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GRE Practice Test Vocab > Prep Scholar > Flashcards

Prep Scholar Flashcards

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1
Q

Abate

A

To diminish in intensity

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2
Q

Aberrant

A

Diverge from the standard type

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3
Q

Abjure

A

To reject or renounce

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4
Q

Abscond

A

Leave secretly, evading detection

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5
Q

Abstain

A

To voluntarily refrain from doing something

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6
Q

Acumen

A

Keen judgement and perception

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7
Q

Admonish

A

Scold or to advise firmly

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8
Q

Adulterate

A

To contaminate or make impure by introducing inferior elements

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9
Q

Advocate

A

To recommend, support, or advise

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10
Q

Aesthetic

A

Concerned with the nature of beauty and art

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11
Q

Affectation

A

Fake or artificial behavior, often meant to impress of conceal the truth

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12
Q

Aggrandize

A

Enlarge or increase, especially w/ wealth, power, and reputation

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13
Q

Alacrity

A

Promptness and eagerness

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14
Q

Alleviate

A

To relieve a problem or ease a burden

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15
Q

Amalgamate

A

To combine or mix together

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16
Q

Ambiguous

A

Unclear, open to multiple interpretations

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17
Q

Ambivalent

A

Having mixed or contradictory feelings about something or someone

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18
Q

Ameliorate

A

Improve or mitigate a situation

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19
Q

Amenable

A

Easily convinced or persuaded

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20
Q

Anachronism

A

Something old-fashioned

Or

Something in appearing in a time where it does not belong

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21
Q

Analogous

A

Comparable

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22
Q

Anoint

A

To choose for a particular office or position

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23
Q

Anomaly

A

An exception or unusual case

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24
Q

Antipathy

A

Strong dislike or hatred

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25
Q

Antithetical

A

Contrary to the very nature of

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26
Q

Apathy

A

State of total disinterested or unenthusiasm

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27
Q

Appease

A

To placate, to satisfy

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28
Q

Arbitrary

A

Seemingly chosen or designated without reason or purpose

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29
Q

Arcane

A

Secret/known only to a select group

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30
Q

Archaic

A

Old-fashioned, no longer in common usage

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31
Q

Arduous

A

Difficult, taxing, requires considerable effort

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32
Q

Articulate

A

Exhibit considerable communication skills, well-spoken

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33
Q

Artless

A

Without sacrifice

Or

Natural, untrained

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34
Q

Ascetic

A

Austere or self-denying

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35
Q

Assuage

A

To provide relief from an unpleasant feeling

Or

Satisfy a need or appetite

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36
Q

Astonishment

A

Total surprise, shock

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37
Q

Audacious

A

Very bold or presumtuous

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38
Q

Austere

A

Severe, unadorned

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39
Q

Avarice

A

Greed

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40
Q

Aver

A

To assert or allege

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41
Q

Banal

A

Boring, cliche

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42
Q

Belie

A

Give a false impression

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43
Q

Benign

A

Gentle, harmless

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44
Q

Biased

A

Prejudiced, displaying partiality

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45
Q

ambivalent

A

Having contradictory feelings

S: equivocal, uncertain, unsure, doubtful

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46
Q

auspicious

A

favorable

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47
Q

belligerent

A

Inclined to fight/hostile/aggressive

S: hostile, aggressive, threatening

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48
Q

capricious

A

unpredictable, whimsical

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

S: fickle, inconstant, changeable, variable

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49
Q

corroborate

A

to confirm, make stronger

S: confirm, verify, endorse, ratify, authenticate

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50
Q

enervate

A

To weaken; drain the energy from.

S: exhaust, tire, fatigue, weary

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51
Q

ephemeral

A

Short-lived. lasting a very short period of time

S: transitory, transient, fleeting, passing

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52
Q

erudite

A

having or showing great knowledge or learning

S: learned, scholarly, knowledgeable, well read

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53
Q

esoteric

A

known to a select few

intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest

S: abstruse, obscure, arcane, rarefied

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54
Q

extant

A

In existence (most commonly referring to texts).

