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GRE > Vocabulary Section (Essential) > Flashcards

Vocabulary Section (Essential) Flashcards

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GRE® Vocabulary flashcards
1
Q

Idiosyncrasy

A

personality tick

A mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual

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2
Q

Obstinate

A

Stubborn

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

Difficult to change or overcome.

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3
Q

Languid

A

Tired

(of a person, manner, or gesture) displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.

weak or faint from illness or fatigue.

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4
Q

Ignominious

A

Negative

deserving or causing public disgrace or shame.

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5
Q

Gainsay

A

Oppose

  1. deny or contradict (a fact or statement)
  2. speak against or oppose (someone).
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6
Q

Chauvinist

A

Bigot

  1. a person displaying excessive or prejudiced support for their own cause or group, in particular a man prejudiced against women.
  2. Exaggerated patriotism.
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7
Q

Minatory

A

threatening

Expressing or conveying a threat.

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8
Q

Didactic

A

instructional or condescending

  1. intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.
  2. in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to treat someone in a patronizing way.
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9
Q

Glib

A

well spoken and insincere

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

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10
Q

Prodigious

A

very impressive or monstrous

  1. remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree.
  2. unnatural or abnormal.
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11
Q

Credulous

A

gullible

having or showing too great a readiness to believe things.

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12
Q

Sophistry

A

deceptive

the use of fallacious arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving.

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13
Q

Mores

A

norms

the essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a community.

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14
Q

Repudiate

A

deny or dissavow

refuse to accept or be associated with.

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15
Q

Inveterate

A

established as a habit

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

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16
Q

Sportive

A

playful or sports enthusiast

  1. playful; lighthearted.
  2. relating to, interested in, or good at sport
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17
Q

Commensurate

A

proportionate

corresponding in size or degree; in proportion

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18
Q

Timorous

A

fearful

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

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19
Q

Intractable

A

unmanageable

  1. hard to control or deal with
  2. Stubborn
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20
Q

Apocryphal

A

inauthentic

(of a story or statement) of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true.

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21
Q

Polemical

A

critical and verbose

expressing or constituting a strongly critical attack on or controversial opinion about someone or something.

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22
Q

Laconic

A

concise

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

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23
Q

Loquacious

A

chatty

tending to talk a great deal; talkative.

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24
Q

Mollify

A

soothe

appease the anger or anxiety of (someone).

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25
Q

Gradation

A

move along a gradient

  1. a scale or a series of successive changes, stages, or degrees
  2. a stage or change in a series of successive degrees.
  3. a minute change from one shade, tone, or color to another.
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26
Q

Cajole

A

persuade through pestering or flattery

persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery.

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27
Q

Rankle

A

cause or feel irritation

  1. to cause anger, irritation, or deep bitterness
  2. to feel anger or irritation
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28
Q

Spendthrift

A

spends a lot

  1. a person who spends improvidently or wastefully
  2. given to spending money freely or foolishly : wasteful with money
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29
Q

Wily

A

crafty

Full of tricks or strategies

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30
Q

Taciturn

A

reserved or silent

temperamentally disinclined to talk

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31
Q

Acrimony

A

bitter or sharp in tone

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32
Q

Prodigal

A

wasteful

Exceedingly or recklessly wasteful

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33
Q

Reproach

A

disdain

A feeling of disdain or disapproval towards someone or something

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34
Q

Glut

A

excess
An excess or surplus of something

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35
Q

Obsequious

A

people pleaser

Showing excessive willingness to serve or please someone in a subservient manner

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36
Q

Pugnacious

A

aggressive

Aggressively quarrelsome or combative

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37
Q

Aberrant

A

irregular

Irregular, or deviating from the norm

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38
Q

Disquieting

A

disturbing

Disturbing or unsettling in a way that causes anxiety or unease

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39
Q

Levity

A

unserious

Lightness of manner or speech; lack of seriousness or earnestness

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40
Q

Salubrious

A

healthy

Beneficial to one’s overall health or wellbeing

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41
Q

Enervate

A

drain

Weaken or drain of energy or vitality

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42
Q

Parsimonious

A

frugal, derogatory

Stingy or frugal; unwilling to spend money or use resources

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43
Q

Eschew

A

shun

To shun or avoid something (especially something considered wrong or distasteful)

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44
Q

Appreciable

A

noteworthy

Significant, notable, able to be perceived or mentioned

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45
Q

Belie

A

front

Give me a false impression of something or someone

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46
Q

Extirpate

A

exterminate

Remove or destroy completely

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47
Q

Errant

A

wrong

Being mistaken, incorrect, or deviating from the proper course

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48
Q

Gawky

A

clumsy

Awkward or clumsy in movement or posture

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49
Q

Deference

A

leaving it up to others

Respectful submission or yielding to the judgement, opinion, or will of another person

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50
Q

Adulation

A

Excessive admiration or praise for someone or something

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51
Q

Divine

A

figure out

Discover or understand something through intuition or insight

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52
Q

Abstemious

A

to abstain

Practicing restraint, especially from pleasurable activities

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53
Q

Abstruse

A

obscure

Difficult to understand

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54
Q

Ascetic

A

devoutly unhedonistic

A person who practices self-discipline and abstains from indulgences for spiritual or religious reasons

55
Q

Garrulous

A

chatterbox

Verbally or excessively talkative; inclined to ramble or chatter

56
Q

Stolid

A

unemotional

Showing little or no emotion

57
Q

Exacting

A

diligent

Requiring great precision, care, or effort

58
Q

Acme

A

zenith

The peak, highest point, or pinnacle of something

59
Q

Torpor

A

A state of physical or mental inactivity or sluggishness; lethargy

60
Q

Credulity

A

Belief in something too easily or readily, without questioning or critical thinking

