GRE Words Group 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

adulterate

A

render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance, typically an inferior one.

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2
Q

advocate

A

a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.

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3
Q

aggrandize

A

increase the power, status, or wealth of.

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4
Q

alacrity

A

brisk and cheerful readiness.

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5
Q

ambivalent

A

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

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6
Q

ameliorate

A

make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.

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7
Q

amenable

A

(of a person) open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled.

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8
Q

anachronistic

A

belonging to a period other than that being portrayed.

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9
Q

audacious

A

showing a willingness to take risks or offend people

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10
Q

avaricious

A

having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

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11
Q

banal

A

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.

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12
Q

benign

A
  1. gentle and kindly. or 2. (of a disease) not harmful in effect.
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13
Q

brazen

A

adj. bold and without shame. verb. endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparent confidence and lack of shame.

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14
Q

calumny

A

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

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15
Q

castigate

A

to subject to severe punishment, reproof, or criticism

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16
Q

caustic

A

able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action.

17
Q

construe

A

interpret (a word or action) in a particular way.

18
Q

contrite

A

feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt.

19
Q

convoluted

A

(especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow.

20
Q

covet

A

yearn to possess or have (something).

21
Q

craven

A

contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly.

22
Q

decorum

A

socially acceptable behavior

23
Q

deft

A

demonstrating skill

24
Q

demur

A

raise doubts or objections or show reluctance.

25
Q

derivative

A

(typically of an artist or work of art) imitative of the work of another person, and usually disapproved of for that reason.

26
Q

desiccate

A

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

27
Q

diatribe

A

a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.

28
Q

incredulous

A

feeling or showing an inability to believe something

29
Q

ingenuous

A

(of a person or action) innocent and unsuspecting.

30
Q

phlegmatic

A

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