GRE Set 8 Flashcards
(305 cards)
1
Q
itinerant
A
Traveling from place to place, esp. as part of a job
2
Q
itinerary
A
Travel schedule; detailed plan for a journey
3
Q
jargon
A
Vocabulary specific to a group or occupation; convoluted or unintelligible language
4
Q
jettison
A
Discard, cast off; throw items overboard in order to lighten a ship in an emergency
5
Q
jingoism
A
Excessive, loud patriotism and aggressive, warlike foreign policy
6
Q
jocular
A
Joking or given to joking all the time; jolly, playful
7
Q
judicious
A
Using good judgment; wise, sensible
8
Q
juncture
A
Critical point in time, such as a crisis or a time when a decision is necessary; a place where two things are joined together
9
Q
juxtapose
A
Place side by side (either physically or in a metaphorical way, such as to make a comparison)
10
Q
keen
A
Sharp, piercing; very perceptive or mentally sharp; intense (of a feeling)
11
Q
kindle
A
Ignite, cause to begin burning; incite, arouse, inflame
12
Q
kinetic
A
Pertaining to motion
13
Q
knell
A
The sound made by a bell for a funeral, or any sad sound or signal of a failure, death, ending, etc. (noun); to make such a sound (verb)
14
Q
kudos
A
Praise, honor, congratulations
15
Q
lachrymose
A
Tearful, mournful
16
Q
lackluster
A
Not shiny; dull, mediocre; lacking brilliance or vitality
17
Q
laconic
A
Using few words, concise
18
Q
lament
A
Mourn; express grief, sorrow, or regret (verb); an expression of grief, esp. as a song or poem (noun)
19
Q
lampoon
A
A harsh satire (noun); ridicule or satirize (verb)
20
Q
landmark
A
Object (such as a building) that stands out and can be used to navigate by; a very important place, event, etc.
21
Q
languid
A
Drooping from exhaustion, sluggish, slow; lacking in spirit
22
Q
larceny
A
Theft
23
Q
largess or largesse
A
Generosity, the giving of money or gifts (esp. with the implication that the giver is a bit superior to the recipient)
24
Q
lassitude
A
Tiredness, weariness; lazy indifference
25
latent
Potential; existing but not visible or active
26
laudable
Worthy of praise
27
lavish
Abundant or giving in abundance; marked by excess (adj); give very generously (verb)
28
lax
Not strict; careless, loose, slack
29
layperson
A person who is not a member of the clergy or not a member of a particular profession (such as medicine, law, etc.)
30
leery
Suspicious or wary
31
legerdemain
Slight-of-hand (magic as performed by a magician); trickery or deception
32
lethargic
Lazy, drowsy, or sluggish
33
levity
Lightness (of mind, spirit, or mood) or lack of seriousness, sometimes in an inappropriate way
34
levy
Collect tax from, wage war on, or enlist for military service; (verb); act of collecting tax or amount owed, or the drafting of troops into military service (noun)
35
liberal
Favorable to progress or reform; believing in maximum possible individual freedom; tolerant, open-minded; generous (adj); a person with such beliefs or practices (noun)
36
libertine
Morally or sexually unrestrained person; freethinker (regarding religion)
37
licentious
Sexually unrestrained; immoral; ignoring the rules
38
likewise
Also, in addition to; similarly, in the same way
39
limpid
Clear, transparent; completely calm
40
lionize
Treat like a celebrity
41
lissome
Flexible, supple, agile
42
listless
Spiritless, lacking interest or energy
43
livid
Furiously angry, enraged
44
log
Keep a record of, write down; travel for or at a certain distance or speed (verb); a written record (noun)
45
loquacious
Talkative, wordy
46
lucid
Clear, easy to understand; rational, sane
47
lugubrious
Mournful, gloomy (sometimes in an exaggerated way)
48
lull
Soothe or cause to fall asleep (as in a lullaby); quiet down; make to feel secure, sometimes falsely (verb); a period of calm or quiet (noun)
49
lumber
Walk in a heavy or clumsy way, sometimes due to being weighed down
50
luminous
Shining, radiant, well-lit; brilliant or enlightening
51
lurid
Gruesome or excessively vivid; sensational, shocking, unrestrained
52
machination or machinations
Crafty schemes or plots
53
maelstrom
Violent whirlpool; any chaotic, turbulent situation
54
magnanimous
High-minded, noble, lofty; generous in forgiving others, free of resentment
55
magnate
Very important or influential person, esp. in business
56
makeshift
A temporary, often improvised, substitute (noun); improvised for temporary use (adj)
57
malediction
A curse
58
malinger
Pretend to be sick, esp. to get out of work, duties, etc.
