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GRE Vocabulary > Key Terms 2.0 > Flashcards

Key Terms 2.0 Flashcards

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1
Q

acumen (noun)

A

keen, accurate judgment or insight

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2
Q

adulterate (verb)

A

to reduce purity by combining with inferior ingredients

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3
Q

archaic (adj)

A

outdated ;associated with an earlier, perhaps more primitive time

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4
Q

aver (verb)

A

to state as a fact; to declare or assert

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5
Q

bolster (verb)

A

to provide support or reinforcement

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6
Q

bombastic (adj)

A

pompous; grandiloquent

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7
Q

diatribe (noun)

A

a harsh denunciation

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8
Q

dissemble (verb)

A

to disguise or conceal; to mislead

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9
Q

eccentric (adj)

A

departing from norms or conventions

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10
Q

endemic (adj)

A

characteristic of or often found in a particular locality, region, or people

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11
Q

evanescent (adj)

A

tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing

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12
Q

exacerbate (verb)

A

to make worse or more severe

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13
Q

fervent (adj)

A

greatly emotional or zealous

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14
Q

fortuitous (adj)

A

happening by accident or chance

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15
Q

germane (adj)

A

relevant to the subject at hand

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16
Q

grandiloquence (noun)

A

pompous speech or expression

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17
Q

hackneyed (adj)

A

rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage

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18
Q

halcyon (adj)

A

calm and peaceful

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19
Q

hedonism (noun)

A

devotion to pleasurable pursuits, especially to the pleasures of the senses

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20
Q

hegemony (noun)

A

the consistent dominance of one state or group over others

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21
Q

idolatrous (adj)

A

given to intense or excessive devotion to something

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22
Q

impassive (adj)

A

revealing no emotion

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23
Q

imperturbable (adj)

A

marked by extreme calm or impassivity and steadiness

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24
Q

implacable (adj)

A

not capable of being appeased or significantly changed

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25
Q

impunity (noun)

A

immunity from punishment or penalty

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26
Q

inchoate (adj)

A

in an initial stage; not fully formed

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27
Q

infelicitous (adj)

A

unfortunate; inappropriate

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28
Q

insipid (adj)

A

lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge

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29
Q

loquacious (adj)

A

extremely talkative

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30
Q

luminous (adj)

A

characterized by brightness and the emission of light

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31
Q

malevolent (adj)

A

having or showing often vicious ill-will, spite, or hatred

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32
Q

malleable (adj)

A

capable of being shaped or formed; tractable; pliable

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33
Q

mendacity (noun)

A

the condition of being untruthful; dishonesty

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34
Q

meticulous (adj)

A

characterized by extreme care and precision; attentive to detail

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35
Q

misanthrope (noun)

A

one who hates all other humans

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36
Q

mitigate (verb)

A

to make or become less severe or intense; to moderate

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37
Q

obdurate (adj)

A

unyielding; hard-hearted; intractable

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38
Q

obsequious (adj)

A

exhibiting a fawning attentiveness

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39
Q

occlude (verb)

A

to obstruct or block

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40
Q

opprobrium (noun)

A

disgrace; contempt; scorn

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41
Q

pedagogy (noun)

A

the profession or principles of teaching or instructing

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42
Q

pedantic (adj)

A

overly concerned with the trivial details of learning or education; show-offish about one’s knowledge

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43
Q

penury (noun)

A

poverty; destitution

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44
Q

pervasive (adj)

A

having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout

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45
Q

pine (verb)

A

to yearn intensely; to languish; to lose vigor

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46
Q

pirate (verb)

A

to illegally use or produce

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47
Q

pith (noun)

A

the essential or central part

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48
Q

placate (verb)

A

to appease; to calm by making concessions

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49
Q

platitude (noun)

A

a superficial remark, especially one offered to be meaningful

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50
Q

plummet (verb)

A

to plunge or drop straight down

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51
Q

polemical (adj)

A

controversial; argumentative

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52
Q

prodigal (adj)

A

recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish

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53
Q

proliferate (verb)

A

to grow or increase swiftly and abundantly

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54
Q

profuse (adj)

A

given or coming forth abundantly; extravagant

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55
Q

queries (noun)

A

questions; inquiries; doubts in the mind; reservations

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56
Q

querulous (adj)

A

prone to complaining or grumbling; peevish

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57
Q

rancorous (adj)

A

characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment

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58
Q

recalcitrant (adj)

A

obstinately defiant of authority; difficult to manage

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59
Q

rescind (verb)

A

to invalidate; to repeal; to retract

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60
Q

reverent (adj)

A

marked by, feeling, or expressing a feeling of profound awe and respect

61
Q

rhetoric (noun)

A

the art or study of effective use of language for communication and persuasion

62
Q

salubrious (adj)

A

promoting health or well-being

63
Q

solvent (adj)

A

able to meet financial obligations; able to dissolve another substance

64
Q

specious (adj)

A

seemingly true, but actually fallacious; misleadingly attractive; plausible but false

65
Q

spurious (adj)

A

lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit

66
Q

subpoena (noun)

A

a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony

67
Q

succinct (adj)

A

brief; concise

68
Q

superfluous (adj)

A

exceeding what is sufficient or necessary

69
Q

surfeit (noun)

A

an overabundant supply; excess; to feed or supply excess

70
Q

tenacity (noun)

