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GRE Vocab > Magoosh Basic Vocab > Flashcards

Magoosh Basic Vocab Flashcards

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1
Q

Pithy

A

(Adj)

Concise and full of meaning

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2
Q

Quandary

A

(Noun)

Uncertainty and perplexity usually over making a choice between two equally unfavorable options

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3
Q

Consummate

A

(Adj)
Displaying supreme mastery or skill.

(Verb)
To make perfect and complete in every way

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4
Q

Renege

A

(Verb)
Fail to fulfill a promise or obligation.

Mnemonic: think of renegade, which is a deserter of a faith, cause, or allegiance to another. Both words relate to a betrayal.

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5
Q

Ingenuity

A

(Noun)

The quality of being cleverly creative, imaginative, and original

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6
Q

Flounder

A

(Verb)

To behave awkwardly; struggle or have difficulties

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7
Q

Plodding

A

(Adj)
1) Of a movement, slow and laborious.

2) Of a person, slow-moving and unexciting; thorough and diligent but lacking in imagination or intelligence.

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8
Q

Ascendancy

A

(Noun)

A state in which an individual or group has power over another

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9
Q

Fete

A

(Verb)

To celebrate someone

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10
Q

Obdurate

A

(Adj)
Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action.

Synonyms: obstinate, stubborn, unyielding.

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11
Q

Sedulous

A

(Adj)
Of a person or action, showing great dedication and diligence.

Synonyms: assiduous, industrious, scrupulous.

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12
Q

Artifice

A

(Noun)

Cunning tricks used to deceive others

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13
Q

Belie

A

(Verb)

1) Of an appearance, fail to give a true notion or impression of something; disguise or contradict.
2) Fail to fulfill or justify a claim or expectation; betray.

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14
Q

Temerity

A

(Noun)
Excessive confidence or daring.

Synonyms: boldness, audacity, effrontery.

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15
Q

Facetious

A

(Adj)

Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant

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16
Q

Construe

A

(Verb)

Interpret (a word or action) in a particular way

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17
Q

Spurious

A

(Adj)
Fake or false; not being what it purports to be.

Synonyms: bogus, factitious, fictitious, fallacious.

Note: Specious, another word relating to falseness, differs slightly from the above synonyms in that it entails something that sounds plausible when in reality it’s wrong.

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18
Q

Duplicity

A

(Noun)

Deceitfulness; double-dealing

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19
Q

Laconic

A

(Adj)
Using very few words (of a person, speech, or style of writing)

Synonyms: pithy, terse, taciturn

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20
Q

Baseless

A

(Adj)

Lack of moral principles; bad character

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21
Q

Doctrinaire

A

(Adj)
Seeking to impose a doctrine without regard to practical considerations.

Synonyms: dogmatic, uncompromising, inflexible.

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22
Q

Debased

A

(Adj)
Of low quality or value.

Synonyms: debauched, dissolute, immoral.

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23
Q

Distill

A

(Verb)

Extract the essential meaning or most important specs of

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24
Q

Sanguine

A

(Adj)
Optimistic or positive, especially in a bad or difficult situation.

Interesting tidbit (mnemonic): in medieval science and medicine, it was thought that those with a ruddy complexion, indicating predominance of blood (think of ‘sange’ in French), represented an optimistic disposition.

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25
Q

Equivocal

A

(Adj)

Open to more than one interpretation; uncertain or questionable in nature; ambiguous

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26
Q

Timorous

A

(Adj)
Showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence.

Note: This word is NOT the same as temerity, which means excessive confidence or boldness (quite the opposite!).

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27
Q

Transitory

A

(Adj)

Not permanent; temporary, transient

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28
Q

Crass

A

(Adj)

Lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence; stupid, blundering

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29
Q

Arbiter

A

(Noun)

1) Person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter.
2) Person whose views or actions have great influence over trends in social behavior.

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30
Q

Demure

A

(Adj)

1) Reserved, modest.
2) Affectedly modest, reserved, or serious; coy.

