GRE Vocab Flashcards
(247 cards)
1
Q
anathema
A
a person or thing detested, loathed, consigned to damnation or destruction; a formal ecclesiastical curse involving excommunication
2
Q
inchoate
A
not yet completed or fully developed; just begun; incipient; not organized
3
Q
cadge
A
to obtain by imposing on another’s generosity or friendship, to borrow without intent to repay
4
Q
burgeon
A
to grow rapidly or flourish
5
Q
chary
A
wary; cautious; sparing
6
Q
cogent
A
appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
7
Q
demur (v)
A
to question or oppose
8
Q
ebullience
A
the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings
9
Q
eclectic
A
composed of elements drawn from various sources
10
Q
emollient
A
soothing, esp to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying
11
Q
esoteric
A
intended for or understood by a small, specific group
12
Q
impecunious
A
lacking funds; without money
13
Q
inveigle
A
to obtain by deception or flattery
14
Q
odious
A
evoking intense aversion or dislike
15
Q
penurious
A
penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous
16
Q
pernicious
A
extremely harmful; potentially causing death
17
Q
redoubtable
A
awe-inspiring; worthy of honor
18
Q
aver (v)
A
to state as fact; to declare or assert
19
Q
evanescent
A
tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing
20
Q
endemic
A
characteristic of or often found in a particular locality, region, or people
21
Q
halcyon
A
calm and peaceful
22
Q
hedonism
A
devotion to pleasuarble pursuits, esp to the pleasures of the senses
23
Q
iconoclast
A
one who attacks or undermines traditional conventions or institutions
24
Q
impunity
A
immunity from punishment or penalty
25
infelicitous
unfortunate; inappropriate
26
mendacity
the condition of being untruthful; dishonesty
27
obdurate
unyielding; hardhearted; intractable
28
penury
poverty; destitution
29
pith
the essential or central part
30
polemical
controversial; argumentive
31
prodigal (adj)
recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish
32
rancorous
characterised by bitter, long-lasting resentment
33
salubrious
promoting health or well-being
34
querulous
prone to complaining or grumbling; peevish
35
obsequious
exhibiting a fawning attentiveness, ingratiatng
36
acerbic
having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting
37
astringent
having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; sever; something with a tightening effect on tissue
38
dilettante
one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
39
hubris
overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance
40
inimical
damaging; harmful; injurious
41
phlegmatic
calm; sluggish; unemotional
42
laconic
using few words; terse
43
probity
adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness
44
proclivity
a natural predisposition or inclination
45
profligate
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
46
prosaic
dull; lacking in spirit or imagination
47
quotidian
occurring or recurring daily; common place
48
rarefy
to make ore become thin, less dense; to refine | rarefied: extremely high or elevated; lofty; exalted:
49
recondite
hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
50
refulgent
radiant; shiny; brilliant
51
sedulous
diligent; presistent; hard-working
52
soporific
sleep inducing
53
tout
to publicly praise or promote
54
trenchant
sharply preceptive; keen; penetrating
55
variegated
multicoloured; characterised by a variety of patches of different colour
56
vituperate
to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; to berate
57
germane
relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in subject matter
58
occlude
to obstruct or block
59
pedantic
overly concerned with the trivial details of learning or education; show-offish about one's knowledge
60
fervid
Intensely enthusiastic or passionate; Burning, hot, or glowing.
61
supercilious
Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.
62
abstruse
Difficult to understand; obscure.
63
abjure
Solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim).
64
ribald
Referring to sexual matters in an amusingly rude or irreverent way.
65
sardonic
Grimly mocking or cynical.
66
fatuous
Silly and pointless.
67
apocryphal
(of a story or statement) Of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true.
68
acridity
having an acrid smell (acrid: Having an irritatingly strong and unpleasant taste or smell./angry and bitter)
69
trenchancy
incisiveness: keenness and forcefulness of thought or expression or intellect.
70
euphony
The quality of being pleasing to the ear, esp. through a harmonious combination of words.
71
punctilious
Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior.
72
vociferous
(esp. of a person or speech) Vehement or clamorous.
73
waggish
Humorous in a playful, mischievous, or facetious manner: "a waggish riposte".
74
panegyric
A public speech or published text in praise of someone or something.
75
panegyrical
encomiastic: formally expressing praise.
76
apogee
The highest point in the development of something; the climax or culmination of something. / The point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is furthest from the earth.
77
catholic
diverse or widespread; Including a wide variety of things; all-embracing.
78
orotund
1: (of the voice or phrasing) Full, round, and imposing. 2: (of writing, style, or expression) Pompous; pretentious.
79
Daedalean
Ingeniously or cunningly designed; artistic, ingenious, intricate, skillful.
80
picayune
Petty; worthless.
