Official GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions Flashcards
rugged
tough; rough (of terrain); (of a man) having attractively strong, rough-hewn features
irksome
irritating, annoying, vexing
canonise
place in or recognise as canon; officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint; treat or regard as being above reproach or of great significance; sanction by Church authority
luminary
a person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent in a particular sphere
efflorescence
rapid growth or development; The formation of a powdery deposit on the surface of brickwork, rock, or other material as a result of loss of moisture on exposure to air
clangourous
characterized by or making a continuous loud banging or ringing sound
hortatory
tending or aiming to exhort
heyday
the period of a person’s or thing’s greatest success, popularity, activity, or vigour
marginalise
treat (a person, group, or concept) as insignificant or peripheral
fortuitous
serendipitous, happening by chance
synthesise
make something by synthesis; combine (a number of things) into a coherent whole; produce sound electronically
scanty
small or insufficient in quantity or amount; skimpy, revealing
meagre
lacking in quantity or quality; (of a person or animal) thin
prolix
using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy
tillage
the preparation of land for growing crops; land under cultivation
“forty acres of tillage”
staple
important
canny
having or showing shrewdness and good judgement, especially in money or business matters
espousal
an act of adopting or supporting a cause, belief, or way of life; a marriage
quaint
attractively unusual or old-fashioned
cloy
disgust or sicken (someone) with an excess of sweetness, richness, or sentiment
hidebound
conservative, conventional, orthodox
prudent
acting with or showing care and thought for the future
surly
bad-tempered and unfriendly, sullen
scuffle
move (something) in a hurried, confused, or awkward way, making a rustling or shuffling sound
“a drenched woman scuffled through the doorway”
rapt
characterised by a state of fascination; filled with an intense and pleasurable emotion; enraptured
“she shut her eyes and seemed rapt with desire”
buoyant
light-hearted
temperate
relating to or denoting a region or climate characterized by mild temperatures; showing moderation or self-restraint
unexpurgated
(of a text) complete and containing all the original material, uncensored
nonchalant
cool, relaxed, unconcerned
rhapsody
an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling
accentuate
make more noticeable or prominent
devolve
delegate
byword
an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling; a word or expression summarizing a thing’s characteristics or a person’s principles
bungle
carry out (a task) clumsily or incompetently
deleterious
harmful
ascribe
regard something to be due to, attribute; regard a text, quotation, or work of art as being produced by or belonging to (a particular person or period); regard a quality as belonging to
inestimable
too great to calculate
institutionalise
establish (something) as a convention or norm in an organization or culture
pitfall
a hidden or unsuspected danger or difficulty; a covered pit used as a trap
meandering
following a winding course, circuitous, roundabout
idiosyncratic
individual, peculiar
whisk
take or move (someone or something) somewhere suddenly and quickly; beat or stir with a light, rapid movement; a bunch of grass, twigs, or bristles for removing dust or flies
archipelago
an extensive group of islands
pedestrian
dull
jettison
discard
misnomer
a misapplied or inappropriate name or designation
economy
sparing or careful use of something
pejorative
(a word) expressing contempt and disapproval
aplomb
self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation, poise
entreaty
humble request
wheedle
inveigle, cajole
notwithstanding
in spite of