S: surviving, remaining

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55
Q

fastidious

A

nitpicky

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

very concerned about mattes of cleanliness

S: scrupulous, painstaking, meticulous, punctilious

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56
Q

inculpate

A

to charge with wrong-doing, accuse

S: incriminate

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57
Q

loquacious

A

tending to talk a great deal, talkative

S: talkative, garrulous, long-winded

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58
Q

magnanimous

A

Big-hearted; generous

generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person.

S: generous, charitable, benevolent

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59
Q

mercurial

A

(of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind

S: volatile, capricious, tempermental

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60
Q

pragmatic

A

dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations

S: practical, matter of fact, realistic

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61
Q

prolific

A

(of a plant, animal, or person) producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring

or present in large numbers or quantities

S: productive, creative, plentiful, abundant

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62
Q

reticent

A

not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily

S: reserved, withdrawn, introverted

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63
Q

sanguine

A

optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation

S: optimistic, hopeful, positive

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64
Q

soporific

A

tending to induce drowsiness or sleep

S: sleeping pill, sleeping inducing

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65
Q

aberration

A

departure from what is normal, usual, expected

S: deviation, divergence, anomaly

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66
Q

abreast

A

up to date with the latest news, ideas or information

S: in touch with, plugged into

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67
Q

abstain

A

restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something

S: refrain, hold back

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68
Q

abyss

A

deep or seemingly bottomless chasm

S: gorge, ravine, void

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69
Q

adept

A

very skilled or proficient at something

S: expect, proficient, accomplished

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70
Q

agog

A

very eager or curious to hear or see something

S: excited, impatient, in suspense

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71
Q

allure

A

the quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating

S: attraction, lure, draw

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72
Q

altruism

A

the belief in or practice of selfless concern for the well-being of others

S: selflessness, compassion, goodwill

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73
Q

ambivalent

A

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

S: equivocal, uncertain, unsure

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74
Q

annul

A

declare invalid

S: repeal, reverse, rescind

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75
Q

apathy

A

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

S: indifference, passivity, ennui

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76
Q

arbitrary

A

based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system

S: capricious, random, chance

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77
Q

arbiter

A

person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a manner

S: authority, judge, controller

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78
Q

artless

A

without guile or deception

S: candid, direct, forthright

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79
Q

audacious

A

showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks

S: bold, daring, fearless

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80
Q

austere

A

having an extreme plain and simple style or appearance

S: unadorned, subdued, stark

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81
Q

blight

A

a thing that spoils or damages something

S: affliction, scourge, bane

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82
Q

blithe

A

showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper

S: indifferent, unconcerned, blase

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83
Q

blowhard

A

a person who blusters and boasts in an unpleasant way

S: boaster, bragger, show-off

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84
Q

bolster

A

support or strengthen

S: reinforce, prop up, boost

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85
Q

bombastic

A

high sounding but with little meaning; inflated

S: pompous

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86
Q

boycott

A

a punitive ban that forbids relations with certain groups

S: veto, shunning, rejection

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87
Q

burlesque

A

a variety show

S: skit, farce, striptease

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88
Q

cacophony

A

a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

S: racket, noise, clamor

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89
Q

chronic

A

of a problem, long lasting and difficult to eradicate

S: constant, continuing, persistent

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90
Q

coda

A

a concluding event, remark or section

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91
Q

confound

A

prove wrong

S: contradict, counter, go against

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92
Q

deign

A

do something that one considers to be beneath one’s dignity

S: come down from one’s high horse

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93
Q

disingenuous

A

not candid or sincere

S: dishonest, deceitful, duplicitous

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94
Q

docile

A

ready to accept control or instructions, submissive

S: compliant, obedient, pliant

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95
Q

dote

A

be extremely and uncritically fond of

S: adore, love dearly, be devoted to

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96
Q

endow

A

provide with a quality, ability or asset

S: equip, bless, give

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97
Q

ephemeral

A

lasting a very short time

fleeting, passing, short-lived

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98
Q

ethos

A

characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community

S: character, atmosphere, climate

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99
Q

facetious

A

treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor

S: flippant, glib

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100
Q

brazen

A

bold and without shame

S: bold, shameless, forward

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101
Q

bucolic

A

relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life

S: rustic, rural, pastoral, country

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102
Q

burgeon

A

begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish

S: expand, grow rapidly

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103
Q

cacophony

A

a harsh discordant mixture of sounds

S: noise, racket, discord

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104
Q

calumny

A

the making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation; slander

S: slander, character assassination

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105
Q

candid

A

truthful and straightforward; frank

S: frank, outspoken, forthright, blunt

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106
Q

canon

A

a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged

S: principle, rule, law, tenet, precept

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107
Q

capricious

A

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

S: mercurial, unpredictable, whimsical

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108
Q

castigate

A

reprimand

S: scold, chastise, rebuke

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109
Q

chauvanist

A

a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism

OR

showing or relating to excessive or prejudiced loyalty or support for a particular group or cause

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110
Q

chicanery

A

the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose

S: trickery, deception, deceit, duplicity, dishonesty

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111
Q

coalesce

A

come together

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112
Q

cogent

A

(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing

S: convincing, compelling, strong, forceful, powerful

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113
Q

commensurate

A

corresponding in size or degree; in proportion

S: equivalent, equal, corresponding, comparable

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114
Q

condone

A

approve or allow

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115
Q

confound

A

cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations

mix up (something) with something else so that the individual elements become difficult to distinguish

S: astonish, dumbfound, stagger, surprise, startle

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116
Q

consequential

A

following as a result or effect

S: resulting, ensuing, following

important, significant

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117
Q

construe

A

interpret, understand, read, see, take

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118
Q

consumption

A

the using up of a resource

S: use, utilize, expend, depletion

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119
Q

contend

A

struggle to surmount (a difficulty or danger)

assert something as a position in an argument

S: face, assert, maintain

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120
Q

contentious

A

causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial

S: controversial, disputable, debatable

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121
Q

contrite

A

feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt

S: remorseful, repentant, penitent, regretful

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122
Q

covet

A

yearn to possess or have (something)

S: desire, crave

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123
Q

craven

A

contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly

S: cowardly, faint-hearted

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124
Q

credence

A

belief in or acceptance of something as true

S: acceptance, belief, faith, trust, confidence

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125
Q

credulous

A

having or showing too great a readiness to believe things

S: gullible, naive, impressionable, trusting

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Perfectly
126
Q

decorum

A

etiquette, good behavior

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127
Q

deference

A

(think like “I’ll defer to you”)

