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GRE Magoosh Words > Magoosh Basic Words 4 and 5 > Flashcards

Magoosh Basic Words 4 and 5 Flashcards

1
Q

sentimental

A

of or prompted by feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia
e.g. “She felt a sentimental attachment to the place creep over her”

Synonyms: saccharine, mawkish, soppy, emotional

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2
Q

banish

A

send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment
e.g. “Several people were banished to Siberia for political crimes”

Synonyms: exile, expel, expatriate, extradite, excommunicate, ostracize

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3
Q

precedent

A

an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances
e.g. “There are substantial precedents for using interactive media in training”

Synonyms: criterion, model, paradigm, exemplar

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4
Q

whimsical

A
  1. resulting from or characterized by whim or caprice
  2. determined by impulse rather than by reason

e.g. “Despite his success, he retained a gently ironic, almost whimsical sense of the world.”

Synonyms: volatile, capricious, temperamental, impulsive, mercurial, quicksilver

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5
Q

commendable

A

deserving praise
e.g. “He showed commendable restraint”

Synonyms: admirable, praiseworthy, laudable, estimable, meritorious, exemplar, sterling

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6
Q

inadvertent

A

to happen unpredictably or unintentionally
e.g. “An inadvertent administrative error occurred that resulted in an overpayment.”

Synonyms: unintentional, unintended, accidental, unpremeditated, involuntary

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7
Q

empathetic

A

showing an ability to understand and share the feelings of another
e.g. “His personal history makes him especially empathetic to workers’ need for a fair wage.”

Synonyms: compassionate, sympathetic, empathic, humane, understanding, gentle

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8
Q

lucid

A

expressed clearly; easy to understand
e.g. “His judgment of men and things was keen, lucid and masculine.”

Synonyms: intelligible, comprehensible, understandable, cogent, coherent, communicative, articulate, eloquent, perspicuous

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9
Q

euphoria

A

a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness
e.g. “In his euphoria, he had become convinced he could defeat them”

Synonyms: elation, glee, exhilaration, animation, jubilation, exultation, ecstasy

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10
Q

perpetuate

A

make (something) continue indefinitely
e.g. “Every year, parents continue to perpetuate the myth of Santa Claus.”

Synonyms: bolster, maintain, preserve, eternalize

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11
Q

uncompromising

A

showing an unwillingness to make concessions to others, especially by changing one’s ways or opinions
e.g. “People are intimidated by her uncompromising ways.”

Synonyms: determined, hard-line, inflexible, intransigent, adamant

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12
Q

illicit

A

forbidden by law, rules, or custom
e.g. “Politically, the most important criminal industries are illicit trading in arms and in drugs.”

Synonyms: illegal, unlawful, illegitimate, contraband

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13
Q

hamstrung

A

severely restrict the efficiency or effectiveness of
e.g.

Synonyms: handicap, constrain, encumber, block, frustrate, hamper, hinder, obstruct, impede

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14
Q

fickle

A

changing frequently, especially as regards one’s loyalties or affections
e.g. “Celebs trying to appeal to an increasingly fickle public”

Synonyms: capricious, changeable, variable, volatile, mercurial, vacillating

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15
Q

egotist

A

a person who is excessively conceited or absorbed in themselves; a self-seeker
e.g. “He thinks you have to be something of an egotist to become an orchestral conductor”

Synonyms: self-seeker, egocentric, egomaniac, self-admirer, narcissist, boaster, bragger, show-off, blowhard

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16
Q

augment

A

make (something) greater by adding to it; increase
e.g. “He took private pupils to augment his income”

Synonyms: amplify, boost, build up, develop, enhance, intensify

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17
Q

martial

A

relating to fighting or war; suggesting dictatorship
e.g. “Dreams of martial glory are hardly uncommon in 19-year-olds all over the world.”

