Top 50 Vocab

Question 1

Anomaly

Answer 1

noun – something that is unusual or unexpected

The student’s poor performance on the latest test was an anomaly since she had previously earned excellent grades.

Question 2

Equivocal

Answer 2

adj. – not easily understood or explained

Politicians have been known to provide equivocal answers to reporters’ questions.

Question 3

precipitate

Answer 3

verb – to cause (something) to happen quickly or suddenly

Unforeseen costs can precipitate a budget crisis.

Question 4

assuage

Answer 4

verb – to make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense

A massage can assuage the soreness in your muscles.

Question 5

erudite

Answer 5

adj. – having or showing great knowledge

High school students often struggle with novels that are more erudite than they are entertaining.

Question 6

opaque

Answer 6

adj. – not able to be seen through; not easily understood

Medical jargon includes many opaque terms like macrosomic, which describes a newborn who weighs more than 4,000 grams.

Question 7

prodigal

Answer 7

adj. – wastefully extravagant

The prodigal prince bought lavish gifts and planned expensive events.

Question 8

lucid

Answer 8

adj. – very clear and easy to understand

The lecture was lucid and straightforward, allowing the students to fully grasp the concepts presented.

Question 9

enigma

Answer 9

noun – a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand

Scientists continue to research cancer to solve the enigma of its primary cause, which will hopefully lead to a cure.

Question 10

fervid

Answer 10

adj. – intensely enthusiastic or passionate

The child showed a fervid fascination for superheroes, pouring over comic books for hours.

Question 11

placate

Answer 11

verb – to make (someone) less angry or hostile

A parent may decide to placate a baby with a pacifier.

Question 12

zeal

Answer 12

noun – a strong feel of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something

The great emperor’s crusading zeal led him to conquer many lands.

Question 13

abstain

Answer 13

verb – to restrain oneself for doing or enjoying something

Doctors encourage their patients to abstain from smoking cigarettes.

Question 14

audacious

Answer 14

adj. – a willingness to take bold risks / adj. – showing a lack of respect
The new CEO pursued audacious initiatives to save the company from bankruptcy. / The student’s audacious remark earned her a seat in afternoon detention.

Question 15

desiccate

Answer 15

verb – remove the moisture from (something)

The heat and energy from the sun can desiccate even the most hearty plants.

Question 16

gullible

Answer 16

adj. – easily persuaded to believe something

The gullible little boy gave his older sister all of his allowance because she told him she would buy a pony for him.

Question 17

laudable

Answer 17

adj. – deserving praise and commendation

Providing affordable healthcare for all citizens is a laudable goal.

Question 18

pedant

Answer 18

noun – a person who makes an excessive display of learning

Professor Blackwell, a well-known pedant, required his pre-med students to speak in Latin throughout the entire semester.

Question 19

vacillate

Answer 19

verb – to waver between different opinions or actions

Undergraduate students often vacillate among various majors before deciding which degree to pursue.

Question 20

adulterate

Answer 20

verb – to make (something) impure or weaker by adding something of inferior quality

Many chefs use fresh produce and refuse to adulterate their dishes with canned ingredients.

Question 21

capricious

Answer 21

adj. – given to sudden changes of mood or behavior

The capricious supervisor would hand out raises one day and fire his entire staff the next.

Question 22

engender

Answer 22

verb – to produce, cause, or give rise to (something)

Political debates can engender controversy regarding the subjects discussed.

Question 23

homogenous

Answer 23

adj. – of the same or similar kind

There are very few truly homogenous cultures since social diversity is increasingly widespread.

Question 24

loquacious

Answer 24

adj. – tending to talk a great deal

The loquacious professor was known for his five-hour lectures.

Question 25

pragmatic

Answer 25

adj. – dealing with the problems that exist in a reasonable and logical way instead of depending on theories

A pragmatic approach to legislation can be difficult given the complexities of politics.