59
malleable
Able to be bent, shaped, or adapted
60
manifest
Obvious, apparent, perceptible to the eye (adj); to show, make clear, or prove (verb)
61
mannered
Having a particular manner, esp. an artificial one
62
mar
Damage, spoil, ruin
63
martinet
Person who adheres to rules extremely closely; strict disciplinarian
64
maudlin
Excessively sentimental, showing sadness or some other emotion in a foolish or silly way
65
maverick
Rebel, individualist, dissenter
66
maxim
A general truth or fundamental principle, esp. expressed as a proverb or saying
67
mendacious
Lying, habitually dishonest
68
mendicant
Beggar, or religious follower who lives by begging
69
mercurial
Quickly and unpredictably changing moods; fickle, flighty
70
meretricious
Attractive in a vulgar or flashy way, tawdry; deceptive
71
metamorphosis
A complete change or transformation (in biology, a change such as a caterpillar becoming a pupa and then a butterfly)
72
metaphysical
Concerned with abstract thought, related to metaphysics (branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the nature of being and of the world); very subtle or abstruse
73
meticulous
Taking extreme care in regards to details; precise, fussy
74
milieu
Environment, atmosphere; the environmental setting in which something happens or develops
75
militate
Have a great effect, weigh heavily (often as militate against)
76
mired
Stuck, entangled (in something, like a swamp or muddy area), soiled
77
mirth
Jollity, merriment; amusement or laughter
78
misanthrope
Hater of humankind or misanthropist
79
missive
Letter, written message
80
mitigate
Make less severe; lessen or moderate (damage, grief, pain, etc.)
81
modest
Humble; simple rather than showy; decent (esp. "covering up" in terms of dress); small, limited
82
modicum
A little bit or limited quantity
83
modish
Stylish, contemporary
84
mollify
Calm or soothe (an angry person); lessen or soften
85
molt
Shed or cast off, esp. to regularly shed skin, feathers, etc. (as a snake)
86
monastic
Relating to or resembling a monastery (where monks or nuns live), esp. by being quiet, secluded, contemplative, strict, and/or lacking luxuries
87
monotony
Sameness or repetitiousness to the point of being boring; lack of variation, uniformity, esp. repetition in sound
88
moreover
Besides; in addition to what was just stated
89
mores
Customs, manners, or morals of a particular group
90
morose
Gloomy, sullen
91
multifarious
Diverse, having a lot of variety
92
mundane
Common, ordinary, everyday
93
munificent
Generous, giving liberally
94
myopic
Near-sighted; lacking long-term thinking, short-sighted
95
nadir
Lowest point
96
naïve
Simple and unsophisticated, unsuspecting, lacking worldly experience and critical judgment
97
nascent
Coming into existence, still developing
98
negate
Deny or refute; make void or cause to be ineffective
99
neologism
New word or phrase (or a new meaning applied to an existing word or phrase)
100
neophyte
Beginner, novice; person newly converted to a religion
101
net
Remaining after expenses or other factors have been deducted; ultimate (adj); to bring in as profit, or to catch as in a net (verb)
102
nettle
Irritate, sting, or annoy
103
nevertheless
However, even so, despite that or nonetheless
104
noisome
Offensive, disgusting; harmful
105
nominal
Trivial, so small as to be unimportant; in name only, so-called
106
nontrivial
Important or big enough to matter
107
normative
Implying or attempting to establish a norm; expressing value judgments or telling people what to do (rather than merely describing that which is happening)
108
notoriety
Ill fame; the state of being well-known for a disgraceful reason
109
novel
New, fresh, original
110
nuance
A subtle difference in tone, meaning, expression, etc.