humble submission, respect

128
Q

deftness

A

n skillful performance or ability without difficulty

S: adeptness, adroitness, facility, quickness

129
Q

demur

A

object/raise concerns

130
Q

denigrate

A

criticize unfairly

disparage, belittle, diminish

131
Q

deride

A

mock, ridicule

132
Q

desiccate

A

remove the moisture from (something); cause to become completely dry

S: dried, dehydrated, powdered

133
Q

desultory

A

lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm

S: casual, halfhearted, lukewarm, cursory, superficial

134
Q

detachment

A

state of being objective/aloof

S: objectivity, disinterest, indifference

135
Q

didactic

A

intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive

S: instrutive, instructional

136
Q

dilettante

A

a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge

S: amateur, nonprofessional

137
Q

dirge

A

a lament for the dead, especially one forming part of a funeral rite

S: lament

138
Q

disabuse

A

persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken

S: disillusion, undeceive, correct

139
Q

disparage

A

regard or represent as being of little worth

S: belittle, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, downgrade

140
Q

disparate

A

essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison

S: contrasting, different, differing, dissimilar

141
Q

dispassionate

A

unemotional, unsentimental, emotionless

142
Q

dissemble

A

conceal true motives

S: disguise, pretend, deceive, feign, dissimulate

143
Q

dissonance

A

lack of harmony among musical notes

S: discordance, harshness, cacophony

144
Q

dogma

A

a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true

S: teaching, belief, conviction, tenet, principle, ethic

145
Q

dupe

A

to deceive or fool

146
Q

ebullient

A

cheerful and full of energy

S: exuberant, buoyant, cheerful

147
Q

eclectic

A

composed of a variety of styles

S: wide-ranging, broad

148
Q

elegy

A

a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead

S: lament, dirge

149
Q

lament

A

passionate expression of grief or sorrow

S: wail, moan, dirge

150
Q

eminent

A

(of a person) famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession

S: distinguished, renowned, esteemed

151
Q

empirical

A

based on evidence

152
Q

enervate

A

drained of energy

S: exhaust, tire, fatigue, wear out

153
Q

engender

A

cause or give rise to

154
Q

ephemeral

A

short lived, transient

155
Q

equable

A

(of a person) not easily disturbed or angered; calm and even-tempered

S: calm, composed, even-tempered

156
Q

equivocate

A

use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself

157
Q

erudite

A

having or showing great knowledge or learning

S: learned, scholarly, knowledgeable, well read

158
Q

estimable

A

worthy of great respect

159
Q

exacting

A

demanding, precise, grueling

160
Q

exculpate

A

show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing

S: exonerate, vindicate

161
Q

exigent

A

urgent or pressing

162
Q

expatiate

A

speak or write at length or in detail.

163
Q

explicate

A

analyze and develop (an idea or principle) in detail

S: explain, clarify

164
Q

exposition

A

explanation OR exhibition

165
Q

extraneous

A

irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with

S: irrelevant, immaterial, beside the point

166
Q

extrapolate

A

estimate based on the facts

167
Q

facetious

A

flippant

168
Q

facilitate

A

make easier or simpler

169
Q

fallacious

A

based on a mistaken belief

S: erroneous, false, untrue

170
Q

fastidious

A

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

S: scrupulous, punctilious, painstaking, meticulous

171
Q

foment

A

instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action)

S: instigate, incite, provoke, agitate

172
Q

forestall

A

hold off or try to prevent

S: prevent

173
Q

fortuitous

A

happening by lucky chance, fortunate

S: chance, unexpected, unanticipated

174
Q

galvanize

A

shock or excite (someone) into taking action

S: jolt, shock, startle

175
Q

gainsay

A

deny or contradict or dispute

176
Q

germane

A

relevant to a subject under consideration

S: relevant, pertinent, applicable

177
Q

glib

A

(of words or the person speaking them) fluent and voluble but insincere and shallow

S: slick, smooth-talking

178
Q

guile

A

sly or cunning intelligence

S: cunning, art, craft

179
Q

hackneyed

A

overused, overdone, worn out

typically speaking of a phrase or idea

180
Q

harangue

A

diatribe, rant

181
Q

hedonism

A

pursuit of pleasure

182
Q

hyperbole

A

obvious exaggeration for effect

183
Q

iconoclast

A

a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions

S: critic, sceptic, questioner, heretic

184
Q

ideological

A

based on or relating to a system of ideas and ideals, especially concerning economic or political theory and policy