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31
Q

Preclude

A

(Verb)

Prevent from happening; make impossible

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32
Q

Glib

A

(Adj)
Of a person or words, fluent and voluble but insincere and shallow.

Synonyms: slick, pat, smooth-talking.

Character example: Nick Wilde from Zootopia.

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33
Q

Genteel

A

(Adj)

Marked by refinement in taste and manners

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34
Q

Precedent

A

(Noun)

An example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time

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35
Q

Tawdry

A

(Adj)

Tastelessly showy; cheap and shoddy

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36
Q

Perennial

A

(Adj)
Lasting an indefinitely long time; eternal, everlasting.

Mnemonic: think of the character Tulip from Infinity Train. She is named after a flower that is perennial, and she happens to be on a strange train that seems to run forever.

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37
Q

Smattering

A

(Noun)

A slight or superficial understanding of a subject; a small amount of something

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38
Q

Assail

A

(Verb)

1) Attack in speech or writing.
2) Of an unpleasant feeling or physical sensation, come upon someone suddenly and strongly; trouble, disturb.

Synonyms: besiege, belabor, assault.

Mnemonic: think of Seo from Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun. She is known for her brash personality as seen when she attacks in basketball and offends everybody relentlessly.

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39
Q

Irresolute

A

(Adj)

Uncertain how to act or respond

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40
Q

Buck

A

(Verb)

Resist

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41
Q

Hamstrung

A

(Verb)

Made ineffective or powerless; handicap, restrict

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42
Q

Fickle

A

(Adj)
Liable to sudden unpredictable change, especially in affections or attachments.

Mnemonic: think of jiggle (rhymes with this), which is the movement of a jello causing it to slightly CHANGE shape.

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43
Q

Urbane

A

(Adj)

1) Showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience.

2) Notably polite and polished in manner.
Synonyms: debonair, smooth, sophisticated, suave, svelte.

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44
Q

Credence

A

(Noun)

Belief in something

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45
Q

Rankle

A

(Verb)

Gnaw into; make resentful or angry

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46
Q

Placid

A

(Adj)

Not easily irritated

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47
Q

Devolve

A

(Verb)

1) Pass on or delegate to another.
2) Grow worse.

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48
Q

Unseemly

A

(Adj)

Not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society

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49
Q

Credulity

A

(Noun)

Tendency to believe readily

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50
Q

Exasperate

A

(Verb)
To irritate intensely.

Mnemonic: similar to ASPiration, which is the action of drawing a breath. Ex- which means “out of.” Thus, together it creates an image of someone huffing and sighing impatiently due to irritation.

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51
Q

Tact

A

(Noun)

Consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense

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52
Q

Eke

A

(Verb)
1) To live off meager resources; to scrape by.

2) To get with great difficulty (usually used with “out” in this context).

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53
Q

Travail

A

(Noun)

Use of physical or mental energy; hard work; agony or anguish

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54
Q

Presumption

A

(Noun)

1) Overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.
Synonyms: brazen, audacious, overconfident.

2) An assumption that is taken for granted.

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55
Q

Connive

A

(Verb)

Taking part in immoral and unethical plots

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56
Q

Foible

A

(Noun)
A behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual; a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone’s character.

Synonyms: shortcoming, quirk, idiosyncrasy.

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57
Q

Fortitude

A

(Noun)
1) Courage in pain or adversity; mental power of endurance.

2) Strength or force; power to attack or resist attack.

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58
Q

Foment

A

(Verb)
To instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action); to promote the growth or development of

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59
Q

Clemency

A

(Noun)

Leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice; mercy

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60
Q

Piquant

A

(Adj)
1) Having an agreeably pungent or stimulating taste, especially spicy.

2) Engagingly provocative or pleasantly stimulating to the mind (usually used to describe a behavior).

