Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

GRE Verbal Reasoning > Verbal Reasoning Vocab > Flashcards

Verbal Reasoning Vocab Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
GRE® Vocabulary flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

exacerbate

A

to make worse

syn: worsen, intensify, compound
Ex: The boy exacerbated the situation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

mitigate

A

to make less severe or painful

syn: extenuate, alleviate, attenuate
Ex: He attempted to mitigate the situation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

naive

A
  1. showing lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment
  2. innocent

syn: innocent, ingenuous, inexperienced
Ex: The rather naive child had been totally misled.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

precocious

A

having developed certain abilities at an earlier age than usual

syn: advanced, gifted, forward
Ex: He was a precocious little boy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

impecunious

A

having little or no money

syn: penniless, impoverished, indigent
Ex: The family was titled but impecunious.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

assiduous

A

showing great care and perseverance

syn: diligent, meticulous, sedulous
Ex: She was assiduous in pointing out every feature.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

abtsruse

A

difficult to understand

syn: obscure, arcane, esoteric
Ex: It was an abstruse philosophical inquiry.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

adverse

A

acting against or in contrary

syn: against, contrary
Ex: The vaccine can cause an adverse reaction in some patients.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

hortatory

A

tending or aiming to exhort (strongly encourage someone to do something)

syn: didactic, moralistic, exhortative
Ex: The central bank relied on hortatory messages and voluntary compliance.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

dissemble

A

conceal one’s true motives/feelings/beliefs

syn: dissimulate, ,masquerade, shame
Ex: He was an honest and sincere person, with no need to dissemble.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

trifling

A

unimportant or trivial

syn: inconsequential, unimportant, petty
Ex: He is trifling it away, but no matter.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

malign

A

evil in nature or effect

syn: harmful, slander, inimical
Ex: She had a strong and malign influence.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

penchant

A

a strong or habitual liking for something or a tendency to do something

syn: fondness, partiality, inclination
Ex: He has a penchant for adopting stray dogs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

disseminate

A

spread throughout

syn: promulgate, disperse, propagate
Ex: Health authorities should foster good practice by disseminating information.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

banal

A

lacking in originality (obvious and boring)

syn: trite, hackneyed, cliche
Ex: This has banal and repeated words.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

insipid

A

lacking flavor or interest

syn: bland, vapid, flavorless
Ex: Many artists continued to churn out insipid, shallow works.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

serendipitous

A

occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way

syn: fortuitous, unexpected, fluky
Ex: It was a serendipitous encounter.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

prescient

A

having or showing a knowledge of events beforehand

syn: clairvoyant, prognostic, foresight
Ex: He gave the people a prescient warning about the storm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

lucrative

A

producing a great deal of profit

syn: profitable, remunerative, rewarding
Ex: The lady had a lucrative career as a stand-up comedian.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

commensurate

A

corresponding in size or degree, in proportion

syn: proportionate, equivalent, corresponding
Ex: Your salary will be commensurate with your years of experience.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

kindred

A
  1. one’s family and relations
  2. similar in kind, related

syn: allied, clan, cognate
Ex: They had books on kindred subjects.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

coalesce

A

come together to form one mass or whole

syn: unite, meld, consolidate
Ex: The puddles had coalesced into shallow streams.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

iconoclast

A
  1. a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
  2. a destroyer of images used in religious worship

syn: skeptic, heretic, nonconformist
Ex: He remains an iconoclast even within his own party.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

doctrinaire

A

seeking to impose a doctrine in all circumstances w/o regard to practical considerations

syn: dogmatic, rigid, uncompromising
Ex: I was a social reformer and doctrinaire first.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

heterodox

A

not conforming w/ accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs

syn: blasphemous, heretical, apostate
Ex: But people with heterodox beliefs were not always poor and persecuted.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

dogmatic

A

inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true

syn: opinionated, peremptory, doctrinaire
Ex: He gives his opinion w/o trying to be dogmatic.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