185
Q

imminent

A

about to happen

S: impending, close, approaching

186
Q

immutable

A

unchanging over time or unable to be changed

S: unchangeable, fixed, set, rigid

187
Q

impair

A

damage, diminish, hard, reduce, weaken, lessen

188
Q

impediment

A

hindrance, obstruction, obstacle, barrier, handicap

189
Q

imperturbable

A

unable to be upset or excited; calm

S: self-possessed, composed, collected, calm, cool

190
Q

implacable

A

unappeasable, unforgiving

191
Q

implicit

A

implied, indirect, inferred, understood

192
Q

imprudence

A

bad judgement

193
Q

impudent

A

not showing due respect for another person; impertinent

S: impertinent, insolent, cheeky, audacious

194
Q

inadvertent

A

not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning

S: unintentional, unintended, accidental

195
Q

Inchoate

A

rudimentary, in the beginning stages

196
Q

inconclusive

A

not leading to a firm conclusion; not ending doubt or dispute

S: indecisive, proving nothing,

197
Q

indebted

A

owing money, beholden, obliged

198
Q

indolent

A

wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy

S: lazy, idle, slothful, loafing, work-shy

199
Q

ingenuous

A

innocent, unsuspecting

S: naive, innocent, simple, childlike, trusting

200
Q

inimical

A

harmful or hostile

201
Q

innocuous

A

harmless, safe

202
Q

inscrutable

A

enigmatic, unreadable, impossible to understand

203
Q

insipid

A

lacking flavor, lacking interest

S: tasteless, flavorless, unflavored, bland

204
Q

insular

A

narrow-minded, limited, blinkered, restricted

205
Q

intermediary

A

mediator, go-between, negotiator

206
Q

intractable

A

unmanageable, stubborn

207
Q

intransigent

A

unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree about something

S: uncompromising, inflexible, unbending, unyielding

208
Q

intrepid

A

bold and adventurous

S: fearless, unafraid, undaunted

209
Q

inveterate

A

having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change

S: ingrained, deep-seated, entrenched

210
Q

invulnerable

A

impossible to harm or damage

S: impervious, immune, insensitive, indestructable

211
Q

irascible

A

having or showing a tendency to be easily angered

S: irritable, quick-tempered

212
Q

irresolute

A

showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain

S: indecisive, hesitant, tentative, nervous

213
Q

laconic

A

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

S: brief, terse, concise, succinct

214
Q

laud

A

praise (a person or their achievements) highly, especially in a public context

S: praise, extol, hail, applaud

215
Q

litigation

A

the process of taking legal action

S: legal action, lawsuit

216
Q

loquacious

A

tending to talk a great deal; talkative

S: talkative, garrulous, wordy

217
Q

lucid

A

expressed clearly; easy to understand

S: intelligible, comprehensible, cogent, coherent

218
Q

luminous

A

full of or shedding light; bright or shining, especially in the dark

S: shining, bright, radiant, dazzling

219
Q

magnanimity

A

generosity, charity, benevolence

220
Q

maladroit

A

clumsy, awkward

221
Q

malign

A

evil in nature or effect; malevolent

S: harmful, evil, bad, hostile

222
Q

maverick

A

an unorthodox or independent-minded person

S: individualist, nonconformist

223
Q

mendacity

A

untruthfulness, lying, dishonesty

224
Q

misanthrope

A

person who hates humanity

225
Q

mollify

A

appease the anger or anxiety of (someone)

S: appease, placate, conciliate

226
Q

munificent

A

generous, bountiful

227
Q

nascent

A

(especially of a process or organization) just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential

S: developing, budding, growing, embryonic

228
Q

nonplussed

A

(of a person) surprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react

S: confused, bewildered, bemused, puzzled

229
Q

obdurate

A

stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action

S: stubborn, obstinate, unyielding, unbending, inflexible

230
Q

obscure

A

unclear, uncertain, unknown

231
Q

abstruse

A

difficult to understand; obscure

S: obscure, arcane, esoteric

232
Q

obsequious

A

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree

S: servile, ingratiating, unctuous, sycophantic, toadying, fawning

233
Q

obstinate

A

stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so

S: stubborn, headstrong, willful, unyielding, inflexible, unbending

234
Q

obviate

A

remove (a need or difficulty)

S: preclude, prevent, remove, get rid of, do away with, get round

235
Q

occlude

A

stop, close up, or obstruct (an opening, orifice, or passage).

S: block, stop, obstruct

236
Q

occult

A

supernatural, mystical, or magical beliefs, practices, or phenomena

S: magic, black magic

237
Q

olfactory

A

relating to the sense of smell.