Question 26

volatile

Answer 26

adj. – likely to change rapidly and unpredictably

It is possible for a country’s political climate to remain volatile for decades.

Question 27

apathy

Answer 27

noun – lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

Political parties try to engage young voters who are more prone to apathy than older citizens.

Question 28

corroborate

Answer 28

verb – to confirm or make more certain

The scientist was able to corroborate his hypothesis with data gathered from multiple sources.

Question 29

ephermeral

Answer 29

adj. – lasting for a very short time

An ephemeral moment of victory may last mere seconds, but it can remain as a triumphant memory for decades.

Question 30

laconic

Answer 30

adj. – using few words

The student’s laconic response suggested that she did not know very much about the topic the professor was discussing.

Question 31

mitigate

Answer 31

verb – make less severe, serious, or painful

We want to mitigate students’ GRE stress by offering helpful study tools.

Question 32

propriety

Answer 32

noun – the state or quality of being correct or proper

The students were instructed to behave with the utmost propriety while on their class field trip.

Question 33

advocate

Answer 33

verb – publicly recommend or support

The governor chose to advocate for a higher minimum wage rather than a tax incentive.

Question 34

cacophony

Answer 34

noun – a harsh, unpleasant mixture of sounds

The cacophony of the middle school band warming up was nearly unbearable for the audience.

Question 35

enervate

Answer 35

verb – cause (someone or something) to feel drained of energy; weaken

The boxer used a swift left uppercut to the jaw to enervate his opponent.

Question 36

ingenuous

Answer 36

adj. – innocent and unsuspecting

The scam artist preyed on ingenuous nursing home residents.

Question 37

misanthrope

Answer 37

noun – a person who dislikes humankind

The neighborhood misanthrope surrounded his yard with barbed wire to keep people away.

Question 38

paradox

Answer 38

noun – a statement that contradicts itself but might be true

The fact that the retired teacher claimed to hate all pets but adopted seven cats is an intriguing paradox.

Question 39

venerate

Answer 39

verb – regard with great respect

To venerate the fire chief’s forty years of service, the department held a special banquet.

Question 40

antipathy

Answer 40

noun – a strong feeling of dislike

The students voiced their antipathy for homework very loudly.

Question 41

deride

Answer 41

verb – to express contempt for; ridicule

The unreasonable supervise was known to deride his employees on a daily basis.

Question 42

eulogy

Answer 42

noun – a speech that praises someone, typically some who has recently died

The rabbi’s eulogy was both heartfelt and inspiring.

Question 43

lethargic

Answer 43

adj. – lacking energy

It’s not uncommon to feel lethargic for weeks or even months after major surgery.

Question 44

obdurate

Answer 44

adj. – stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion

The obdurate three-year-old refused to eat any vegetables, no matter how they were prepared.

Question 45

philanthropic

Answer 45

adj. – seeking to promote the welfare of others

The students were grateful to receive financial support from philanthropic organizations that promote education.

Question 46

waver

Answer 46

verb – to go back and forth between choices or opinions

Some citizens vote solely along party lines and never waver in their political decisions.

Question 47

bolster

Answer 47

verb – to support or strengthen

The prosecutor worked to find evidence that would bolster her case against the defendant.

Question 48

dissonance

Answer 48

noun – a lack of harmony or agreement

The school board’s meeting lasted for hours due to the length debate fueled by dissonance among opinions.

Question 49

garrulous

Answer 49

adj. – excessively talkative

The garrulous hair stylist talked to each customer for hours at a time.

Question 50

malleable

Answer 50

adj. – easily influenced; pliable

Children’s moods are often malleable since children are greatly affected by their surroundings.

Question 51

ostentation

Answer 51

noun – excessive display of wealth

Owning a mansion doesn’t imply ostentation, but traveling exclusively by private jet certainly can.

Question 52

prevaricate

Answer 52

verb – avoid telling the truth by not directly answering a question

During the trial, the lead witness was willing to prevaricate in order to protect his friend.