prolix

A

using or containing too many words

syn: lengthy, protracted, interminable
Ex: He found the narrative too prolix and discursive.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

ameliorate

A

make something bad better

syn: mitigate, enhance, amend
Ex: The reform did much to ameliorate living standards.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

outmoded

A

old-fashioned

syn: outdated, obsolete, defunct
Ex: This was an outmoded Victorian building

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

quotidian

A

occurring every day

syn: daily, diurnal, conventional
Ex: The car sped noisily off through the quotidian traffic.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

disparate

A

essentially different in kind, not allowing comparison

syn: contrasting, heterogeneous, divergent
Ex: They inhabit disparate worlds of thought.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

shrewd

A

having or showing sharp powers of judgment

syn: canny, sharp, astute
The woman was shrew enough to guess the motive behind his gesture.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

cursory

A

hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed

syn: perfunctory, superficial, halfhearted
Ex: He took a cursory glance at the figures.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

herald

A
  1. an official messenger bringing news
  2. a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen

syn: harbinger, indicator, prelude
Ex: They considered the first primroses as the herald of spring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

panacea

A

a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases

syn: cure-all, nostrum, catholicon
Ex: He thought the pill was a panacea for his cancer.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

sanguine

A

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

syn: bullish, buoyant, assured
Ex: He is sanguine about prospects for the global economy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

irresolute

A

showing or feeling hesitancy

syn: uncertain, tentative, vacillating
Ex: She stood irresolute outside his door.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

equivocal

A
  1. having 2 or more possible meanings
  2. not easily understood
  3. Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something/someone

syn: ambivalent, questionable, ambiguous, dubious
Ex: The evidence that this latest diet really results in lasting weight loss is certainly equivocal.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

opulent

A

rich and luxurious/lavish

syn: wealthy, sumptuous, palatial
Ex: The opulent comfort of a limousine was not foreign to her.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

eclectic

A

deriving ideas, styles, or tastes from a broad and diverse range of sources

syn: extensive, wide-ranging, encyclopedic
Ex: Universities offer an eclectic mix of courses.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

enigmatic

A

hard to solve or figure out

syn: arcane, cryptic, uncanny, inscrutable
Ex: The discovery of the abandoned ship in mid-ocean remains one of the most enigmatic episodes in seafaring history.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

bucolic

A

relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life

syn: rustic, pastoral, agrarian, idyllic
Ex: The church is lovely for its bucolic setting.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

adroit

A

clever or skillful in using the hands or mind

syn: adept, dexterous, competent
Ex: He was adroit at tax avoidance.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

unpretentious

A

not attempting to impress others, pleasantly simple

syn: modest, unostentatious, sincere
Ex: He was a friendly and unpretentious person.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

spurious

A

not being what it purports to be; false or fake

syn: bogus, specious, factitious
Ex: We had to separate the spurious and authentic claims from the witness.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

impetus

A
  1. force or energy with which a body moves
  2. the force that makes something happen or happens more quickly

syn: momentum, incitement, propulsion, inducement
Ex: The crisis of 1800 provided the original impetus for the settlements.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

vindicate

A

clear someone of blame or suspicion; prove to be right, reasonable, or justified

syn: acquit, ratify, substantiate
Ex: Hospital staff were vindicated by the inquest verdict.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

boon

A

a thing that is helpful/beneficial

syn: godsend, asset, windfall
Ex: The navigation system will be a boon to both civilian and military users.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

hidebound

A

unwilling/unable to change due to tradition/convention

syn: reactionary, orthodox, diehard, conventional
Ex: You are hidebound by your petty laws.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

amiable

A

having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner

syn: affable, amicable, cordial
Ex: He was an amiable, unassuming fellow.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

prudent

A

acting w/ care and thought for the future

syn: wise, judicious, sagacious
Ex: No prudent money manager would authorize a loan w/o first knowing its purpose.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

juxtaposition

A

the fact of 2 things being seen or placed close together w/ contrasting effect

syn: proximity, comparison, collocation
Ex: We analyzed the juxtaposition of these 2 images.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