Synonyms: military, soldierly, guerrilla, aggressive
(words like bellicose, belligerent, pugnacious, etc. can also fit here because of “fighting”)

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18
Q

debase

A

reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade
e.g. “The love episodes debase the dignity of the drama”

Synonyms: degrade, devalue, demean, dishonor

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19
Q

conducive

A

making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible
e.g. “The harsh lights and cameras were hardly conducive to a relaxed atmosphere”

Synonyms: favorable, helpful, beneficial, facilitative

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20
Q

detrimental

A

causing harm or damage
e.g. “Their decision could be detrimental to the future of the company.”

Synonyms: damaging, deleterious, harmful, injurious, prejudicial

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21
Q

elaborate

A

containing a lot of careful detail or many detailed parts
e.g. “He came out with such an elaborate excuse that I didn’t quite believe him.”

Synonyms: busy, complicated, decorated, detailed, embellished, complex

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22
Q

urbane

A

courteous and refined in manner
e.g. “Pat was cultured and urbane and had a wonderful sense of humor.”

Synonyms: cultured, elegant, polished

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23
Q

assail

A

to attack someone violently or criticize someone strongly
e.g. “His attacker assailed him with fierce blows to the head.”

Synonyms: attack, scold/upbraid, slam, criticize, lambast, savage, excoriate, vituperate

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24
Q

benign

A

pleasant and kind; harmless
e.g. “We are used to really quite benign weather patterns.”

Synonyms: harmless, safe, innocent, innocuous, anodyne

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25
Q

assuage

A
  1. to make unpleasant feelings less strong
  2. to make more bearable or less severe

e.g. “The government has tried to assuage the public’s fears.”

Synonyms: alleviate, relieve, help, soothe, mitigate

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26
Q

genial

A

friendly and pleasant
e.g. “His genial disposition made him quite popular”

Synonyms: gracious, pleasant, amiable, sweet, affable

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27
Q

contemptuous

A

showing contempt; scornful
e.g. “He was contemptuous and sneering in pointing out that we were in the wrong carriage.”

Synonyms: scornful, disdainful, disrespectful, insulting, insolent

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28
Q

vacuous

A

not expressing or showing intelligent thought or purpose
e.g.

Synonyms: fatuous, vacant, expressionless, deadpan, inscrutable

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29
Q

tawdry

A

showy but cheap and of poor quality
e.g. “A lot of the city’s housing consists of nondescript houses and some districts are downright tawdry.”

Synonyms: gaudy, cheap

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30
Q

pristine

A

in its original condition; unspoilt
e.g. “His face and once pristine white school shirt were drenched in blood.”

Synonyms: immaculate, intact, natural, sterile

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31
Q

glib

A

(of words or a speaker) fluent but insincere and shallow
e.g. “The glib phrases soon roll off the tongue”

Synonyms: artful, prevaricate, evasive

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32
Q

altruism

A

selfless concern for the well-being of others
e.g. “Some may choose to work with vulnerable elderly people out of altruism”

Synonyms: benevolence, humanitarianism, kindness, selflessness

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33
Q

jargon

A

special words and phrases that are used by particular groups of people, especially in their work
e.g. “And, from the viewpoint of an outsider, the jargon was dense.”

Synonyms: vernacular, lingo, dialect

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34
Q

rankle

A

(of a comment or fact) cause continuing annoyance or resentment
e.g. “The joke about her family rankled her.”

Synonyms: inflame, irk, rile, torment, vex, exasperate

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35
Q

facetious

A

treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor
e.g. “You learn very soon never to tell a joke or make a facetious remark.”

Synonyms: flippant, frivolous, jocular

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36
Q

buck

A

to resist or oppose
e.g. “He bucked the letter on to the assistant vice president to answer.”

Synonyms: resist, oppose, withstand

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37
Q

credence

A

belief in or acceptance of something as true
e.g. “It is painful to watch him displaying credentials that no longer carry much credence.”

Synonyms: admission, assurance, belief, certainty

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38
Q

irresolute

A

showing or feeling hesitancy while taking action; uncertain
e.g. “He was following me no longer; he stood irresolute.”