238
Q

omniscience

A

state of knowing everything

239
Q

onerous

A

difficult or burdensome

S: burdensome, heavy, inconvenient, troublesome, awkward, crushing

240
Q

opaque

A

not able to be seen through; not transparent

S: nontransparent, cloudy, filmy, blurred, smeared, hazy

241
Q

opportunism

A

the taking of opportunities as and when they arise, regardless of planning or principle

S: expediency, exploitation, taking advantage

242
Q

opprobrium

A

harsh criticism or censure

S: vilification, abuse, vituperation, condemnation, criticism, censure

243
Q

ostentatious

A

overly showy in a way that is gaudy or vulgar

S: showy, prententious, conspicuous, obstruive, flamboyant, gaudy

244
Q

outstrip

A

move faster than and overtake (someone else)

S: outrun, outdistance, outpace, surpass, exceed

245
Q

overshadow

A

shade, darken, conceal, obscure, obliterate, eclipse

246
Q

painstaking

A

attentive to detail, meticulous

247
Q

patent

A

blantant, obvious, clear, plain, evident, apparent, manifest

248
Q

paucity

A

the presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts; scarcity

S: scarcity, dearth, shortage, rarity, sparseness

249
Q

pedantic

A

scrupulous, precise, exact, perfectionist

250
Q

pedestrian

A

boring, monotonous, run of the mill

251
Q

perfidy

A

deceitfulness; untrustworthiness

S: treachery, duplicity, deceit, disloyalty

252
Q

perfunctory

A

(of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection

S: quick, brief, hasty, desultory, cursory

253
Q

peripheral

A

relating to or situated on the edge or periphery of something

S: outlying, outer, outermost, fringe, border

254
Q

permeate

A

spread throughout (something); pervade

S: pervade, fill, imbue

255
Q

pervasive

A

(especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people

S: prevalent, penetrating, pervading

256
Q

phlegmatic

A

(of a person) having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition

S: calm, composed, cool, coolheaded

257
Q

placate

A

make (someone) less angry or hostile

S: pacify, calm, appear, mollify, soothe

258
Q

platitude

A

a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful

S: cliche, trust, commonplace, banality, bromide

259
Q

plummet

A

fall quickly and far

S: plunge, hurtle, nosedive, drop, crash

260
Q

polarize

A

v. to cause a sharp division between two groups

261
Q

polemical

A

relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech

S: critical, hostile, bitter, vitriolic, venomous

262
Q

precarious

A

not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse

S: uncertain, insecure, unreliable, unsure, unpredictable, undependable

263
Q

preceded

A

went before, previous, prior, former, precursory

264
Q

precipitate

A

to cause

or
hastily and not-well considered

265
Q

precursor

A

a person or thing that comes before another of the same kind; a forerunner

S: forerunner, predecessor, forefather, antecedent

266
Q

prescient

A

knowing things before they happen

S: prophetic, predictive, visionary, clairvoyant, far-seeing

267
Q

presumptuous

A

(of a person or their behavior) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate

S: brazen, overconfident, arrogant, egotistical, bold

268
Q

prevail

A

prove more powerful than opposing forces; be victorious

S: win, triumph, be the case, obtain, persuade

269
Q

prevaricate

A

speak or act in an evasive way

S: beat about the bush, hedge, fence, shuffle

270
Q

probity

A

integrity, honor, decency, strong moral principles, rectitude

271
Q

prodigal

A

spending money or resources freely and recklessly

S: wasteful, extravagant, spendthrift, improvident, imprudent

272
Q

prodigious

A

remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree

S: enormous, huge, colossal, immense, vast, great, massive

273
Q

profligate

A

recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources

S: extravagant, wasteful, improvident

274
Q

proliferate

A

increase rapidly in numbers; multiply

S: multiply, increase rapidly, become more numerous

275
Q

propitiate

A

win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them

S: appease, placate, mollify, pacify, conciliate

276
Q

propriety

A

appropriateness, manners, decorum

S: decorum, respectability, decency, correctness, rightness, correctness

277
Q

prospective

A

potential, possible, probable, likely, future, eventual

278
Q

recondite

A

little known, abstruse

S: obscure, arcane, abstruse, esoteric

279
Q

refute

A

rebut or disprove

280
Q

relentless

A

oppressively constant; incessant

S: persistet, continuing, constant, nonstop

281
Q

reproach

A

scold or express criticism

282
Q

repudiate

A

renounce or disown

S: reject, renounce, abandon, give up, deny, refute

283
Q

rescind

A

take back, retract, revoke, repeal, reverse

284
Q

reticent

A

not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily

S: reserved, withdrawn, introversted, restrained, inhibited, diffident, shy

285
Q

reverent

A

feeling or showing deep and solemn respect

S: respectful, worshipping, adoring, loving

286
Q

rhetoric

A

the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques

S: oratory, eloquence, expression, bombast, magniloquence

287
Q

salubrious

A

health promoting

288
Q

sanction

A

give official permission OR impose a penalty

289
Q

sedulous

A

dedicated, careful, diligent, meticulous, thorough, assiduous

290
Q

solicitous

A

considerate, attentive

291
Q

soporific

A

makes sleepy

292
Q

specious

A

superficially plausible, but actually wrong

293
Q

spurious

A

not being what it purports to be; false or fake

S: bogus, fake, specious, false, factitious, counterfeit

294
Q

stolid

A

calm and dependable

S: impassive, phlegmatic, unemotional, placid, calm

295
Q

substantiate

A

to corroborate or give evidence of something

S: prove, support, show to be true, give substance to

296
Q

subversive

A

meant to undercut established institutions

S: disruptive, inflammatory, insurgent

297
Q

supine

A

(of a person) lying face upward

S: weak, spineless, enervated, docile, flat on one’s back, prone

298
Q

sycophant

A

a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage

S: toady, creep, crawler, fawner, flattered, flunkey

299
Q

tacit

A

unspoken, implicit

S: understood, implied, inferred, hinted, suggested

300
Q

taciturn

A

(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little

S: untalkative, reticent, uncommunicative, quiet, unforthcoming

301
Q

temperance

A

moderation, restraint

S: abstinence, sobreity, prohibition

302
Q

tenuous

A

very weak or slight

S: slight, insubstrantial, flimsy, negligible, weak, fragile, shaky

303
Q

timorous

A

showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence

S: fearful, apprehensive, faint-hearted

304
Q

tirade

A

a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation

S: diatribe, invective, polemic, denunciation, rant, broadside, attack

305
Q

torpor

A

a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy

S: lethargy, inactivity

306
Q

tortuous

A

full of twists and turns OR lengthy and complex

S: twisting, winding, curving, convoluted, roundabout, circuitous, indirect

307
Q

tractable

A

easily influenced and managed

S: controllable, manageable, malleable, yielding, amenable

308
Q

transient

A

passes quickly, short lived

309
Q

ubiquitous

A

ever-present, universal

S: omnipresent, everywhere, all-over

310
Q

unadorned

A

plain, unembellished

S: undecorated, unvarnished, unornamented

311
Q

untenable

A

(especially of a position or view) not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection

S: indefensible, unarguable, insupportable

312
Q

venality

A

state of being capable of being bribed

313
Q

veracity

A

truth and factual accuracy

S: truthfulness, accuracy, correctness, exactness

314
Q

verbose

A

using or expressed in more words than are needed

S: wordy, loquacious, garrulous, talkative, voluble, expansive

315
Q

whimsical

A

playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way

acting or behaving in a capricious manner

S: fanciful, playful, mischevious, waggish, quaint, volatile, capricious, impulsive

316
Q

zeal

A

great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective

S: passion, ardor, love, fervor, fire

317
Q

capricious

A

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

S: fickle, inconstant, changeable, unstable, mercurial

GRE Practice Test Vocab (6 decks)

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