acerbic

A

sharp style of speaking; tasting sour or bitter

syn: sarcastic, sardonic, scathing
Ex: His acerbic wit got him in trouble often.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

premonitory

A

giving the feeling that something is going to happen, especially something unpleasant

syn: admonishing, cautionary, exemplary, admonitory
Ex: She had a premonitory dream.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

temperate

A
  1. region w/ mild temp
  2. showing moderation or self-restraint

syn: clement, agreeable, abstemious
Ex: Charles was temperate in his consumption of both food and drink.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

laudatory

A

expressing praise and commendation

syn: extolling, adulatory, eulogizing
Ex: The news reported enthusiastic and laudatory articles.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

provincial

A

an inhabitant of the regions outside the capital city of a country

syn: rustic, local, yokel, territorial
Ex: A town populated by money-grubbers, philistines, and self-satisfied provincials never prospers.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

capricious

A

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

syn: fickle, mercurial, inconstant, volatile
Ex: It is terrible to feel our livelihood hinges on a capricious boss.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

obstinate

A

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

syn: stubborn, willful, intransigent, obdurate
Ex: Her obstinate determination to pursue a career in radio made her successful.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

abreast

A
  1. side by side and facing the same way
  2. up to date w/ the latest news, ideas, or info

syn: abeam, cheek by jowl, conversant w/, alongside
Ex: The path was long enough for 2 people to walk abreast.
She kept abreast of the developments regarding the new restaurant.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

loquacious

A

talkative

syn: garrulous, voluble, gushing , effusive
Ex: Usually loquacious, Sarah was now at a lost for words.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

diffident

A

modest or shy due to lack of self-confidence

syn: bashful, self-effacing, unpresuming
Ex: We were dealing w/ a diffident youth group today.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

taciturnity

A

trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering more than necessary

syn: reserve, shy, reticence
Ex: If you comment on your best friend’s taciturnity, it means that he is usually very quiet and reserved.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
64
Q

alacrity

A

brisk and cheerful readiness

syn: eagerness, ardor, fervor
Ex: She accepted the invitation w/ alacrity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
65
Q

rhapsody

A

an effusively enthusiastic expression of feeling (highly emotional piece of work)

syn: ecstasy, euphoria, swoon
Ex: The mayor launched into a long rhapsody about his plans for the city.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
66
Q

quandary

A

a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation

syn: dilemma, plight, impasse, muddle
Ex: Kate is in a quandary.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
67
Q

zealot

A

person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.

syn: extremist, millitant, bigot
Ex: Zealots on both sides of the issue resorted to name-calling and scare tactics.

68
Q

sycophant

A

person who acts obsequious (obedient) toward someone important to benefit

syn: flunkey, fawner, toady
Ex: He is high-ranking so he is constantly surrounded by sycophants.

69
Q

adulator

A

person who uses flattery

syn: flatterers, crawler, lackey
Ex: “The Glass” newspaper has many detractors, skeptics, and adulators.

70
Q

mercurial

A
  1. someone subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind
  2. containing/from mercury

syn: volatile capricious, temperamental, excitable
Ex: He had a mercurial temperament.

71
Q

blithe

A
  1. showing a casual & cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper
  2. happy or joyous

syn: headless, uncaring, lighthearted, jolly
Ex: He had a blithe disregard for the rules of the road.

72
Q

phlegmatic

A

having an unemotional/calm disposition

syn: composed, placid, stolid, equanimous
Ex: He was a phlegmatic British character.

73
Q

indignant

A

feeling or showing anger/annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment

syn: resentful, affronted, disgruntled, discontented
Ex: He was indignant at being the object of suspicion.

74
Q

munificent

A

larger or more generous than is usually necessary (like a gift or money)

syn: bountiful, magnanimous, philanthropic,
Ex: He made a munificent gesture.

75
Q

mendacious

A

Not telling the truth/lying

syn: disingenuous, deceitful dissembling, fictitious
Ex: The government spread mendacious propaganda.