Synonyms: indecisive, hesitant, faltering

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39
Q

genteel

A

characterized by exaggerated or affected politeness, refinement, or respectability
e.g. “In contrast, Harriet’s family represents the fading genteel elegance of the old South.”

Synonyms: aristocratic, elegant, noble, decorous

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40
Q

pertinent

A

relating directly to the subject being considered
e.g. “It would be pertinent to ask why she acted as she did”

Synonyms: admissible, applicable, appropriate, germane

41
Q

cornucopia

A

an abundant supply of something good
e.g. “The festival offers a cornucopia of pleasures”

Synonyms: store, abundance, opulence, plenitude

42
Q

impeccable

A

spectacular without any errors
e.g. “With impeccable timing and grace, we were then led through to our table.”

Synonyms: flawless, faultless, unblemished, perfect, exemplary

43
Q

grovel

A

to show submission/fear
e.g. “I had to grovel to the manager for a loan”

Synonyms: beseech, fawn

44
Q

noisy

A
  1. noisy and lacking restraint or discipline
  2. to be unwilling to submit to authority
45
Q

surly

A

bad-tempered and unfriendly
e.g. “He can be petulant, and there have been surly exchanges with fans.”

Synonyms: boorish, dour, irritable, morose, rude, grumpy

46
Q

smattering

A
  1. a small amount of something
  2. a slight knowledge of a language or subject

e.g. “He knew a smattering of English, so we were able to communicate”

Synonyms: handful, couple, scattering, sprinkling, modicum, smidgen

47
Q

derisive

A

expressing contempt or ridicule
e.g. “Her speech drew derisive comments from the audience”

Synonyms: contemptuous, disdainful, scornful, disdainful

48
Q

tumult

A

a state of confusion, chaos, or disorder
e.g. “You couldn’t hear her speak over the tumult from the screaming fans.”

Synonyms: commotion, convulsion, disturbance

49
Q

spurn

A

reject with disdain or contempt
e.g. “She spurned my offers of help.”

Synonyms: scorn, rebuff, refuse, disdain

50
Q

perennial

A
  1. lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time
  2. enduring or continually recurring
    e.g. “They are also used quite effectively when planted in close groups among perennial shrubs.”

Synonyms: everlasting, perpetual, eternal

51
Q

embellish

A

make (something) more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features
e.g. “The blue silk was embellished with golden embroidery”

Synonyms: decorate, adorn, ornament, ornate

52
Q

rash

A

acting or done without careful consideration of the possible consequences
e.g. “It would be extremely rash to make such an assumption”

Synonyms: reckless, impetuous, impulsive, hasty, overhasty, foolhardy, incautious

53
Q

pastoral

A

referring to the countryside in a pleasant way
e.g. “The view was pastoral, with rolling fields and grazing sheep”

Synonyms: agrarian, bucolic, idyllic, rural, rustic

54
Q

devolve

A
  1. having had power transferred or delegated to a lower level
  2. to grow worse

e.g. “The way they have devolved power to Scotland and Wales is an absolute disgrace.”

Synonyms: delegate, transmit

55
Q

collusion

A

secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy to deceive others
e.g. “The armed forces were working in collusion with drug traffickers”

Synonyms: conspiracy, connivance, deceit

56
Q

convoluted

A

complex and difficult to follow
e.g. “The film is let down by a convoluted plot in which nothing really happens”

Synonyms: intricate, labyrinthine, perplexing, puzzling

57
Q

exasperate

A

intensely irritated and frustrated
e.g. “As the students exit, an exasperated teacher tries in vain to get their attention”

Synonyms: infuriate, irk, irritate, peeve, rankle, rile, vex

58
Q

derogative

A

insulting
e.g. “The term Moowis is one of the most derogative and offensive possible.”