81
parsimonious
Unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal.
82
appellation
A name or title.
83
sidereal
of our w/ respect to the stars
84
etiolated
(of a plant) pale and drawn out due to lack of light / having lost vigour or substance; feeble
85
stolidity
emotionless; apathy demonstrated by an absence of emotional reactions
86
intransigent
stubbornly refusing to compromise
87
ineluctable
unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable
88
plangent
(of a sound) loud, reverberating, often melancholy
89
invidious
likely to incure resentment/anger in others / (of a distinction, comparison) unfairly discriminating, unjust
90
antediluvuian
ridiculously old fashioned / of or belonging to the time before the biblical flood
91
nugatory
of no value or importance / useless, futile
92
pusillanimous
showing a lack of courage or determination; timid
93
temerity
boldness; rashness
94
jejune
naïve, simplistic, superficial / (of ideas/writing) dry and uninteresting
95
ludology
study of games; gaming, esp video games
96
senescence
condition or process of deterioration with age - ageing
97
demarcates
set boundaries or limits of / separate or distinguish from
98
alacrity
eager and enthusiastic willingless
99
approbation
approval or praise
100
axiomatic
taken as a given; possessing self evident truth
101
capricious
inclined to change one's mind impulsively; erratic, unpredictable
102
chicanery
trickery or subterfuge
103
disabuse
to undeceive; to set right
104
effrontery
extreme boldness; presumptuousness
105
equivocate
to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent (adj form: equivocal)
106
exculpate
exonerate; to clear of blame
107
exigent
urgent, pressing; requiring immediate action or attention
108
extemporaneous
improvised; done without preparation
109
filbuster
intentional obstruction, esp using prolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action
110
fulminate
to loudly attack or denounce
111
inculcate
teach/instill an attitude/idea/habit by persistent instruction
112
descant
talk tediously or at length
113
ameliorate
make something (bad or unsatisfactory) better
114
pugilist
boxer (esp a professional one)
115
welkin
the sky, heaven
116
gauche
lacking ease or grace; unsophisticated & socially awkward
117
subaltern
(adj) of lower status
118
opprobrious
disgraceful, shameful
119
afflatus
a divine creative impulse or inspiration
120
requite
repay; revenge
121
tautological
needlessly repetitive
122
temporize
avoid committing oneself; gain time
123
tendentious
having an aim; biased; designed to further a cause
124
tensile
capable of being stretched
125
testator
making of a will
126
concomitant
(adj) naturally accompanying or associated / (n) a phenomenon that naturally accomapnies or follows something
127
polemic
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something / the art or practice of engaging in controversial debate or dispute
128
augury
a sign of what will happen in the future; an omen / the work of an augur; the interpretation of omens
129
promulgate
promote or make widely known (an idea or cause) / put (a law or decree) into effect by official proclamation
130
nascent
coming into being; in early developmental stages
131
obviate
to anticipate and make unnecessary
132
paean
a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving
133
perfidy
inentional breach of faith; treachery (adj form: perfidious)
134
perspicacious
acutely perceptive; having keen discernment
135
precipitate (adj)
acting with excessive haste or impulse
136
precipitate (v)
to cause or happen before anticipated or required
137
prevaricate
to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead
138
solicitous
concerned and attentive, eager
139
truculent
fierce and cruel; eager to fight
140
ascetic
one who practices rigid self-denial, esp as an act of religious devotion
141
bucolic
rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants
142
castigation
severe criticism or punishment
143
meliorate
better, to make better
144
adumbrate
to foreshadow vaguely or intimate; to suggest or outline sketchily; to obscure or overshadow
145
chauvinist
a blindly devoted patriot
146
alloy
to commingle; to debase by mixing with something inferior
147
pied
multicolored, usually in blotches
148
plastic
moldable, pliable, not rigid
149
anodyne
soothing; something that assuages or allays pain or comforts
150
apostate
one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions
151
apotheosis
deification; glorification to godliness; an exalted example; a model of excellence or perfection
152
asperity
severity, rigor, roughness, harshness; acrimony, irritability
153
asseverate
to aver, allege, or assert
154
assiduous
diligent, hardworking, sedulous
155
blandishment
words uesd to coax or flatter
156
meretricious
falsely attractive; tawdry
157
repine
fret; be discontented
158
diaphanous
transparent; thin and delicate
159
puissance
Great power, influence, or prowess.
160
stygian
very dark; of or related to the styx river
161
voluble
Speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently.
162
caret
A mark (‸, ⁁) placed below the line to indicate a proposed insertion in a printed or written text.
163
ellipsis
omission of essential words
164
extirpation
wiping out; complete destruction
165
foppish
behaving or dressing like a dandy; excessively concerned with fashion
166
hortatory
encouraging; exhorting
167
recumbent
reclining; lying down
168
encomium
A speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly.