76
Q

nugatory

A

Of no value or importance

syn: useless, inconsequential, trivial, trifling, futile
Ex: The teacher shortages will render nugatory the hopes of implementing the new curriculum.

77
Q

ersatz

A

Made or used as a substitute for something else (of a product)

syn: artificial, faux, spurious, pseudo
Ex: the driving her food company sells ersatz meat products.

78
Q

clandestine

A

Kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit (illegal)

syn: covert, surreptitious, furtive, underhand
Ex: She deserves better than these clandestine meetings.

79
Q

iteration

A
  1. Repetition of a process
  2. The new version of a piece of computer or software

syn: repeating, replication, duplication, restatement
Ex: People are so excited about the next iteration of this product.

80
Q

solipsistic

A

very self-centered/selfish

syn: ipseity, narcissists, egocentricity
Ex: Children are very solipsistic by nature.

81
Q

sophomoric

A
  1. conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature
  2. lacking in maturity, taste, or judgment

syn: adolescent, jejune, puerile, juvenile, immature
Ex: They engaged in a pointless and sophomoric argument.

82
Q

quixotic

A

exceedingly idealistic

syn: unrealistic, impractical, romantic, utopian
Ex: It was a vast and perhaps quixotic project.

83
Q

undue

A

unwarranted or inappropriate because excessive or disproportionate

syn: extreme, immoderate, fulsome, superfluous
Ex: This figure did not give rise to undue concern.

84
Q

ran the gauntlet

A

go through an intimidating or dangerous crowd or experience in order to reach a goal

Ex: They had to run the gauntlet of paparazzi cameras.

85
Q

ran the gamut

A

to encompass an entire range of something

Ex: Her emotions ran the gamut from joy to despair.

86
Q

ape

A

imitate the behavior or manner of (someone or something), especially in an absurd or unthinking way

syn: mimic, parrot, caricature, parody
Ex: New architecture can respect the old without aping its style.

87
Q

ponderous

A
  1. slow and clumsy because of great weight
  2. dull, laborious, or excessively solemn

syn: clumsy, awkward, lumbering, laborious

88
Q

cogent

A

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

syn: convincing, potent, weighty, efficacious
Ex: They put forward cogent arguments for British membership.

89
Q

cabal

A

a secret political clique or faction

syn: group, coterie, caucus, league
Ex: They discovered a cabal os dissidents.

90
Q

literati

A

well-educated individuals (interested in literature)

syn: clerisy, intelligentsia
Ex: In our view, serious books were not just for the literati, but for anyone with a hunger for brilliant writing.

91
Q

hoi-polloi

A

the masses; the common people

syn: the commonality, the people, the third estate
Ex: Royalty should avoid mixing with the hoi-polloi.

92
Q

incendiary

A
  1. tending to stir up conflict
    2.(of a device or attack) designed to cause fires

syn: combustible, agitator, pyromaniac, provocative
Ex: He had an incendiary reputation which made him unpopular.

93
Q

parochial

A

having a limited or narrow outlook or scope

syn: small-minded, provincial, insular, conventional
Ex: This worldview seems incredibly naive and parochial.

94
Q

dulcet

A

(especially of sound) sweet and soothing

syn: sweet, mellifluous, euphonious, soothing
Ex: Record the dulcet tones of your family and friends.

95
Q

urbane

A

courteous and refined in manner (typically used of a man)

syn: suave, debonair, cultivated, glib
Ex: The supposedly urbane, restrained English gentleman was actually very shrewd.

96
Q

painstaking

A

done with or employing great care and thoroughness

syn: meticulous, assiduous, sedulous, conscientious
Ex: Her work displayed a painstaking attention to detail.

97
Q

bane

A

a cause of great distress or annoyance

syn: scourge, ruination, torture
Ex: The bane of the decorator is the long, narrow hall.

98
Q

amenable

A

having or showing willingness to agree or to accept something that is wanted or asked for

syn: disposed, fain, game, inclined
Ex: She said her peers wanted her to bend the rules, but she wasn’t amenable.

