Top 101 GRE Words- 1-51 Flashcards
laconic
brief and to the point; effectively cut short
Ex. her laconic speech won the argument
insipid
lacking taste or flavor
Ex. Souplantation’s insipid pasta needed salt
pragmatic
concerned with practical matters
Ex. the teacher’s pragmatic attitude towards discipline
iconoclast
someone who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
Ex. as an iconoclast, he would be dismissed from the jury
arduous
difficult to accomplish, hard to endure
-Ex. starting a master’s program after months of arduous GRE preparation
profligate
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources
Ex. profligate use of natural resources
prosaic
not challenging; dull and lacking excitement
Ex. her prosaic ideas were dismissed for the group project
ameliorate
make, become better
Ex. Fines for using too much water would ameliorate the drought issue
obsequious
obedient or attentive to an excessive degree
Ex. they were served by an obsequious waitress
capricious
given to sudden behavior change
Ex. capricious SoCal weather
fortutious
happening by accident or chance
Ex. the similarity between the essays may not simply be fortuitous
orthodox
conforming to all traditional beliefs, and religious practices
Ex. orthodox medical treatment does not rely on technology
alacrity
lively and cheerful readiness
Ex. Anita accepts invitations with alacrity
pellucid
translucently clear
Ex. mountains were reflected in the pellucid water
corroborate
confirm or give support to
Ex. the witness corroborated the boy’s account of the attack
magnanimous
very generous or forgiving
Ex. He made magnanimous donations to the church
scrupulous
diligent, thorough, and extremely careful
Ex. inspection was completed with scrupulous attention to detail
prolific
fruitful, present in large number
Ex. Filipinos have a prolific family tree
dogmatic
dictatorial, opinionated
Ex. people who go door to door spreading religion can be so dogmatic
placate
make someone less angry or hostile
Ex. Karl has to placate his mother often
mercurial
subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood
Ex. His mercurial mother’s attitude depended upon who was present
exacerbate
infuriate, make worse
Ex. Smoke exacerbates my asthma
redundant
not or no longer needed or useful; superfluous
Ex. Taking developmental psych twice was redundant
hackneyed
unoriginal and trite
Ex. hackneyed old sayings
prudent
acting with or showing care and thought
Ex. It is not prudent to drive in the snow
belie
disguise or contradict
Ex. His joyful tones belie the grim nature of homelife
esoteric
mysterious, obscure
Ex. Math is an esoteric subject to me
cacophony
a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
Ex. neighbors fighting plus loud music makes for a cacophony surrounding
impetuous
acting or done quickly and without thought or care
Ex. Diane makes impetuous decisions
idiosyncrasy
a way of thought peculiar to an individual
Ex. Dad’s idiosyncrasy or saving 10 cents
extant
in existence; surviving
Ex. Shakespeare’s extant writing shows how important he is
obscure
not discovered or known about; uncertain
Ex. Google maps gave obscure directions because the home was still new
didactic
intended to teach, educational
Ex. While the professor’s lectures were designed to be didactic, they only confused the students
pithy
brief, to the point
Ex. he didn’t talk much, but what he did say was always pithy
copious
abundant in supply or quantity
Ex. take copious notes
ostentation
pretentious and vulgar display intended to impress; show off
Ex. Nicely decorated home without any trace of ostentation
adulterate
alter; render something poorer in quality
Ex. green tea was adulterated with sugar
vociferous
loud and clamorous
Ex. protesters were vociferous in their demands
taciturn
reserved or uncommunicative in speech
Ex. taciturn child turned into a chatty adult
obdurate
refuse to change one’s opinion; stubborn
Ex. his obdurate mother would not believe a word he said
garrulous
excessively talkative
Ex. Cheyanne is garrulous by nature
misanthrope
person who hates others
Ex. I am a misanthrope
lionize
treat someone as a celebrity
Ex. Miriam lionized Puya
imminent
about to happen
Ex. imminent death of drug-addicted people
frivolous
trivial, silly
Ex. I used to think couponing was a frivolous act, but later realized how helpful it is
benign
gentle; kindly
Ex. Karl’s face is calm and benign
dissonance
lack of harmony; disagreement
Ex. there is much dissonance in the Andres household
inculpate
accuse or blame
Ex. someone placed the gun in her purse to inculpate her
docile
compliant, submissive
Ex. AJ portrays Tina as a docile wife
sporadic
occurring at irregular intervals; scattered or isolated
Ex. Diane exercises sporadically
prevaricate
deceive; stretch the truth
Ex. he seemed to prevaricate when journalists asked questions