Antonym: insipid

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61
Q

Behoove

A

(Verb)

1) It is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something; it is incumbent on.
2) It is appropriate or suitable; it befits

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62
Q

Insipid

A

(Adj)

1) Lacking flavor.
Synonyms: tasteless, unpalatable, bland.

2) Lacking vigor or interest.
Synonyms: humdrum, prosaic, vapid, boring, anemic, lackluster.

Antonym: piquant

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63
Q

Antedate

A

(Verb)

1) To precede in time; come before something in date.
2) Indicate or discover that a document, event, or word should be assigned to an earlier date.

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64
Q

Redress

A

(Noun and verb)
A remedy or compensation for a wrong or grievance; to remedy or set right an undesirable or unfair situation.

Common usage: “redress the balance” means “take action to restore equality in a situation.”

Synonyms: amend, rectify

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65
Q

Rakish

A

(Adj)
Having or showing a dashing, jaunty, or slightly disreputable quality or appearance.

Synonyms: debonair, devil-may-care, dapper, raffish, louche.

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66
Q

Ascribe

A

(Verb)
To attribute something to a cause; regard a quality as belonging to.

Synonyms: impute, attribute.

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67
Q

Begrudge

A

(Verb)

1) Envy someone for the possession or enjoyment of something.
2) To give reluctantly or resentfully.

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68
Q

Cavalier

A

(Adj)

Showing a lack of proper concern; offhand, insouciant

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69
Q

Wanton

A

(Adj) Of a cruel or violent action, deliberate and unprovoked.

Synonyms: malicious, unjustified, spiteful.

Mnemonic: rearrange the letters of the word to “no want,” which can be thought of as no warrant on some bad action.

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70
Q

Finagle

A

(Verb)
Obtain something by devious or dishonest means.

Mnemonic: think of how similarly it sounds to “find an angle,” which is finding a way out of something, implying a trick or mischief.

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71
Q

Veneer

A

(Noun and verb)
An attractive appearance that disguises someone or something’s true nature or feelings.

Synonyms: facade, semblance.

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72
Q

Preempt

A

(Verb)

1) Take action in order to prevent an anticipated event from happening or to prevent someone from doing something; forestall.
2) To acquire or appropriate in advance.

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73
Q

Sordid

A

(Adj)
Involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt; foul and run-down and repulsive —> similar to boorish?

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74
Q

Dispatch

A

(Noun)
The property of being prompt and efficient.

(Verb)
To dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently.

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75
Q

Creditable

A

(Adj)

Deserving of praise but not that amazing

76
Q

Snub

A

(Verb)

To rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully; slight or insult

77
Q

Provisional

A

(Adj)

Under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon

78
Q

Champion

A

(Verb)
To fight for a cause.

Synonyms: defend, protect, advocate, uphold, support.

79
Q

Staid (pronounced like “stayed”)

A

(Adj)
Characterized by dignity and propriety; sedate, respectable, and unadventurous.

Mnemonic: think of a noble STEED, which sounds similar to staid. Both evoke sophisticatication and propriety.

80
Q

Perquisite

A

(Adj)
A right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right).

Mnemonic: perk is an abbreviated version of this word.

81
Q

Balk

A

(Verb and noun)
1) Refuse to comply; to hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.

2) To check or stop by or as if by an obstacle; block.

Synonyms: eschew, resist, thwart, foil, frustrate.

82
Q

Relegate

A

(Verb)

Assign to a lower position

83
Q

Discreet

A

(Adj)
Careful to protect one’s speech or actions in order to avoid offense or draw attention.

Note: this is a different word from discrete, which means disparate/separate.

84
Q

Exposition

A

(Noun)

A comprehensive description or explanation of an idea or theory

85
Q

Consequence

A

(Noun)

1) Importance or relevance.
2) Result of an action.

86
Q

Vestigial

A

(Adj)
Forming a very small amount of something that was once much larger or more noticeable. In biology, it is used to refer to an organ or part of the body that no longer serves a function and has degenerated.