Synonyms: insulting, slighting, derogatory, pejorative, demeaning, malicious, disparaging

59
Q

impregnable

A

unable to be defeated or overcome
e.g. “Liverpool used their good fortune to forge an impregnable lead”

Synonyms: unassailable, unbeatable, undefeatable, invincible, indomitable

60
Q

elude

A

escape from or avoid (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically skillfully or cunningly
e.g. “He tried to elude the security men by sneaking through a back door”

Synonyms: circumvent, eschew, elusive

61
Q

savvy

A

shrewdness and practical knowledge; the ability to make good judgments
e.g. “The corporate finance bankers lacked the necessary political savvy”

Synonyms: acute, calculating, cunning, discerning, shrewd

62
Q

diligent

A

constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything
e.g. “The more important the document, the more diligent must be the search.”

Synonyms: industrious, hard-working, assiduous, conscientious, meticulous

63
Q

tarnish

A

ruin, reduce the quality of; make dirty
e.g. “The affair could tarnish the reputation of the prime minister.”

Synonyms: damage, defame, dim, dull, embarrass, sully, taint

64
Q

steadfast

A

resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering
e.g. “Their steadfast love in the face of horror can only be admired.”

Synonyms: abiding, adamant, ardent, dedicated, tenacious

65
Q

destitute

A

extremely poor and lacking the means to provide for oneself
e.g. “the charity cares for destitute children”

Synonyms: impoverished, indigent, insolvent, needy, penniless

66
Q

unseemly

A

(of behavior or actions) not proper or appropriate
e.g. “Actually, it is rank partisanship of the most unseemly kind.”

Synonyms: inappropriate, indecent, undignified

67
Q

placid

A

not easily upset or excited; having a calm demeanor
e.g. “The cows were quite placid and didn’t seem to mind us”

Synonyms: even-tempered, tranquil, imperturbable, temperate, stolid, phlegmatic

68
Q

serene

A

calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil
e.g. “Her eyes were closed and she looked very serene”

Synonyms: calm, composed, collected, pacific, tranquil

69
Q

obstinate

A

stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action
e.g. “It was her obstinate determination to pursue a career in radio”

Synonyms: headstrong, willful, unyielding, inflexible, unbending, intransigent

70
Q

taxing

A

physically or mentally demanding
e.g. “If you are feeling tuckered out after an especially taxing day, the hotel will gladly deliver room service.”

Synonyms: demanding, exacting, tiresome, burdensome, arduous, onerous.

71
Q

presumption

A
  1. an idea that is taken to be true on the basis of probability

e.g. “underlying presumptions about human nature”

Synonyms: assumption, likelihood, premise, supposition

  1. behaviour perceived as arrogant, disrespectful, and transgressing the limits of what is appropriate

e.g. “He lifted her off the ground, and she was enraged at his presumption”

Synonyms: arrogance, audacity, boldness, brashness, gall, impudence

72
Q

goad

A

provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate an action or reaction
e.g. “He was trying to goad her into a fight”

Synonyms: coerce, hound, provoke, incite

72
Q

exemplify

A

illustrate or clarify by giving an example
e.g. “The city’s economic growth is exemplified by the many new buildings that are currently under construction.”

Synonyms: demonstrate, depict, elucidate, embody, epitomize, illuminate

73
Q

enmity

A

a state or feeling of active opposition or hostility
e.g. “I don’t understand his enmity towards his parents”

Synonyms: acrimony, alienation, antipathy

74
Q

squander

A
  1. waste (something, especially money or time) in a reckless and foolish manner
  2. allow (an opportunity) to pass or be lost

e.g. “The team squandered several good scoring chances”

Synonyms: expend, lavish, waste, dissipate, frivol, misspend

75
Q

smug

A

having or showing excessive pride in oneself or one’s achievements
e.g. “He sat there with a smug smile on his face”

Synonyms: complacent, egotistical, pompous, self-righteous

76
Q

tout

A

attempt to sell (something), typically by a direct or persistent approach
e.g. “When banks tout for your business, they make all kinds of attractive offers”

Synonyms: recommend, promote, endorse, support, nudge

77
Q

complacent

A

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements.
e.g. “You can’t afford to be complacent about security”

Synonyms: smug, egotistical, pompous, self-righteous

78
Q

maxim

A

to express the truth through a short saying
e.g. “An old business school maxim says that you can either do what your rivals do and do it better or try to do things differently.”