111
obdurate
Stubborn, hardhearted, hardened in wrongdoing
112
objective
Factual, related to reality or physical objects; not influenced by emotions, unbiased
113
oblique
Slanting or sloping; indirect, misleading, or evasive
114
obsequious
Servile, very compliant, fawning
115
obsolete
Out of date, no longer in use
116
obstinate
Stubborn or hard to control
117
obviate
Prevent, eliminate, or make unnecessary
118
occlude
Stop up, close, shut in or shut off
119
occult
The supernatural (noun); pertaining to magic, astrology, etc.; mysterious, secret or hidden (adj); to hide, to shut off from view (verb)
120
offhand
Casual, informal; done without preparation or forethought; rude in a short way, brusque
121
officious
Excessively eager in giving unwanted advice or intruding where one is not wanted; meddlesome, pushy
122
offset
Counteract, compensate for (verb); a counterbalance (noun)
123
onerous
Burdensome, oppressive, hard to endure
124
opaque
Not translucent; not allowing light, heat, etc. to pass through; dark, dull, unclear or stupid
125
opine
Express an opinion
126
opprobrium
Disgrace and disapproval that result from outrageously shameful actions
127
optimal
Best, most desirable or favorable
128
optimum
Most favorable condition or greatest degree or amount possible under given circumstances
129
orotund
Full, rich, and clear (of the voice or speaking); pompous, bombastic
130
orthodox
Adhering to a traditional, established faith, or to anything customary or commonly accepted
131
oscillate
Swing back and forth; waver, change one's mind
132
ossify
Become bone or become hard like bone; become inflexible in attitudes, opinions, etc.
133
ostensible
Professed, evident, or pretended; outwardly appearing in a certain way
134
ostentatious
Pretentious, boastful showiness
135
outstrip
Surpass, exceed; be larger or better than; leave behind
136
overshadow
Cast a shadow over, darken; dominate, make to seem less important
137
overwrought
Overly nervous, agitated, or excited; too ornate, elaborate, or fussy; overdone
138
palatial
Suitable for or resembling a palace, magnificent
139
palliate
Make less serious or severe; relieve symptoms of an illness
140
pallid
Abnormally pale (as skin); lacking color or vitality
141
panache
Flair, style, swagger; a flamboyant or grand way of acting
142
panegyric
Formal or lofty expression of praise
143
panoply
Splendid, wide-ranging, impressive display or array
144
paradigm
Model or pattern; worldview, set of shared assumptions, values, etc.
145
paradox
Contradiction, or seeming contradiction that is actually true
146
paragon
Model of excellence, perfect example
147
pare
Peel or cut off the outer layer (such as peeling fruit with a knife), reduce or trim as if cutting off the outer parts
148
pariah
Social outcast, untouchable
149
parley
Discussion, negotiation, esp. between enemies (noun); to have such a discussion (verb)
150
parry
Deflect or avoid (esp. a blow or attack); skillfully evade (a question)
151
partial
Biased, prejudiced, favoring one over others; having a special liking for something or someone (usually partial to)
152
partisan
Devoted to a particular group, cause, etc. (adj.); fervent supporter of a group, party, idea, etc.; guerilla fighter (noun)
153
pastiche
Mix of incongruous parts; artistic work imitating the work of other artists, often satirically
154
patent
Obvious, apparent, plain to see (adj); a letter from a government guaranteeing an inventor the rights to his or her invention (noun)
155
pathogenic
Capable of producing disease
156
pathological
Relating to or caused by disease; relating to compulsive bad behavior
157
patronizing
Condescending, having a superior manner, treating as an inferior
158
paucity
Scarcity, the state of being small in number
159
peccadillo
Small sin or fault
160
pedant
Person who pays excessive attention to book learning and rules, or who uses his or her learning to show off
161
peddle
Travel around while selling; sell illegally; give out or disseminate
162
pedestrian
Ordinary, dull, commonplace
163
pejorative
Disparaging, derogatory, belittling (adj); a name or word that is disparaging (noun)
164
pellucid
Transparent, translucent; clear, easy to understand
165
penchant
Liking or inclination (usually penchant for)
166
penitent
Regretful, feeling remorse for one's sins or misdeeds (adj); a person who feels this way (noun)
167
penumbra
Outer part of a shadow from an eclipse; any surrounding region, fringe, periphery; any area where something "sort of" exists
168
penury