Synonyms: remaining, residual.

87
Q

Apologist

A

(Noun)

A person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial

88
Q

Admonish

A

(Verb)

Warn or reprimand someone firmly; advise or urge someone earnestly

89
Q

Amenable

A

(Adj)

Open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled

90
Q

Aphoristic

A

(Adj)

Something that is concise and instructive of a general truth or principle

91
Q

Avail

A

(Noun or Verb)

1) Help or benefit.
2) Use or take advantage of an opportunity or resource.

92
Q

Avatar

A

(Noun)

A physical embodiment of an idea or concept; a personification

93
Q

Avuncular

A

(Adj)

Relating to an uncle; kind and friendly toward a younger or less experienced person

94
Q

Axiomatic

A

(Adj)

Self-evident or unquestionable

95
Q

Base

A

(Adj)

Lacking higher values; ignoble, degrading

96
Q

Chagrin

A

(Noun)

Distress or embarrassment of having failed or been humiliated

97
Q

Check

A

(Verb)

Stop or slow down the progress of (something undesirable)

98
Q

Connoisseur

A

(Noun)

An expert judge who has a great deal of knowledge about the fine arts, cuisine, and matters of taste

99
Q

Contrarian

A

(Adj or noun)
A person who habitually takes a view opposite to that held by the majority

Aka a hipster :P

100
Q

Corroborate

A

(Verb)

Confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding)

101
Q

Dearth

A

(Noun)
A scarcity or lack of something.

Mnemonic: think of Dirk (similar sound to this word) Gently, who is a holistic detective that bases his investigations no whims or a lack of complete information.

102
Q

Delineate

A

(Verb)

Describe in detail

103
Q

Dispensation

A

(Noun)

1) An exemption from a rule or obligation; exoneration.
2) A system of order, government, or organization of a nation, especially existing at a particular time.
3) The act of distributing or supplying something.

104
Q

Disseminate

A

(Verb)

Cause to be widely known

105
Q

Dissipation

A

(Noun)

1) Wasteful spending of money, energy, or resources; squandering.
2) Debauched living; decadence, dissolution, profligacy.

106
Q

Entail

A

(Verb)

Involve something as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence

107
Q

Ephemeral

A

(Adj)
Lasting a short time; transitory.

Mnemonic: the mayfly (Ephemeroptera) hatches, mates, and dies all within the span of a few hours.

108
Q

Equivocation

A

(Noun)

Ambiguity; intentional vagueness and misleading speech; susceptible to double meaning.

109
Q

Exhort

A

(Verb)

To strongly urge on; to give warnings or advice; encourage

110
Q

Expansive

A

(Adj)

1) Covering a wide area in terms of space or scope; extensive or wide-ranging.
2) Of a person or manner, communicative and prone to talking in a sociable manner; gregarious, forthcoming.

111
Q

Fanciful

A

(Adj)
overimaginative and unrealisic; existing only in the imagination or fancy; designed to be exotically ornamental rather than practical

112
Q

Fastidious

A

(Adj)
Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.

Synonyms: picky, finicky, meticulous.

113
Q

Folly

A

(Noun)

1) Lack of good sense; weakness of judgement or character; foolishness.
2) Morally bad conduct; wickedness, wantonness.
3) A costly structure or undertaking left unfinished for want of means; too expensive to be properly maintained.

114
Q

Garrulous

A

(Adj)

Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters

115
Q

Grandiose

A

(Adj)

1) Impressive from inherent grandeur; vulgarly showy or flaunting; grandiloquent.
2) Large and impressive in size, scope, or extent.

116
Q

Gratuitous

A

(Adj)

Unwarranted or unnecessary

117
Q

Gregarious

A

(Adj)

Fond of company; sociable

118
Q

Gusto

A

(Noun)

Appreciative taste or enjoyment; zest, enthusiasm

119
Q

Heterodox

A

(Adj) Unorthodox.