61
Q

Lucid

A

clear

Easy to understand; rational and logical

62
Q

Tenuous

A

Having little substance or strength; weak and fragile

63
Q

Exponent

A

advocate

A person who promotes or advocates for an idea or cause

64
Q

Obviate

A

prevent

Remove or prevent something

65
Q

Insidious

A

subtle harm

Causing harm in a gradual and subtle way

66
Q

Circumlocution

A

scenic route

A roundabout or indirect way of expressing something

67
Q

Natty

A

stylish

Stylish, smart, and fashionable in appearance; neat and well groomed

68
Q

Sycophant

A

suck up

A person who uses flattery or praise to gain personal advantage

69
Q

Sanction

A

Penalty

70
Q

Gregarious

A

outgoing

Social, enjoying the company of others

71
Q

Gregarious

A

outgoing

Social, enjoying the company of others

72
Q

Guile

A

Cunning or sly intelligence

73
Q

Countenance

A

Tolerate or approve of something

74
Q

Soporific

A

Causing sleep or drowsiness

75
Q

Veracious

A

Reliable and truthful

76
Q

Potentate

A

An influential and powerful ruler or monarch

77
Q

Mendacious

A

Deceitful, not truthful

78
Q

Preclude

A

Prevent or make impossible

79
Q

Foment

A

instigate

Stir up the growth, development, or activity of something

80
Q

Perfidious

A

Deceitful or untrustworthy

81
Q

Ephemeral

A

Lasting for a very short time

82
Q

Profligate

A

Extremely wasteful or extravagant

83
Q

Salutary

A

Beneficial or promoting good health

84
Q

Din

A

A loud, continuous noise or uproar

85
Q

Peccadillo

A

A small or minor fault or mistake

86
Q

Extant

A

In existence

87
Q

Paucity

A

Lack or shortage of something

88
Q

Spate

A

Sudden and large amount or burst of something, usually referring to water or other liquids

89
Q

Replete

A

Full, abundant, plentiful

90
Q

Balk

A

Hesitate or refuse to proceed or to accept an idea or task

91
Q

Gratuitous

A

Unnecessary, given without payment, free

92
Q

Relegate

A

Demote or downgrade someone or something to a lower position

93
Q

Antipathy

A

Strong dislike or aversion towards someone or something

94
Q

Founder

A

Fail or collapse as a result of pressure or turmoil

95
Q

Trifling

A

Insignificant or trivial, of little value or importance

96
Q

Tacit

A

Understood or implied without being stated openly or directly

97
Q

Perfidy

A

Deceitfulness, betrayal, or untrustworthiness

98
Q

Exculpate

A

Clear someone of blame or fault

99
Q

Lassitude

A

weariness

A state of physical or mental fatigue or lack of energy

100
Q

Craven

A

cowardly

Lacking courage

101
Q

Obloquy

A

Harsh or critical statements made against someone to damage their reputation

102
Q

Libertine

A

A person who has little regard for moral principles

103
Q

Plastic

A

Capable of being molded or shaped easily

104
Q

Desiccate

A

To dry out something completely by removing all moisture

105
Q

Germane

A

relevant

Closely related to the topic or subject at hand

106
Q

Trite

A

Commonplace

Overused or lacking in originality

107
Q

Urbane

A

Worldly and sophisticated

108
Q

Requite

A

Reward or repay someone for their actions or feelings

109
Q

Transient

A

Temporary

Fleeting or passing away

110
Q

Tractable

A

Docile

Easily managed or controlled

111
Q

Stark

A

Harsh

Severe or completely without decoration or embellishment

112
Q

Castigate

A

Criticize or reprimand severely

113
Q

Petulant

A

Sulky and easily irritated or annoyed; especially in a childish or rude manner

114
Q

Aver

A

State or declare something to be true or factual

115
Q

Iconoclastic

A

Rebellious or non-conforming, especially towards traditional beliefs or practices

116
Q

Aspersion

A

A derogatory or damaging remark directed at someone or something

117
Q

Forbearance

A

The ability to endure or remain patient in the face of challenges, difficulties, or provocation

118
Q

Mendacity

A

Tendency to lie or deceive

119
Q

Specious

A

Misleading or deceptive in appearance or behavior

120
Q

Scrupulous

A

Very careful and precise

121
Q

Scrupulous

A

Very careful and precise

122
Q

Provincial

A
  1. Limited in perspective or narrow minded
  2. Pertaining to a specific region right outside of a city
123
Q

Restive

A

Restless

Unwilling to be controlled or restrained

124
Q

Quotidian

A

Happening or occurring daily

125
Q

Transitory

A

temporary

126
Q

Hackneyed

A

Overused or unoriginal

127
Q

Exhort

A

Strongly encourage someone to do something

128
Q

Censure

A

Criticize or reprimand someone or something formally

129
Q

Rarefy

A

To make something less dense; to make something less concentrated

130
Q

Reticent

A

Reluctant or hesitant to speak or reveal one’s thoughts or feelings

131
Q

Diffidence

A

Insecurity or lack of self-confidence in one’s abilities or appearance

132
Q

Mercurial

A

Characterized by sudden or unprecedented changes in mood or behavior

133
Q

Incipient

A

Emerging or beginning to develop

134
Q

Fleece

A

To swindle or cheat someone, usually financially

GRE (4 decks)

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