99
Q

pragmatic

A

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

syn: practical, expedient, hardheaded, unsentimental
Ex: She had a pragmatic approach to business ethics.

100
Q

stolid

A

(of a person) calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation

syn: impassive, phlegmatic, placid, torpid, calm
Ex: He was a stolid bourgeois gent.

101
Q

whimsical

A
  1. playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way
  2. acting or behaving in a capricious manner

syn: waggish, eccentric, quirky, capricious

102
Q

officious

A
  1. intrusively enthusiastic in offering help or advice; interfering
  2. assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way, especially with regard to petty or trivial matters.

syn: self-assertive, bumptious, overzealous
Ex: The security people were very officious.

103
Q

supersede

A

to take the place or position of

syn: displant, supplant, replace
Ex: Former stars were being superseded by younger actors.

104
Q

outstrip

A

move faster than and overtake (someone else)

syn: outdistance, surpass, eclipse
Ex: During the morning warm-up, he once again outstripped the field.

105
Q

poultice

A

a soft usually heated and sometimes medicated mass spread on a cloth and applied to sores or other lesions

syn: cataplasm, dressing, plaster
Ex: Placed a poultice over the infected cut.

106
Q

foible

A

a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone’s character

syn: flaw, frailty, idiosyncrasy, shortcoming
Ex: They have to tolerate each other’s little foibles.

107
Q

aptitude

A

a natural ability to do something

syn: talent, flair, knack, finesse
Ex: The aptitude of this society to assimilate new elements.

108
Q

peccadillo

A

a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin

syn: misdemeanor, delinquency, indiscretion
Ex: The sexual peccadilloes of celebrities aren’t necessarily news.

109
Q

castigate

A

reprimand (someone) severely

syn: reprimand, admonish, chastise, chide, upbraid
Ex: He was castigated for not setting a good example.

110
Q

peddle

A
  1. try to sell (something, especially small items) by going from house to house or place to place
  2. promote (an unreliable or untrue idea or view)

syn: sell, hawk, tout, champion, preach
Ex: He peddled art and printing materials around the country.

111
Q

husband

A

use (resources) economically; conserve

syn: steward, preserve, safeguard
Ex: He felt the need to husband his remaining strength.

112
Q

procure

A

obtain (something), especially with care or effort

syn: acquire, secure, purchase
Ex: The food was procured for the rebels.

113
Q

preternatural

A

Beyond what is normal or natural

syn: extraordinary, peculiar, inexplicable, remarkable
Ex: Autumn had arrived with preternatural speed.

114
Q

pithy

A

Brief, forceful, and meaningful in expression; full of vigor, substance, or meaning

syn: cogent, concise, laconic, terse
Ex: I was constantly pulling out pithy facts about how we’re not implementing solutions on the necessary scale.

115
Q

lionize

A

Give a lot of public attention and approval to; treat as a celebrity

syn: glorify, fete, extol, eulogize
Ex: Modern athletes are lionized.

116
Q

actuarial

A

relating to statistical calculation, especially of life expectancy

Ex: The industry wants to include actuarial projections of future losses and the costs of reinsurance in their premiums.

117
Q

caustic

A
  1. Able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action
  2. Sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way

syn: corrosive, sarcastic, alkaline, sardonic
Ex: The players were making caustic comments about the refereeing.

118
Q

indemnify

A
  1. Compensate someone for harm or loss
  2. Secure someone against legal liability for their actions

syn: reimburse, remunerate, warrant assure
Ex: The amount of insurance that may be carried to indemnify the owner in the event of a loss is available.

119
Q

paen

A

a thing that expresses enthusiastic praise

syn: anthem, plaudit, exaltation, encomium
Ex: The author wrote a paean of praise for the great poets.

