Common GRE Vocab (medium)

Question 1

abasement (noun)

Answer 1

humiliation or degradation

Question 2

abate (verb)

Answer 2

become less intense or widespread

Question 3

accession (verb)

Answer 3

the action or process of formally joining an association or instuition

Question 4

acerbic (adj)

Answer 4

(especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright

Question 5

acolyte (noun)

Answer 5

a person assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession

Question 6

acumen (noun)

Answer 6

a vigorous and pioneering advocate or supporter of a particular cause

Question 7

apprise (verb)

Answer 7

inform or tell (someone)

Question 8

armada (noun)

Answer 8

a fleet of warships

Question 9

arson (noun)

Answer 9

the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property

Question 10

ascribe (verb)

Answer 10

attribute something to (a cause)

Question 11

barrage (noun)

Answer 11

a concentrated outpouring, as of questions or blows

Question 12

bevy (noun)

Answer 12

a large group of people or things of a particular kind

Question 13

boor (noun)

Answer 13

an unrefined, ill-mannered person

Question 14

bucolic (adj)

Answer 14

relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life

Question 15

canonical (adj)

Answer 15

(of an artist or work) belonging to the literary or artistic canon

Question 16

capricious (adj)

Answer 16

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

Question 17

chauvinism (noun)

Answer 17

excessive or prejudiced loyalty or support for one’s own cause, group, or gender

Question 18

circumspect (adj)

Answer 18

wary and unwilling to take risks

Question 19

coalesce (verb)

Answer 19

come together and form one mass or whole

Question 20

coffer (noun)

Answer 20

the funds or financial reserves of a group or instution

Question 21

condone (verb)

Answer 21

accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive)

Question 22

contrite (adj)

Answer 22

feeling or expressing remorse or penitence

Question 23

credulous (adj)

Answer 23

having or showing too great a readiness to believe things

Question 24

demur (verb)

Answer 24

raise doubts or objections or show reluctance

Question 25

depravity (noun)

Answer 25

moral corruption; wickedness

Question 26

deride (verb)

Answer 26

express contempt for’ ridicule

Question 27

diatribe (noun)

Answer 27

a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something

Question 28

dictum (noun)

Answer 28

a short statement that expresses a general truth or principle

Question 29

diffuse (verb)

Answer 29

spread out over a large area

Question 30

dilate (verb)

Answer 30

make or become wider, larger, or more open

Question 31

discordant (adj)

Answer 31

disagreeing or incongruous

Question 32

divest (verb)

Answer 32

rid oneself of something that one no longer wants or requires, such as a business interest or investment

Question 33

droll (adj)

Answer 33

curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement

Question 34

echelon (noun)

Answer 34

a level or rank in an organization, a profession, or society

Question 35

eddy (verb)

Answer 35

(of water, air, or smoke) move in a circular way