Etymology: “hetero” means “other” or “different” + “Dox” means “opinion.” For orthodox, “ortho” is “straight” or “correct”, thus meaning “straight opinion.”

120
Q

Hubris

A

(Noun)

Exaggerated pride or self-confidence

121
Q

Iconoclastic

A

(Adj)

Characterized by an attack on cherished beliefs or institutions; non-conformist, heretical

122
Q

Illustrious

A

(Adj)

Well-known, respected, and admired for past achievements

123
Q

Impasse

A

(Noun)

A situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement; deadlock

124
Q

Implacable

A

(Adj)

Incapable of making less angry or hostile

125
Q

Inadvertently

A

(Adverb)

Unintentionally or accidentally

126
Q

Ingratiate

A

(Verb)

Bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them

127
Q

Intimation

A

(Noun)

An indirect suggestion

128
Q

Intrigue

A

(Noun)
Secret or underhand plotting or scheming; maze.

(Verb)
To entangle; to practice clandestine plots.

129
Q

Languish

A

(Verb)

1) Of a person or other living thing, to lose or lack vitality; grow weak or feeble.
2) Suffer from being forced to remain in an unpleasant place or situation; rot, decay.

130
Q

Languorous

A

(Adj)

Characterized by tiredness or inactivity, especially of a pleasurable kind; characterized by an oppressive stillness.

131
Q

Machinations

A

(Noun)

Scheming or crafty actions to accomplish some usually evil end

132
Q

Mercurial

A

(Adj)

Subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind; volatile, capricious, fickle

133
Q

Mutinous

A

(Adj)

Unruly and likely to rebel

134
Q

Myopic

A

(Adj)

1) Near-sighted.
2) Lacking imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight.

135
Q

Noxious

A

(Adj)

Harmful, pernicious

136
Q

Opacity

A

(Noun)

Darkness or obscurity; want of clearness; inaccessible to understanding.

137
Q

Openhanded

A

(Adj)

Generous

138
Q

Opulent

A

(Adj)

Rich and superior in quality

139
Q

Parse

A

(Verb)

Analyze into parts; to examine or analyze minutely

140
Q

Paucity

A

(Noun)

Scarcity or dearth

141
Q

Penitent

A

(Adj)

Showing sorrow and regret for doing something wrong; repentant, contrite

142
Q

Perspicacity

A

(Noun)
Keenness of mental perception and understanding.

Synonyms: astuteness, discernment, penetration, shrewdness.

Character examples: Sherlock Holmes; House, M.D.

143
Q

Philistine

A

(Adj or noun)

Smug and ignorant or hostile and indifferent towards artistic and cultural values

144
Q

Plaintive

A

(Adj)
Sorrowful; sounding sad and mournful.

Mnemonic: think of the word “pain” in plaintive.

145
Q

Platitude

A

(Noun)
A remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used so often that it is not interesting or thoughtful; cliche, bromide

146
Q

Precipitous

A

(Adj)

1) Dangerously high or steep.
2) Of a change to a worse situation or condition, sudden and dramatic.
3) Of an action, done suddenly and without careful consideration; hasty.

147
Q

Premise

A

(Noun)
A previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion.

(Verb)
Base an argument, theory, or undertaking on.

148
Q

Primacy

A

(Noun)

The state of being first in importance

149
Q

Prohibitive

A

(Adj)

Costly to the extreme; beyond budget; tending to discourage (esp. of prices)

150
Q

Restive

A

(Adj)
Unable to keep still or silent and becoming increasingly difficult to control, especially because of dissatisfaction, impatience, or boredom; skittish

151
Q

Retroactive

A

(Adj)

Especially of legislation, taking effect from a date in the past

152
Q

Revile

A

(Verb)

Criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner

153
Q

Scruple

A

(Noun)

A feeling of doubt or hesitation with regard to morality or propriety of a course of action

154
Q

Sedate

A

(Adj)
Undisturbed by passion.
Synonyms: quiet, composed, placid, tranquil.