Synonyms: adage, dictum, aphorism

79
Q

malevolent

A

having or showing a wish to do evil to others
e.g. “There are malevolent forces at work in the world”

Synonyms: malicious, spiteful, hostile

80
Q

ploy

A

a cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one’s advantage
e.g. “This was widely interpreted as a ploy to buy time to consolidate his position”

Synonyms: tactic, move, device, stratagem, scheme, trick.

81
Q

peevish

A

easily annoyed
e.g. “It featured a peevish hipster, complaining about how his grasp of cool was slipping.”

Synonyms: irritable, irascible

82
Q

tact

A

skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues
e.g. “The inspector broke the news to me with tact and consideration”

Synonyms: common-sense, discretion, prudence, refinement, sensitivity, subtlety

83
Q

unprecedented

A

never done or known before
e.g. “The emphasis has been on shaping bold solutions to save lives and livelihoods in these unprecedented times”

Synonyms: bizarre, extraordinary, unusual

84
Q

perturb

A

make (someone) anxious or unsettled
e.g. “External factors that could perturb development include temperature and environmental chemicals.”

Synonyms: agitate, alarm, bewilder, confound, confuse

85
Q

brusquely

A

in a way that is blunt and slightly rude
e.g. “I don’t have time to deal with it today,” she said brusquely.”

Synonyms: abruptly, curtly, bluntly, rudely, briskly

85
Q

quip

A

a witty remark
e.g. “Peter ate heartily with a quip about being a condemned man.”

Synonyms: witticism

86
Q

leery

A

cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions
e.g. “A city leery of gang violence”

Synonyms: distrustful, mistrusting, dubious, skeptical

87
Q

credulity

A

a tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true
e.g. “But it stretches credulity to argue that the problem here is one of bounded rationality.”

Synonyms: gullible, naivety, innocence

88
Q

reservation

A

an expression of doubt qualifying overall approval of a plan or statement
e.g. “Some generals voiced reservations about making air strikes”

Synonyms: doubt, qualm, scruple, misgivings, skepticism, unease

89
Q

eke

A

manage to make a living with difficulty (particularly through limited resources)
e.g. “Many traders barely eked out a living”

Synonyms: scrape, survive

90
Q

impending

A
  1. inevitable
  2. (of an event regarded as threatening or significant) about to happen; forthcoming

e.g. “The author had returned to his country ahead of the impending war”

Synonyms: brewing, imminent, looming

91
Q

travail

A

painful or laborious effort
e.g. “Give advice for those who wish to save great sorrow and travail”

Synonyms: distress, agony, anguish, discomfort

92
Q

foible

A

a behavioral attribute (usually eccentric) unique to someone’s character
e.g. “They have to tolerate each other’s little foibles”

Synonyms: quirk, idiosyncratic, peculiarity, eccentricity

93
Q

retract

A
  1. withdraw (a statement or accusation) as untrue or unjustified
  2. withdraw a once-held belief under pressure

e.g. “He retracted his allegations against the company.”

Synonyms: withdraw, recant, renege, renounce

94
Q

connive

A

conspire to do something immoral, illegal, or harmful
e.g. “They connived with bank officials to launder money”

Synonyms: conspire, collude, plotting

95
Q

irk

A

irritate; annoy
e.g. “It irks her to think of the runaround she received”

Synonyms: irritate, annoy, vex, gall, rattle

96
Q

discord

A

disagreement between people; lack of harmony
e.g. “There was a note of discord when one person objected to paying”

Synonyms: friction, strife, dissension, discordance, conflict, schism

97
Q

aphoristic

A

a concise statement of a principle
e.g. “The poems are emotionally primed and have an aphoristic momentum.”

Synonyms: axiomatic, sententious, terse

GRE Magoosh Words (11 decks)

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