120
Q

polemic

A

Strongly critical attack or controversial opinion about someone or something

syn: hostile, polemical, virulent, waspish
Ex: The history of science has become embroiled in religious polemics

121
Q

tirade

A

A long angry speech of criticism or accusation

syn: polemic, denunciation, invective, diatribe
Ex: He endured a tirade of abuse from his boss.

122
Q

flagging

A

Becoming tired weaker or less enthusiastic

syn: languish, falter, fade, wane
Ex: If you begin to flag, there is an excellent cafe to revive you.

123
Q

enervated

A
  1. To reduce the mental or moral vigor of
  2. To lessen the vitality or strength

syn: castrate, dampen, lobotomize, geld
Ex: A lifetime of working in dreary jobs had enervated his very soul.

124
Q

hale

A
  1. Free from defect disease or infirmity (exceptional health)
  2. to compel to go

syn: hearty, robust, lug, tow
Ex: Still hale and strong at 80, often outdoing his younger golfing buddies.

125
Q

lissome

A

Thin, supple, and graceful

syn: lithe, limber, spry, agile
Ex: This is the kind of outfit that should be left to lissome teenagers.

126
Q

paucity

A

Smallest/scarcity

syn: dearth, lacuna, deficit, scanty
Ex: For my part, I find increasingly that I miss the simplicity, the almost willful paucity, of the English way of doing things.

127
Q

medley

A

A varied mixture of people or things

syn: assortment, miscellany, melange, blend
Ex: The food had an interesting medley of flavors.

128
Q

overt

A

Done or shown obviously or publicly, not hidden or secret

syn: apparent, manifest, observable, plain
Ex: They may now also raise unlimited amounts of money to fund such overt political messages.

129
Q

tacit

A

Understood or implied without being stated

syn: implicit, insinuated, inferred
Ex: Your silence may be taken to mean tacit agreement.

130
Q

vicissitude

A

A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant

syn: alteration, metamorphosis, transmutation, instability
Ex:

131
Q

placate

A

make (someone) less angry or hostile

syn: pacify, appease, conciliate, propitiate
Ex: They attempted to placate the students with promises.

132
Q

authoritative

A
  1. Able to be trusted as being accurate or true
  2. Commanding and self-confident

syn: reliable, accredited, magisterial, dogmatic
Ex: His voice was calm and authoritative.

133
Q

tepid

A
  1. slightly warm
  2. unenthusiastic

syn: chambre, apathetic, perfunctory
Ex: The applause from the audience was tepid.

134
Q

emaciated

A

very thin and feeble especially from lack of nutrition or illness

syn: cadaverous, gaunt, haggard, skeletal
Ex: The bird, emaciated and weak, was unable to recover.

135
Q

prodigious

A
  1. impressively great in extent, size, or degree
  2. unnatural or abnormal

syn: huge, mammoth, monstrous, grotesque
Ex: The stove consumed a prodigious amount of fuel.

136
Q

flippant

A

Lacking appropriate respect or seriousness

syn: frivolous, glib, insouciant, impudent
Ex: The student made flippant remarks to his professor.

137
Q

ostentatious

A

designed to impress or attract notice

syn: flamboyant, obtrusive, pretentious, garish
Ex: These are books that people buy and display ostentatiously but never actually finish.

138
Q

aplomb

A

Self-confidence or assurance especially when in a demanding situation

syn: poise, collectedness, sangfroid, equanimity
Ex: Diana passed the test with aplomb.

139
Q

esteem

A

Respect and admiration

syn: estimation, approbation, veneration
Ex: He was held in high esteem by his colleagues.

140
Q

derision

A

Disapproving ridicule or mockery

syn: jeering, scoffing, denigration
Ex: My stories were greeted with derision and disbelief.

141
Q

contemptuous

A

Feeling or expressing deep hatred or disapproval

syn: abhorrent, disdainful, scornful
Ex: People who are more contemptuous of that system or much more interesting to me.

142
Q

stentorian

A

Loud and powerful (voice)

syn: booming, blaring, deafening, resonant
Ex: He introduced me to the staff with a stentorian announcement.