(Verb)
To calm or compose.

155
Q

Sedulous

A

(Adj)

Showing dedication and diligence; thorough

156
Q

Smattering

A

(Noun)

A slight or superficial understanding of a subject; a small amount of something

157
Q

Spartan

A

(Adj)

Austere; showing indifference to comfort of luxury associated with ancient Sparta

158
Q

Stigmatize

A

(Verb)

Describe or regard as disgraceful; condemn, disparage

159
Q

Subsist

A

(Verb)

Maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level

160
Q

Subterfuge

A

(Noun)

1) Something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity.

2) Deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal.
Synonyms: chicanery, deception, intrigue, trickery.

Etymology: Latin prefix “subter-” means “secretly” which comes from the adverb “subter-“ meaning “underneath.” The “fuge” comes from the Latin verb “fugere” which means “to flee” (think of refuge or fugitive).

161
Q

Subvert

A

(Verb)
Undermine the power and authority of.

Synonyms: overthrow, overturn, destroy.

Mnemonic: break down the word into “sub” which means “from below” and “vert” which means “to turn.”

162
Q

Supercilious

A

(Adj)

Haughty and disdainful; looking down on others

163
Q

Superfluity

A

(Noun)

An unnecessarily or excessively large amount; state of being superfluous; surplus

164
Q

Supplant

A

(Verb)

To replace someone or something that doesn’t fill a role anymore

165
Q

Surmise

A

(Verb)

Suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it; guess, conjecture

166
Q

Taciturn

A

(Adj)
Habitually reserved and uncommunicative; reticent.

Note: similar to tacit, which means implied or silently indicated.

167
Q

Tactless

A

(Adj)

Having or showing a lack of adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues; inconsiderate

168
Q

Telling

A

(Adj)

Having a striking or revealing effect; significant (connotes some surprise?)

169
Q

Tractable

A

(Adj)

1) Of a person, easy to control or influence.
2) Of a situation or problem, easy to deal with.

170
Q

Transcendent

A

(Adj)

Transcending the universe of matter, not cosmic; a reality above the categories.

171
Q

Transitory

A

(Adj)

Lasting a very short time; transient, ephemeral

172
Q

Transmute

A

(Verb)
Change in form, nature, or substance; alter, transfigure

Pop culture examples: transmutation in Full Metal Alchemist, transfiguration in Harry Potter.

173
Q

Travail

A

(Noun)

Use of physical or mental energy; hard work; agony or anguish; tribulation

174
Q

Unassuming

A

(Adj)

Not bold or forward; not arrogant; modest, retiring (to be shy and to be inclined to retract from company)

175
Q

Undermine

A

(Verb)

1) Erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation).
2) Lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability, especially gradually or insidiously; compromise, diminish.

176
Q

Understated

A

(Adj)

Presented or expressed in a subtle and effective way

177
Q

Unforthcoming

A

(Adj)

Uncooperative, not willing to give up information; retiring

178
Q

Unqualified

A

(Adj)

1) Without reservation or limitation; complete, absolute.
2) Not fit; not having requisite qualifications.

179
Q

Unseemly

A

Of a behavior or actions, not proper or appropriate

180
Q

Unsolicited

A

(Adj)

Not asked for; given or done voluntarily

181
Q

Vet

A

(Verb)

Make a careful and critical examination; investigate thoroughly

182
Q

Vilify

A

(Verb)

Speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner

183
Q

Vindicate

A

(Verb)

1) Clear someone of blame or suspicion; absolve.
2) Show or prove to be right; justify.

184
Q

Volubility

A

(Noun)

The quality of being able to speak or write continuously and easily

185
Q

Wily

A

(Adj)

Crafty, sly, cunning

186
Q

Winsome

A

(Adj)

Charming in a child-like or naive way; attractive or appealing in appearance or character

GRE Vocab (3 decks)

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