169
minatory
Expressing or conveying a threat: "minatory finger-wagging".
170
acrimony
Bitterness or ill feeling.
171
exhort
Strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.
172
limn
Depict or describe in painting or words. ; Suffuse or highlight (something) with a bright color or light.
173
tawdry
showy but cheap and of poor quality
174
misanthrope
A person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society.
175
encomiastic
formally expressing praise
176
maladroit
ineffective or bungling; clumsy
177
physiognomy
A person's facial features or expression, esp. when regarded as indicative of character or ethnic origin. ; The supposed art of judging character from facial characteristics.
178
abeyance
temporary suppression or suspension
179
abstemious
moderate in appetite
180
allay
to lessen; ease; smooth
181
anomie
a social condition marked by a breakdown of social norms
182
apothegm
a terse, witty saying
183
apposite
strikingly appropriate and relevant
184
argot
a specialised vocabulary used by a group
185
bedizen
to dress in a vulgar, showy, manner
186
continence
self-control, abstention from sexual activity
187
contumacious
disobedient; rebellious
188
cozen
to mislead by trick or fraud; deceive
189
demotic
pertaining to people
190
distrait
inattentive; preoccupied
191
doggerel
poor verse
192
dross
waste; worthless matter; trivial matter
193
effete
depleted of vitality; overrefined; decadent
194
elysian
blissful; delightful
195
foment
to incite; arouse
196
evince
to show plainly; be an indication of
197
vitiate
Spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of: "programs vitiated by red tape".
Destroy or impair the legal validity of.
198
mendicant
given to begging; a beggar
199
pellucid
translucently clear; lucid in style or meaning, easily understood
200
strident
loud, harsh, grating; Presenting a point of view, esp. a controversial one, in an excessively and unpleasantly forceful way.
201
abrogate
repeal or do away with (a law, etc)
202
acephalous
no longer having a head
203
adjure
urge or request solemnly and earnestly
204
adipose
used for storage of fat
205
monocoque
A metal structure, such as an aircraft, in which the skin absorbs all or most of the stresses to which the body is subjected
206
pavonine
of or like a peacock
207
parietal
Of, relating to, attached to, or denoting the wall of the body or of a body cavity or hollow structure.
208
saturnine
slow and gloomy; dark
209
doughty
steadfastly courageous and resolute; valiant
210
sophism
A fallacious argument, esp. one used deliberately to deceive.
211
explicate
Analyze and develop (an idea or principle) in detail.
Analyze (a literary work) in order to reveal its meaning.
212
prolixity
boring verbosity
213
incertitude
a state of uncertainty or hesitation, lack of stability
214
ersatz
an inferior substitute for an item, something artificial
215
insouciance
casual lack of concern, indifference
216
espouse
adopt or support a way of life/cause/belief, also, to marry
217
acquiesence
the act or condition of giving tacit assent; agreeing by way of silence
218
asinine
extremely stupid or foolish
219
indecorous
not keeping with good taste and propriety; improper
220
cerebral
intellectual rather than emotional or physical
221
dandle
to pamper or pet
222
parochial
having a narrow outlook or scope; of or relating to a church parish
223
expurgate
Remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable from (a book or account).
224
inculpate
accuse or blame; incriminate
225
munificent
(of a gift) larger or more generous than necessary ; (of a person) very generous
226
descry
catch sight of
227
contravene
Violate the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct).
Conflict with (a right, principle, etc.), esp. to its detriment.
228
effluvium
A gaseous or vaporous emission, especially a foul-smelling one.
A condition causing the shedding of hair.
229
cavalcade
A formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or riding in vehicles.
230
peregrination
travelling or wandering around
231
lugubrious
looking or sounding sad or dismal
232
cagey
wary, cautious; Reluctant to give information owing to caution or suspicion.
233
spate
A large number of similar things or events appearing or occurring in quick succession; a sudden flood in a river
234
obduracy
adamance: resoluteness by virtue of being unyielding and inflexible
235
pulchritude
beauty
236
metonym
a word, name, expression used as a substitute for something else with which it is closely associated
237
syllogism
a form of deductive reasoning: one conlcusion is drawn from two or more premises
238
emetic
causing vomiting
239
condign
(of punishment or retribution) Appropriate to the crime or wrongdoing; fitting and deserved;
240
peripatetic
adj. wandering, noun. a wanderer
241
efficacy
ability to produce a desired effect
242
fugacious
ephemeral, fleeting, evanescent
243
regnant
reigning, ruling; currently having the greatest influence, dominating
244
otiose
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
245
propitate
placate; appease
246
attenuate
to reduce the force of; to weaken
247
profundity
deep insight; great depth of knowledge or thought