Extreme poverty or scarcity
169
per se
Intrinsically; by itself; in itself
170
peregrinate
Travel from place to place, esp. on foot
171
perennial
Lasting through the years or indefinitely, enduring; recurring
172
perfidious
Disloyal, treacherous, violating one's trust
173
perfunctory
Done superficially, without much care, or merely as routine
174
peripatetic
Journeying from place to place; traveling on foot
175
peripheral
Relating to or making up an outer boundary or region; not of primary importance, fringe
176
permeate
Spread or penetrate throughout
177
pernicious
Very harmful or destructive, deadly
178
perspicacious
Having penetrating insight or good discernment
179
pervasive
Tending to spread throughout
180
phalanx
Formation of soldiers carrying shields close together for defense; any very close group of people
181
philanthropy
Efforts to improve the well-being of humankind, generally through giving money
182
philistine
Person deficient in or hostile to culture
183
phlegmatic
Apathetic, sluggish, not easily excited or made emotional
184
phony
Fake, counterfeit; insincere, not genuine
185
pious
Devout; religiously reverent and dutiful
186
pith
Core, essence; significance or weight
187
placate
Satisfy or calm down (an angry or dissatisfied person), esp. by conciliatory gestures
188
placid
Peaceful, calm, tranquil
189
plastic
Able to be shaped or formed; easily influenced
190
platitude
A shallow, overused statement; cliche
191
plausible
Believable; having the appearance of truth
192
plebian
Of the common people
193
plethora
Excess; excessive amount
194
plucky
Brave, spirited
195
plummet
Plunge, fall straight down
196
plutocracy
Rule by the wealthy
197
polarized
Divided into sharply opposed groups
198
polemic
Controversial argument, esp. one attacking a specific idea
199
politic
Shrewd, pragmatic; tactful or diplomatic
200
polyglot
Speaking or composed of many languages (of a person, book, etc.); a person who knows several languages
201
ponderous
Heavy; bulky and unwieldy; dull, labored
202
posit
Presume, suggest, put forward (an idea)
203
posthumous
Happening or continuing after death
204
potentate
Ruler, person of great power
205
pragmatic
Practical; dealing with actual facts and reality
206
prattle
Talk in an idle, simple-minded, meaningless, or foolish way; chatter, babble
207
pre-empt
Prevent; take the place of, supplant; take before someone else can
208
preamble
Introductory statement, preface
209
precarious
Unstable, insecure, dangerous
210
precipitate
Cause to happen suddenly or prematurely; fling, plunge, or hurl down
211
précis
Concise summary, abstract
212
precursor
Something that comes before, esp. something that also announces or suggests something on its way
213
predilection
Preference, tendency or favorability towards
214
predisposed
Having an inclination or tendency beforehand; susceptible
215
prescient
Having foreknowledge or foresight, seeing the future
216
presumptive
Based on inference or assumption; providing reasonable grounds for belief
217
presumptuous
Too bold or forward; going beyond that which is proper
218
pretentious
Claiming or demanding a position of importance or dignity, esp. when unjustified; showing off, creating a deceptive, false show of worth
219
preternatural
Supernatural, exceptional
220
prevaricate
Stray from the truth, mislead, lie
221
primacy
The state of being first or most important
222
principled
Having high moral standards
223
pristine
In an original, pure state; uncorrupted
224
probity
Honesty, integrity
225
proclivity
Inclination, natural tendency
226
prodigal
Wasteful, extravagant; giving abundantly, lavish
227
prodigious
Extraordinarily large, impressive, etc.
228
profligate
Completely and shamelessly immoral, or extremely wasteful
229
profound
Very insightful, penetrating deeply into a subject; pervasive, intense, "down to the very bottom"; at the very bottom
230
profuse
Abundant, extravagant, giving or given freely
231
prohibitive
Tending to forbid something, or serving to prevent something
232
proliferate
Increase or spread rapidly or excessively
233
prolix
Excessively long and wordy (of a person, piece of writing, etc.)
234
prologue
Introductory part to a book, play, etc.
235
pronounced
Distinct, strong, clearly indicated
236
propagate
Reproduce, spread, increase
237
propensity
Natural inclination or tendency
238
prophetic
Relating to prophesy, predicting, ominous
239
propitiate
Attempt to reconcile with, satisfy, or reduce the animosity of (a person who is angry, offended, etc.)
