flahr ihd)
excessively decorated or embellished
The palace had been decorated in an excessively
florid style; every surface had been carved and gilded.
Synonyms: baroque; elaborate; flamboyant; ornate;
ostentatious; rococo
Foment
verb
(foh mehnt)
to arouse or incite
The rebels tried to foment revolution through their attacks on the government.
Synonyms: agitate; impassion; inflame; instigate;
kindle
Ford
verb
(fohrd)
to cross a body of water by wading
Because of the recent torrential rains, the cowboys were unable to ford the swollen river.
Synonyms: traverse; wade
Forestall
verb
(fohr stahl)
to prevent or delay; anticipate
The landlord forestalled T.J.’s attempt to avoid paying the rent by waiting for him outside
his door.
Synonyms: avert; deter; hinder; obviate; preclude
Fortuitous
adj
(fohr too ih tuhs)
happening by chance; fortunate
It was fortuitous that he won the lotto just before he had to pay back his loans.
Synonyms: chance; fortunate; haphazard; lucky;
propitious; prosperous
Fractious
adj
(fraak shuhs)
unruly; rebellious
The general had a hard time maintaining discipline among his fractious troops.
Synonyms: contentious; cranky; peevish;
quarrelsome
Frenetic
adj
(fruh neht ihk)
frantic; frenzied
The employee’s frenetic schedule left her little time to socialize.
Synonyms: corybantic; delirious; feverish; mad;
rabid; wild
Frugality
noun
(fru gaa luh tee)
tending to be thrifty or cheap
Scrooge McDuck’s frugality was so great that he accumulated enough wealth to fill a giant storehouse with money.
Synonyms: economical; parsimony; prudence;
sparing
Furtive
adj
(fuhr tihv)
secret; stealthy
Glenn was furtive when he peered out of the corner of his eye at the stunningly beautiful model.
Synonyms: clandestine; covert; shifty; surreptitious;
underhand
Gambol
verb
(gaam buhl)
to dance or skip around playfully
From her office, Amy enviously watched the playful puppies gambol around Central Park.
Synonyms: caper; cavort; frisk; frolic; rollick; romp
Garner
verb
(gahr nuhr)
to gather and store
The director managed to garner financial backing from several different sources for his next project.
Synonyms: amass; acquire; glean; harvest; reap
Garrulous
adj
(gaar uh luhs) (gaar yuh luhs)
tending to talk a lot
The garrulous parakeet distracted its owner with its continuous talking.
Synonyms: effusive; loquacious
Gestation
noun
(jeh stay shuhn)
growth process from conception to birth
The longer the gestation period of an organism, the more developed the baby is
at birth.
Synonyms: development; gravidity; pregnancy
Glib
adj
(glihb)
fluent in an insincere manner; offhand; casual
The slimy politician managed to continue gaining supporters because he was a glib speaker.
Synonyms: easy; superficial
Glower
verb
(glow uhr)
to glare or stare angrily and intensely
The cranky waiter glowered at the indecisive customer.
Synonyms: frown; lower; scowl
Gradation
noun
(gray day shuhn)
process occurring by regular degrees or stages;
variation in color
The paint store offers so many different gradations
of red that it’s impossible to choose among them.
Synonyms: nuance; shade; step; subtlety
Gregarious
adj
(greh gayr ee uhs)
outgoing; sociable
She was so gregarious that when she found herself alone she felt quite sad.
Synonyms: affable; communicative; congenial;
sociable
Grievous
adj
(gree vuhs)
causing grief or sorrow; serious and distressing
Maude and Bertha sobbed loudly throughout the
grievous event.
Synonyms: dire; dolorous; grave; mournful
Grovel
verb
(grah vuhl)
to humble oneself in a demeaning way
Thor groveled to his ex-girlfriend, hoping she would take him back.
Synonyms: bootlick; cringe; fawn; kowtow; toady
Guile
noun
(gie uhl)
deceit; trickery
Since he was not fast enough to catch the roadrunner on foot, the coyote resorted to guile in an effort to trap his enemy.
Synonyms: artifice; chicanery; connivery; duplicity
Gullible
adj
(guh luh buhl)
easily deceived
The con man pretended to be a bank officer so as to fool gullible bank customers into giving him their account information.
Synonyms: credulous; exploitable; naïve
Hapless
adj
(haap luhs)
unfortunate; having bad luck
I wish someone would give that poor, hapless soul some food and shelter.
Synonyms: ill-fated; ill-starred; jinxed; luckless;
unlucky
Hegemony
noun
(hih jeh muh nee)
the domination of one state or group over its allies
When Germany claimed hegemony over Russia, Stalin was outraged.
Synonyms: authority; power
Hermetic
adj
(huhr meh tihk)
tightly sealed
The hermetic seal of the jar proved impossible to break.
Synonyms: airtight; impervious; watertight
