GRE Popular Words

Question 1

Anomaly

Answer 1

n. something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.

Question 2

Equivocal

Answer 2

adj. open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous.

Question 3

Lucid

Answer 3

adj. expressed clearly; easy to understand

adj. (literature) bright or luminous.

Question 4

Precipitate

Answer 4

v. cause (an event or situation, typically one that is bad or undesirable) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely.
adj. done, made, or acting suddenly or without careful consideration.

Question 5

Assuage

Answer 5

v. make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense.

Question 6

Erudite

Answer 6

adj. having or showing great knowledge or learning.

Question 7

Opaque

Answer 7

adj. not able to be seen through; not transparent.

Question 8

Prodigal

Answer 8

adj. spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.
adj. having or giving something on a lavish scale.
n. a person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way

Question 9

Enigma

Answer 9

n. a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.

Question 10

Fervid

Answer 10

adj. intensely enthusiastic or passionate, esp. to an excessive degree

Question 11

Placate

Answer 11

v. make (someone) less angry or hostile.

Question 12

Zeal

Answer 12

n. great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.

Question 13

Abstain

Answer 13

v. restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something.

v. formally decline to vote either for or against a proposal or motion.

Question 14

Audacious

Answer 14

adj. showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.

adj. showing an impudent lack of respect.

Question 15

Desiccate

Answer 15

v. remove the moisture from (something, esp. food), typically in order to preserve it.
v. lacking interest, passion, or energy

Question 16

Gullible

Answer 16

adj. easily persuaded to believe something; credulous.

Question 17

Laudable

Answer 17

adj. (of an action, idea, or goal) deserving praise and commendation.

Question 18

Pendant

Answer 18

n. a piece of jewelry that hangs from a chain worn around the neck
n. an artistic, literary, or musical composition intended to match or complement another.
adj. hanging downward; pendent.

Question 19

Vacillate

Answer 19

v. alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive

Question 20

Adulterate

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Capricious

Answer 21

adj. given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

Question 22

Engender

Answer 22

v. cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition

Question 23

Homogenous

Answer 23

adj. of the same kind; alike.

Question 24

Loquacious

Answer 24

adj. tending to talk a great deal; talkative.

Question 25

Pragmatic

Answer 25

adj. dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.

Question 26

Volatile

Answer 26

adj. (of a substance) easily evaporated at normal temperatures. adj. liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, esp. for the worse. n. a volatile substance

Question 27

Apathy

Answer 27

n. lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

Question 28

Corroborate

Answer 28

v. confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding).

Question 29

Ephemeral

Answer 29

adj. lasting for a very short time.

Question 30

Laconic

Answer 30

adj. (of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words.

Question 31

Mitigate

Answer 31

v. make less severe, serious, or painful.

Question 32

Propriety

Answer 32

n. the state or quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals.