GRE Basic Vocab Flashcards
(138 cards)
1
Q
Errant
A
Wandering
2
Q
Fete
A
To celebrate a person
3
Q
Sordid
A
Involving ignoble action; arousing moral distaste; repulsive
4
Q
Conniving
A
Taking part in an evil plot
5
Q
Chauvinist
A
One who believes in the superiority of one’s group
6
Q
Sanguine
A
Cheerful; optimistic
7
Q
Vicarious
A
Felt as if one were taking part in the experience of another
8
Q
Balk
A
To refuse to comply
9
Q
Genial
A
Agreeable; conducive to comfort
10
Q
Staid
A
Characterized by dignity and propriety
11
Q
Ferret
A
To search for something persistently
12
Q
Clemency
A
Leniency and compassion shown in the court
13
Q
Malodorous
A
Having an unpleasant smell
14
Q
Presumptuous
A
Excessively forward or bold; impertinent
15
Q
Piquant
A
Possessing an agreeably pungent taste
16
Q
Peevish
A
Easily irritated; petulant
17
Q
Vanquish
A
To come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
18
Q
Amok
A
In a frenzied or uncontrolled state
19
Q
Pine
A
To yearn for
20
Q
Surly
A
Inclined to anger or bad feelings
21
Q
Perquisite
A
A right reserved for a particular person or group
22
Q
Humdrum
A
Dull and lacking excitement
23
Q
Paucity
A
A lack of something
24
Q
Behoove
A
To be one’s duty or obligation
25
Spurn
Reject with contempt
26
Sentimental
Insincerely emotional
27
Appreciable
Large enough to be noticed
28
Whimsical
Determined by impulse; capricious
29
Indignant
Angry over perceived injustice
30
Smattering
Slight or superficial understanding; small amount
31
Brusquely
In a blunt, direct manner
32
Vie
To compete for something
33
Malleable
Capable of being shaped or bent; easily influenced
34
Foolhardy
Marked by defiant disregard for danger
35
Eke
To live off meager resources
36
Fleece
To deceive
37
Scintillating
Brilliant; lively
38
Leery
Openly distrustful
39
Glib
Speaking with ease but without sincerity
40
Junta
Aggressive takeover by a group
41
Snub
To refuse to acknowledge; to outrightly reject
42
Creditable
Deserving praise but not that amazing
43
Virago
Ill-tempered or violent woman
44
Reprobate
A person without morals
45
Cerebral
Involving intelligence, as opposed to emotions
46
Wax
To gradually increase in size or intensity
47
Finagle
Achieve something by trickery or devious means
48
Affable
Likeable; easy to talk to
49
Facetious
Cleverly amusing in tone
50
Boorish
Ill-mannered and coarse; contemptible in behavior or appearance
51
Insolvent
Bankrupt
52
Raffish
Carefree unconventionality or disreputableness
53
Redress
To make something right
54
Enumerate
To determine the number or amount of; to list out
55
Start
Sudden move in a particular direction
56
Quip
A witty saying or remark
57
Obliging
Showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
58
Peruse
To read very carefully
59
Cadaverous
Emaciated; gaunt; thin
60
Raft
A large number
61
Tawdry
Tastelessly showy
62
Serendipity
An instance in which an accidental, fortunate discovery is made
63
Perennial
Lasting an indefinitely long time; eternal
64
Voracious
Extremely hungry; ravenous
65
Exhort
To strongly urge on; to encourage
66
Compound
To make more intense, stronger, more marked
67
Veneer
Thin superficial layer that hides underlying substance
68
Begrudge
To give reluctantly; to envy someone
69
Unconscionable
Unreasonable; unscrupulous; excessive
70
Demure
modest; shy
71
Exasperate
To irritate intensely
72
Debase
To reduce the quality or value of something
73
Flush
To be in abundance
74
Moot
Open to argument; undecidable in a meaningless way
75
Demean
To insult
76
Extenuating
Making less guilty or more forgivable
77
Cardinal
Of primary importance
78
Stolid
Not easily excited; revealing little emotion
79
Incumbent
Necessary as duty or responsibility
80
Becoming
Appropriate
81
Fawn
Try to gain favor by extreme flattery
82
Flounder
Behave awkwardly; have difficulties
83
Smug
Marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
84
Spendthrift
One who spends money extravagantly
85
Irascible
Quickly aroused to anger
86
Unseemly
Not keeping up with acceptable societal standards
87
Vacuous
Devoid of intelligence, matter, or significance
88
Sanctimonious
Making a show of being pious; holier-than-thou
89
Antedate
To precede in time
90
Snide
Expressive of contempt; derogatory or mocking
91
Credulity
Tendency to believe easily; gullibility
92
Boon
Desirable state; something helpful; convivial
93
Screed
An abusive rant
94
Contrite
Remorseful
95
Replete
To be full of something
96
Guffaw
To laugh boisterously
97
Goad
To urge on with unpleasant comments
98
Ascendancy
When one person has power over another
99
Tact
Consideration in dealing with others
100
Remiss
To be negligent in one's duty
101
Thrifty
Spending money wisely
102
Err
To make an error
103
Evenhanded
Without partiality
104
Qualm
Uneasiness about the fitness of an action
105
Miscreant
One who breaks the law
106
Inarticulate
Deprived of the use of speech or words
107
Rankle
To gnaw into; to make resentful or angry
108
Macabre
Gruesome; suggesting horror of death and decay
109
Foible
A behavioral attribute that is distinctive to an individual
110
Presumption
An assumption taken for granted; audacious behavior
111
Beatific
Blissfully happy
112
Fledgling
Young and inexperienced
113
Genteel
Marked by refinement in taste
114
Irk
To irritate or vex
115
Embroiled
Involved in argument or contention
116
Besiege
To harass, with questions or requests, and cause distress
117
Cavalier
Marked by haughty disregard of others
118
Irresolute
Uncertain how to act or proceed; nonplussed
119
Profuse
Plentiful
120
Endemic
Native; indigenous
121
Checkered
Marked by disreputable or unfortunate happenings
122
Rakish
Marked by carefree unconventionality; raffish
123
Aboveboard
Open and honest
124
Credence
Belief in something
125
Inclement
Unpleasant weather; person showing no mercy
126
Moment
Significant and important value
127
Retiring
To be shy
128
Plodding
Slow and laborious
129
Quandary
State of uncertainty
130
Wanton
Without check or limitation; lack of moral restraint
131
Analogous
Comparable in certain respects, but not fully
132
Consummate
Revealing supreme mastery; make perfect
133
Grovel
To show submission or fear
134
Devolve
To pass on; to grow worse
135
Robust
Sturdy in form and constitution
136
Carping
Persistently petty and unjustified criticism
137
Placid
Not easily irritated
138
Lassitude
Extreme tiredness, either mental or physical