A

the quality of adherence or persistence to something valued; persistent determination

71
Q

tenuous (adj)

A

having little substance or strength; flimsy; weak

72
Q

tirade (noun)

A

a long and extremely critical speech; a harsh denunciation

73
Q

transient (adj)

A

fleeting; passing quickly; brief

74
Q

zealous (adj)

A

fervent; ardent; impassioned, devoted to a cause

75
Q

acerbic (adj)

A

having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting

76
Q

aggrandize (verb)

A

to increase in intensity, power, influence, or prestige

77
Q

alchemy (noun)

A

a medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals, especially base metals into gold

78
Q

amenable (adj)

A

agreeable; responsive to suggestion

79
Q

anachronism (noun)

A

something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context

80
Q

astringent (adj)

A

having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe; something with a tightening effect on tissue

81
Q

contiguous (adj)

A

sharing a border; touching; adjacent

82
Q

convention (noun)

A

a generally agreed upon practice or attitude

83
Q

credulous (adj)

A

tending to believe too readily; guillible

84
Q

cynicism (noun)

A

an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness

85
Q

decorum (noun)

A

polite or appropriate conduct or behavior

86
Q

derision (noun)

A

scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment

87
Q

dessicate (verb)

A

to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull

88
Q

dillettante (noun)

A

one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge

89
Q

disparage (verb)

A

to slight or belittle

90
Q

divulge (verb)

A

to disclose something secret

91
Q

fawn (verb)

A

to flatter or praise excesively

92
Q

flout (verb)

A

to show contempt for, as in a rule or convention

93
Q

garrulous (adj)

A

pointlessly talkative; talking too much

94
Q

glib (adj)

A

marked b ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial

95
Q

hubris (noun)

A

overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance

96
Q

imminent (adj)

A

about to happen; impending

97
Q

immutable (adj)

A

not capable of change

98
Q

impetuous (adj)

A

hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement

99
Q

indifferent (adj)

A

having no interest or concern, showing no bias or prejudice

100
Q

inimical (adj)

A

damaging; harmful; injurious

101
Q

intractable (adj)

A

not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate

102
Q

intrepid (adj)

A

steadfast and courageous

103
Q

laconic (adj)

A

using few words; terse

104
Q

maverick (noun)

A

an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party

105
Q

mercurial (adj)

A

characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood

106
Q

mollify (verb)

A

to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity

107
Q

neophyte (noun)

A

a recent convert; a beginner; a novice

108
Q

obfuscate (verb)

A

to deliberately obscure; to make confusing

109
Q

obstinate (verb)

A

stubborn; hard-headed; uncompromising

110
Q

ostentatious (adj)

A

characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy

111
Q

pervade (verb)

A

to permeate throughout

112
Q

phlegmatic (adj)

A

calm; sluggish; unemotional

113
Q

plethora (noun)

A

an overabundance; a surplus

114
Q

pragmatic (adj)

A

practical rather than idealistic

115
Q

presumptuous (adj)

A

overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties

116
Q

pristine (adj)

A

pure; uncorrupted; clean

117
Q

probity (noun)

A

adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness

118
Q

proclivity (noun)

A

a natural predisposition or inclination

119
Q

profligate (verb)

A

excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant

120
Q

propensity (noun)

A

a natural inclination or tendency; penchant

121
Q

prosaic (adj)

A

dull; lacking in spirit or imagination

122
Q

pungent (adj)

A

characterized by a strong sharp smell or taste

123
Q

quixotic (adj)

A

foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals

124
Q

quotidian (adj)

A

occurring or recurring daily; commonplace

125
Q

rarefy (verb)

A

to make or become thin, less dense; to refine

126
Q

recondite (adj)

A

hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure

127
Q

refulgent (adj)

A

radiant; shiny; brilliant

128
Q

renege (verb)

A

to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise

129
Q

sedulous (adj)

A

diligent; persistent; hard-working

130
Q

shard (noun)

A

a piece of broken pottery or glass

131
Q

soporific (adj)

A

causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep

132
Q

sparse (adj)

A

thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals

133
Q

spendthrift (noun)

A

one who spends money wastefully

134
Q

subtle (adj)

A

no obvious; elusive; difficult to discern

135
Q

tacit (adj)

A

implied; not explicitly stated

136
Q

terse (adj)

A

brief and concise in wording

137
Q

tout (verb)

A

to publicly praise or promote

138
Q

trenchant (adj)

A

sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating

139
Q

unfeigning (adj)

A

genuine; not false or hypocritical

140
Q

untenable (adj)

A

indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable

141
Q

vacillate (adj)

A

to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another

142
Q

variegated (adj)

A

multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color

143
Q

vexation (noun)

A

annoyance; irritation

144
Q

vigilant (adj)

A

alertly watchful

145
Q

vituperate (verb)

A

to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; to berate

146
Q

volatile (adj)

A

readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle; explosive

147
Q

pusillanimous (asj)

A

lacking courage or resolution; cowardly; faint-hearted; timid; proceeding from or indicating a cowardly spirit.

148
Q

antediluvian (adj)

A

very old, old-fashioned, or out of date; antiquated; primitive

149
Q

jejune (adj)

A

without interest or significance; dull; insipid

GRE Vocabulary (3 decks)

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