240
propitious
Favorable, giving good signs for the future, likely to work out; kind or forgiving
241
propriety
Conforming to good manners or appropriate behavior; justness
242
prosaic
Dull, ordinary
243
proscribe
Prohibit, outlaw; denounce; exile or banish
244
prospective
Potential, in the future
245
providential
Lucky, fortunate, or relating to divine care (the idea that a deity has helped or cared for a person)
246
proxy
Agent, substitute, person authorized to act on behalf of another
247
prudent
Wise in practical matters, carefully providing for the future
248
puerile
Juvenile, immature
249
pugilism
Boxing, fighting with the fists
250
pugnacious
Inclined to fight, combative
251
puissance
Power, might
252
pulchritude
Physical beauty
253
pungent
Having a sharp taste or smell; biting, stimulating, sharp
254
pusillanimous
Cowardly, timid
255
qualified
Modified, limited, conditional on something else
256
quandary
Uncertainty or confusion about what to do, dilemma
257
querulous
Given to complaining, grumbling
258
quibble
Make trivial arguments or criticisms, find faults in a petty way, esp. to evade something more important
259
quiescent
Quiet, still
260
quixotic
Extremely impractical but very romantic, chivalrous, or idealistic; impulsive
261
quotidian
Daily; everyday, ordinary
262
raconteur
Witty storyteller
263
ranks
Personnel; a group of people considered all together
264
rarefied
Lofty, very high up or elevated (in a metaphorical way); exclusive, select; thin, pure, or less dense (as air at the top of a mountain)
265
reactant
Something that reacts; a substance that undergoes a change in a chemical reaction
266
reap
Harvest, such as by cutting; gather; get as a result of one's effort
267
recalcitrant
Not obedient, resisting authority, hard to manage
268
recant
Withdraw, retract, or disavow something one has previously said, esp. formally
269
recapitulate
Summarize, repeat in a concise way
270
recluse
Person who lives in seclusion
271
recondite
Not easily understood, hidden, dealing with an obscure topic
272
recrudescent
Revival, breaking out into renewed activity
273
redound
To have a good or bad effect, esp. as a result of a person's efforts or actions (usually used with to, on, or upon)
274
redress
Setting something right after a misdeed, compensation or relief for injury or wrongdoing (noun); correct, set right, remedy (verb)
275
refractory
Stubbornly disobedient, hard to manage
276
refulgent
Shining, radiant
277
refute
Prove to be false
278
rejoinder
Response or reply, esp. a witty comeback
279
relegate
Send or commit to an inferior place, rank, condition, etc.; exile, banish; assign (a task) to someone else
280
remedial
Providing a remedy, curative; correcting a deficient skill
281
rend
Tear violently, esp. to tear one's clothing or hair out of grief; pull apart, split, or tear away
282
render
Give, submit, surrender; translate; declare formally; cause to become
283
repast
A meal (noun); to eat or feast (verb)
284
repertorial
Pertaining to a repertory or repertoire, a stock of available things or a number of theatrical performances presented regularly or in sequence
285
replete
Supplied in abundance, filled, gorged (used with with)
286
repose
The act or state of resting; peacefulness, tranquility; lying dead in a grave
287
reproach
Blame, disgrace (noun); criticize, express disappointment in (verb)
288
reprobate
Disreputable, unprincipled, or damned person (noun); shameless, depraved (adj)
289
repudiate
Reject, cast off, deny that something has authority
290
requite
Reciprocate, repay, or revenge
291
rescind
Annul, repeal, make void
292
resolution
The quality of being firmly determined; resolving to do something; a formal judgment, esp. decided by a vote
293
resolve
Find a solution to; firmly decide to do something; decide by formal vote (verb); firmness of purpose (noun)
294
respectively
In the order given
295
restive
Impatient or uneasy under the control of another; resisting being controlled
296
resurgent
Having a revival, renewing, rising or surging again
297
reticent
Not talking much; private (of a person), restrained, reserved
298
retrospective
Looking to the past or backward; applying to the past, retroactive (adj); an art exhibit of an artist's work over a long period of time (noun)
299
revamp
Renovate, redo, revise (verb); a restructuring, upgrade, etc. (noun)
300
reverent
Feeling or expressing very deep respect and awe
301
rhetoric
The art or study of persuasion through speaking or writing; language that is elaborate or pretentious but actually empty, meaning little
302
ribald
Using or relating to obscene or vulgar humor
303
ridden
Dominated or burdened by
304
rife
Happening frequently, abundant, currently being reported
305
rift
A gap or fissure (such as in rock), a break in friendly relations
