GRE New Flashcards
(347 cards)
Obsequious
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.
Sycophant
a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
Flout
openly disregard, reject
Didactic
intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive/in a patronizing way
Aggrandize
enhance one’s power or standing
Alacrity
eagerness to do something, zeal
“So the federal government responded with astonishing alacrity, great efficiency.”
Ambivalent
unsure what to do, hesitation
Amenable
receptive to change, responsive to
Audacious
loud, bold, unafraid of risks, rude
Avaricious
greedy, always wanting more
“The princess had just about everything her little avaricious heart desired.”
Construe
understand something subjectively
Contrite
feeling regretful or guilty
“It was a dramatic change in tone, a contrite president uncharacteristically admitting a major failure.”
Diatribe
an angry rant; verbal abuse
Incredulous
doubtful and disbelieving, suspicious
Ingenuous
Naive and lacking experience
Disinterested
Indifference, apathy
Abjure
strongly reject; forgo
Antipathy
Profound hostility or hatred
Artless
Inexperienced, naive, plain and simple
Ascetic
Very strict and lacking luxury, hermit
Betray
unknowingly disclose or reveal
Canonize
Treat like a god; deeply venerate
Censure
Strongly criticize, disapprove
Contend
argue a certain point of view; assert; compete