143
Q

felicitous

A

Well-chosen/pleasing and fortunate

syn: pertinent, congruous, favorable, apt
Ex: The room was the only felicitous feature.

144
Q

poignant

A
  1. Painfully affecting the feelings
  2. Pleasurably stimulating
  3. Pungently pervasive

syn: affecting, impactful, emotional, stirring
Ex: The photo was a poignant reminder of her childhood.

145
Q

vociferous

A

vehement or clamorous (of a person or speech)

syn: forthright, frank, vigorous, strident
Ex: He was a vociferous opponent of the takeover.

146
Q

dispassion

A

Being unemotional or emotionally involved

syn: detachment, disinterest, impartiality, objectivity
Ex: This dispassion, so difficult to reach, at last extends over all world forms.

147
Q

trepidation

A

A feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen

syn: apprehension, misgivings, foreboding, perturbation
Ex: The man set off in fear and trepidation.

148
Q

aberration

A

A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome

syn: anomaly, digression, eccentricity, deviation
Ex: They described the outbreak of violence in the area as an aberration.

149
Q

confounding

A

Causing surprise or confusion in someone, especially by acting against their expectations

syn: defeat, astonish, dumbfound, perplex
Ex: The inflation figure confounded economic analysts.

150
Q

incorrigible

A

Not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed

syn: inveterate, habitual, irredeemable, intractable
Ex: He’s an incorrigible liar.

151
Q

revile

A

Criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner

syn: denounce, condemn, stigmatize, defame
Ex: He was now reviled by the party he had helped to lead.

152
Q

florid

A
  1. Having a red or flushed complexion
  2. Elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated

syn: sanguine, rubescent, ornate, embellished
Ex: He was a stout man with a florid face.

153
Q

indelible

A

Not able to be forgotten or removed

syn: ineradicable, ineffaceable, ingrained
Ex: His story made an indelible impression on me.

154
Q

concomitant

A

Naturally accompanying or associated

syn: attendant, related, auxiliary
Ex: She loved to travel, with all its concomitant worries.

155
Q

frangible

A

Readily or easily broken

syn: brittle, fragile, breakable, delicate
Ex: Frangible tea cups are totally inappropriate for a child’s birthday party.

156
Q

truculent

A

Eager or quick to argue or fight

syn: belligerent, antagonistic, pugnacious, combative
Ex: His days of truculent defiance were over.

157
Q

unctuous

A

flattering but in an insincere manner

syn: sycophantic, ingratiating, obsequious
Ex: He seemed anxious to please but not in an unctuous way.

158
Q

insular

A
  1. Ignorant or uninterested in cultures ideas or people outside one’s own experience
  2. Relating to or from an island

syn: narrow-minded, blinkered, provincial, parochial
Ex: People live restricted and sometimes insular existences.

159
Q

perfunctory

A

Carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection

syn: cursory, desultory, hasty, indifferent
Ex: He gave a perfunctory nod.

160
Q

maritnet

A

Someone who demands exact conformity to rules

syn: disciplinarian, taskmaster, taskmistress
Ex: The woman in charge was a martinet who treated all those beneath her like children.

161
Q

Gamin

A

Child who roams the streets

Ex: The gamin Bujold plays the enchanting Coquelicot with whom Bates falls in love.

162
Q

Cynic

A

One who destroys human nature

syn: skeptic, incredulity, pessimism
Ex: Public cynicism about change is understandable.

163
Q

duress

A

Imprisonment; the use of threats

syn: coercion, intimidation, exaction, compulsion
Ex: His confessions were extracted under duress.

164
Q

forbear

A

To not do something

(sometimes spelled the same way) forebear: an ancestor

syn: refrain, abstain, desist, predecessor, progenitor, antecedent

Ex: He modestly forbears to include his own work.

Generations of his forebears have lived in London.

165
Q

peculate

A

To steal another’s money or property

syn: embezzle, steal
Ex: No man ever paid a bribe for the handling of the public money, but to peculate from it.

GRE Verbal Reasoning (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions