GRE vocab Flashcards
(254 cards)
1
Q
ABATE (v)
A
to lessen in intensity or degree
Attempts by the administration to ABATE the intensity of the controversy were mostly unsuccessful. It continued to consume everyone’s attention.
2
Q
ABATEMENT (n)
A
a lessening in amount or degree
The city’s new noise ABATEMENT plan targeted live music venues, but many people felt the focus should be on decreasing the number of low flying airplanes passing over the city.
3
Q
ABERRANT (adj)
A
deviating from the norm
Jim’s ABERRANT behavior at the dance raised some eyebrows; he was certainly the only one who spent the night walking and dancing on his hands.
4
Q
ABERRATION (n)
A
abnormality or irregularity
The D Jenny received on the chemistry test was just an ABERRATION, since she has received only A’s the rest of the semester.
5
Q
ABJURE (v)
A
to renounce or reject solemnly, to recant, to avoid
Steve had to ABJURE all indulgence when he entered the training camp.
6
Q
ABROGATE (v)
A
to abolish or annul by authority; put down
The court ruling ABROGATED the defendant’s rights to any profit from the sale of the house.
7
Q
ABSCISSION (n)
A
act of cutting off or removing
the actual cut itself
Dr. Carter recommended an immediate ABSCISSION of the abscess in order to minimize any further infection.
8
Q
ABSCISE (v)
A
to cut off or remove
When she called for the resignation of key legislators, the congresswoman claimed that it was the only way to ABSCISE the corruption before it spread.
9
Q
ABSCOND (v)
A
to depart clandestinely, to steal off and hide
Doug was left penniless when the wo con men ABSCONDED with his life savings.
Raccoons are notorious for ABSCONDING and hiding shiny objects; no one knows why they need all those spoons and watches, though.
10
Q
ABSTAIN (v)
A
to refrain from an activity
Sheryl chose to ABSTAIN from eating chocolate, her favorite treat, for the season of Lent.
11
Q
ABSTINENCE (n)
A
the act of ABSTAINING
The old health textbook recommended ABSTINENCE from sexual activity as the primary means of birth control.
12
Q
ABSTEMIOUS (adj)
A
a related word meaning marked by moderation, particularly where food and drink are concerned
Though some regard the diet as a fad, in fact it recommends some very traditional habits, such as consuming sugar and alcohol ABSTEMIOUSLY.
13
Q
ABSTRUSE (adj)
A
hard to understand
Her research paper contained a number of ABSTRUSE arguments that only those well-versed in her field would understand.
14
Q
ACCOLADE (n)
A
an expression of praise, an award
The diva received her ACCOLADES graciously, blowing kisses to her adoring fans.
15
Q
ACCRETION (n)
A
growth, increase by successive addition, build up
The ACCRETION of dirt has changed the color of the kitchen floor from white to brown, which is pretty disgusting.
16
Q
ACERBIC (adj)
A
having a sour or bitter taste/character
Dorothy Parker was famous for her wit, which could be quite ACERBIC; Parker could be devastating when she wanted to be.
I like my lemonade with very little sugar in it; the ACERBIC tang is refreshing when the weather’s warm.
17
Q
ACUMEN (n)
A
quick, keen, or accurate knowledge or insight
often describe as being sharp
The media often comments on the CEO’s business ACUMEN, remarking on his company’s financial successes, but I think his fashion is much more interesting.
18
Q
ADMONISH (v)
A
to reprove, to express warning or disapproval
How many times has your roommate ADMONISHED you to put the toilet seat down?
19
Q
ADMONITION (n)
A
a warning or a scolding
He tried to ADMONISH us not to open the secret passageway, but his ADMONITION fell on deaf ears. Man, were we sorry we hadn’t listened to him when all the monsters came rushing out!
20
Q
ADMONITORY (adj)
A
expressing warning or disapproval
Dad’s admonitory tone made us feel guilty about ruining our appetites with pre-dinner cookies.
21
Q
ADROIT (adj)
A
adept, dexterous
Karl had always been an ADROIT manipulator; even when he was a kid he could get people to do what he wanted.
22
Q
MALADROIT (adj)
A
clumsy or bungling
Adam Sandler was able to make a career out of playing MALADROIT characters.
23
Q
ADULATION (n)
A
excessive praise; intense adorayion
Taylor Swift is the object of much adolescent ADULATION.
24
Q
ADULATOR (n)
A
someone who shows excessive admiration or devotion
He never expresses his thoughts towards his colleagues because he doesn’t want to be an ADULATOR.
25
ADULTERATE (v)
to reduce purity by combining with inferior ingredients
There was a huge scandal when customers discovered that the health food store had been ADULTERATING the wheat grass juice with clippings from the front lawn.
26
UNADULTERATED (adj)
pure
I could tell that what her used car salesman was saying was one hundred percent pure, UNADULTERATED hogwash.
27
ADULTERATION (n)
the process or effect of ADULTERING
The company lost public trust because of their process of ADULTERATION was exposed.
28
ADUMBRATE (v)
to foreshadow vaguely, intimate, suggest, or outline sketchily
The possibilities to further cooperation between the two parties were ADUMBRATED at the first, private meeting, but nothing was finalized until much later.
29
ADVOCATE (v)
to argue for or support a cause
Though the senator did not openly ADVOCATE for the bill, he voted for it because he thought it would save him some face among his critics.
30
AESTHETIC (adj)
dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful
Her finely tuned AESTHETIC sensibilities made it very painful for her to be around so much baby blue polyester
31
AGGRANDIZE (v)
to increase in intensity, power, or prestige, to make appear greater
The multi-million dollar advertising campaign was part of a plan to AGGRANDIZE the company's stock before it went public.
32
ALACRITY (n)
eager and enthusiastic willingness
Amy responded to the invitation to join the planning committee with ALACRITY, and even volunteered to take on additional responsibilities
33
ALCHEMY (n)
a magical or wonderful transformation
ALCHEMY was orginally a medieval science aimed at changing metals - but now ALCHEMY would not be considered science.
The remarkable ALCHEMY among the cast members made watching the familiar and sometimes boring play into a completely new experience
34
ALCHEMIST (n)
a person who practices or studies ALCHEMY.
35
FRAGMENTATION (n)
the action or process of breaking something into small parts
36
IMPENDING (adj)
occurring or likely to occur soon; upcoming
37
IMMINENT (adj)
ready to take place, happening soon
38
AVARICE (adj)
excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain - greediness, cupidity
39
CASTIGATION (n)
severe punishment, reproof (criticism for a fault), or criticism
40
HACKYENED (adj)
lacking in freshness or originality
41
ORACULAR (adj)
an oracle-like vibe: mysterious, enigmatic, prophetic and probably a little weird
42
VERNACULAR (adj)
using a language or dialect native to a region or country rather than a literary, cultured, or foreign language
43
SECULAR (adj)
describe things, activities, or attitudes that have nothing to do with religion
44
DISPARAGE (v)
to belittle the importance or value of someone/something
to speak slightingly about someone/something
to lower someone/something in rank or reputation
45
EMBRACE (v)
to squeeze someone tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
46
RECLAIM (v)
to get it back
to reform/recall from wrong or improper conduct
47
RENOWNED (adj)
celebrated, gushed over, and even legendary, something that's renowned is really famous
48
INFAMOUS (adj)
someone who is infamous has a very bad reputation
49
APTITUDE (n)
an APTITUDE is something you're good at - a rock star might have an aptitude for energizing an audience
50
RATIONALIZATION (n)
organizing something into a logically coherent system
51
TEMPERAMENTS (n)
characteristic or habitual inclination or mode of emotional response
52
INITIATIVE (n)
readiness to embark on bold new adventures
53
LASSITUDE (n)
a condition of weariness or debility, fatigue, a condition characterized by lack of interest, energy, or spirit, languor
54
ELOQUENCE (n)
the quality of forceful or persuasive expressiveness - being skilled in the use of language
55
MITIGATE (v)
to make a problem better
56
INVIGORATE (v)
give life to something
57
STRIVE (v)
aim for something like ambition, intuitive
58
PARANORMAL (adj)
beyond the scope of scientific understanding - usually used to describe supernatural things like aliens and ghosts
59
DISTORTION (n)
changing, the act of twisting or altering something out of its true, natural, or original state
60
INTUITION (n)
a feeling that something is true
61
CORROBORATION (n)
to support with evidence or authority, proof
62
CONTIGENT (adj)
dependent on or conditioned by something else, likely but not certain to happen, can occur only when something else happens first - making money is contingent on finding a good-paying job
63
COGENT (adj)
appealing forcibly to the mind or reason, argument is clear and persuasive
64
INSISTENT (adj)
unwilling to let go or back down, compelling attention, find it hard to walk away without buying something
65
PROSCRIBE (v)
proscribe something is to forbid or prohibit it, as a school principal might proscribe the use of cell phones in class
66
TOUT (v)
to praise, boast, or brag about - if you like to tout your skill as a skier, you tell people you can go down expert-level hills
67
REFUTE (v)
to prove that something is wrong, when the kids you're babysitting swear they brushed their teeth, you can refute their claim by presenting the dry toothbrushes
68
ADMONISH (v)
to scold - if you want to show someone you're not happy with his behavior, admonish him
69
UNDERMINE (v)
to dig a hole underneath something, making it likely to collapse, describe sabotage or the act of weakening someone else's efforts
70
CONFORMITY (n)
to describe something that matches the form of something else — for example, a one-story house built in conformity to the low-slung buildings that surround it
71
ANOMALIES (n)
abnormalities
72
CONGRUITY (n)
a quality of agreement and appropriateness - when there's congruity, things fit together in a way that makes sense - if a team has congruity, the players work together well, even if they don’t win
73
PEJORATIVE (adj)
a disapproving expression or a term of abuse (chê bai) - synonym: disparage
74
DAUNTING (adj)
describes something that you are not looking forward to doing
75
BANAL (adj)
boring and unoriginal (tầm thường)
76
OBFUSCATE (v)
evasive, unclear, or obscure in the telling of the facts (làm xáo trộn)
77
DISENCHANT (v)
free from illusion (hết mơ mộng)
78
SANCTION (v)
can be to approve of something, but it can also mean to punish, or speak harshly to
79
EVOKE (v)
bring a feeling, memory, or picture into the mind (làm gợi lên)
80
ABROGATE (v)
to abolish or avoid
81
CANONIZE (v)
when you canonize a person, you put him on a pedestal — in other words, you think he's so wonderful that he can do no wrong
82
SYCOPHANT (n)
a person who tries to win favor from wealthy or influential people by flattering them (người nịnh nọt)
83
PEDANT (n)
an annoying person who is focused on minor details and book knowledge rather than ordinary common sense
84
BENEFACTOR (n)
to provide the financial means to keep everything running smoothly
85
ADVERSARY (n)
an enemy or someone who opposes someone else
86
MAVERICK (n)
a rebel, someone who shows a lot of independence (người lập dị)
87
DESPONDENCY (n)
a sad emotional state — much like depression
88
FRUITION (n)
pleasurable use or possession, enjoyment
89
DECISIVENESS (n)
the quality of being final or definitely settled
90
EQUIVOCATION (n)
using ambiguous language to hide the truth (nói lắp bắp)
91
CONFOUND (v)
to throw a person into confusion or perplexity, refute
92
COMPLACENT (v)
marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies (tự mãn)
93
EUPHORIC (adj)
to be carried away with amazingly good feelings - synonym: elation
94
ELATION (n)
a feeling of joy and pride
95
DEARTH (n)
lack, insufficient amount (sự khan hiếm)
96
GLUT (n)
too much of something
97
BELIE (v)
to contradict
98
UNDERSCORE (v)
to draw special attention to a fact, idea, or situation
99
ASSIDUOUS (adj)
careful, methodical and very persistent
100
PECUNIARY (adj)
it's worth money (tiền bạc)
101
SINECURE (n)
an office or position that requires little or no work and that usually provides an income
102
MENDICANT (n)
people who live off begging, extreme poverty
103
PANACEA (n)
a remedy for all ills or difficulties
104
WAFFLE ABOUT (v)
pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness, speak or write, especially at great length, without saying anything important or useful
105
RAIL AGAINST (v)
to criticize someone or something severely or angrily, especially for personal failings
106
CATER TO (v)
provide with food and drink in a professional capacity
107
GRIEVE OVER (v)
to feel or express great sadness, especially over the loss of a loved one
108
MINCE ABOUT (v)
to walk or move in a very dainty, overly delicate, or affected manner
109
FACETIOUS (adj)
cleverly amusing in tone, don’t take a facetious comment seriously because it’s supposed to be funny
110
PROLIX (adj)
something has too many words and goes on too long, tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at great length
111
CANTANKEROUS (adj)
stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate, bad-tempered, argumentative
112
TIMOROUS (adj)
timid or shy
113
PRECARIOUS (adj)
unstable, dangerous or difficult and likely to get worse
114
STAUNCH (adj)
firm and dependable especially in loyalty
115
VENERATE (v)
to worship, adore, be in awe o
116
DISMAY (n)
an emotional state of alarm, fear, or serious disappointment
117
SQUABBLE (n)
a fight but not necessarily a serious one, a little argument, probably about something not too important
118
LAUDATION (n)
the act of praising
119
AFFECTATION (n)
speech or conduct not natural to oneself : an unnatural form of behavior meant especially to impress others, affectation is all about faking it, never the real thing
120
ACQUITTAL (adj)
a legal word that defendants love to hear because it means "not guilty"
121
DISTRAUGHT (adj)
deeply upset and agitated
122
AGITATED (adj)
visibly upset
123
EXONERATE (v)
to declare him not guilty of criminal charges
124
DEBILITATE (v)
make something/someone weak
125
VINDICATE (v)
show to be right by providing justification or proof, clear of accusation/blame/suspicion, or doubt with supporting proof
126
ENERVATE (v)
to weaken, wear down, or even bum out
127
AGILE (adj)
moving quickly and lightly, mentally quick
128
TENUOUS (adj)
having little substance or strength, synonym: precarious
129
PRISTINE (adj)
immaculately clean or has never been used
130
SUFFICE (v)
to be enough, in either quality or quantity
131
RESILIENT (adj)
recovering readily from adversity, depression, elastic; rebounding readily
132
OBTUSE (adj)
slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity, an angle between 90 and 180 degrees
133
PREVARICATE (v)
be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information (nói vòng vo, nói quanh co)
134
MOILING (adj)
to work hard, to be in continuous agitation (sự cực nhọc)
135
BELLIGERENT (adj)
characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight (hiếu chiến)
136
CORPOREAL (adj)
describes something that has a physical form (hữu hình)
137
RHETORICAL (adj)
the art of written or spoken communication
138
HISTRIONIC (adj)
overly dramatic or emotional
139
EPITHETS (n)
a disparaging or abusive word or phrase
140
BLOWS (n)
a strong current of air
141
PROJECTILES (n)
a type of weapon that is propelled towards its target
142
SPRAWLING (adj)
spreading out in different directions
143
DESOLATE (adj)
feel alone, left out, and devastated
144
BUCOLIC (adj)
an ideal country life that many yearn for
145
PICARESQUE (adj)
to describe your favorite kind of story, if it involves characters having exciting, dangerous adventures (phiêu lưu mạo hiểm)
146
HETERODOXY (n)
the quality of being unorthodox (tính không chính thống)
147
HEGEMONY (n)
the dominance or leadership of one social group or nation over others (quyền bá chủ)
148
IMPOTENCE (n)
the state of being weak or unable to accomplish something (bất lực)
149
GLIB (adj)
artfully persuasive in speech, lack of intellectual depth
150
SOLICITOUS (adj)
full of anxiety and concern (lo âu)
151
EDIFYING (v)
enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement
152
MOLLIFYING (v)
to calm someone down, talk them off the ledge, make amends, maybe even apologize
153
PARLOUS (adj)
dangerous, unsafe
154
INURED (v)
made tough by habitual exposure, accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant
155
COMPLIANT (adj)
you are willing to submit to someone's request (tuân thủ)
156
EXTEMPORIZE (v)
to improvise, especially without preparation, perform without preparation (ứng biến)
157
EXPATIATE (v)
add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing
158
EXAGITATE (v)
to stir up, discuss, debate, harass, or censure, to criticize very strongly
159
APOCRYPHAL (adj)
being of questionable authenticity (nguỵ thư)
160
PETTY (adj)
small and of little importance, lower in rank
161
ECCENTRIC (adj)
a person with an unusual or odd personality (lập dị)
162
LAUDABLE (adj)
to describe something that deserves praise or admiration
163
DECORUM (n)
proper and polite behavior (trang nhã)
164
ENNUI (n)
a feeling that combines tiredness and boredom
165
ESTEEM (n)
all about respect and admiration
166
OPPROBRIUM (n)
a state of extreme dishonor (sự xỉ nhục)
167
APPROBATION (n)
a formal word for approval or praise
168
HYPERBOLE (n)
extravagant exaggeration (làm quá điều gì đó lên)
169
INERRANCY (n)
completely accurate and cannot be wrong
170
FALLACY (n)
a misleading argument or belief based on a falsehood (sự nguỵ biện)
171
CENTURION (n)
the leader of 100 soldiers in ancient Rome
172
ERUDITION (n)
profound scholarly knowledge
173
EFFICACIOUS (adj)
marked by qualities giving the power to produce an intended effect
174
BELLICOSE (adj)
having or showing a ready disposition to fight
175
CHASTENED (adj)
to correct him or her, often with the use of some pretty steep punishment
176
CENSURE (n)
harsh criticism or disapproval (khiển trách)
177
DIATRIBE (n)
thunderous verbal attack (sự chỉ trích)
178
ENCOMIUM (n)
a formal speech or piece of writing that warmly praises someone or something
179
EULOGIES (n)
a formal speech that praises a person who has died
180
MAGNANIMOUS (adj)
noble and generous in spirit
181
IMPERIOUS (adj)
gives orders in a way that shows they feel superior or more important than other people
182
VINDICTIVE (adj)
disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge (đầy thù hận)
183
CALUMNIATE (v)
to make a false accusation against someone or spread lies about how awful they are (vu oan, vu khống)
184
PILLORY (v)
criticize harshly or violently, punish by putting in a pillory (bị đóng cọc)
185
DERIDE (v)
to speak to someone with contempt or show a low opinion of someone or something (chế nhạo)
186
RENEGE (v)
to go back on your word or fail to keep a promise
187
PITH (n)
the central idea or essence of something
188
DROSS (n)
worthless or dangerous material that should be removed (cặn bã, những vật nguy hiểm cần được loại bỏ)
189
SURFEIT (n)
indulge one's appetite to satiety
190
RECONNOITER (v)
explore, often with the goal of finding something or somebody (nhận ra)
191
HOODWINK (v)
to trick or mislead them (lừa đảo)
192
LAMBAST (v)
censure severely or angrily
193
VITIATE (v)
to make faulty or defective
194
FACILITATE (v)
to make something easier, increase the likelihood of (a response), be of use (help)
195
GREGARIOUSNESS (n)
the quality of being gregarious - having a dislike of being alone
196
TACITURN (adj)
not loud and talkative, habitually reserved and uncommunicative
197
CHATTER (v)
talk socially without exchanging too much information, to talk lightly or casually — to shoot the breeze or chitchat
198
BANTER (v)
light teasing repartee, good friends usually banter back and forth easily - special language of friendship
199
PARENNIAL (adj)
things that are permanent, constant, or repeated
200
ECLECTIC (adj)
combining or composed of elements drawn from a variety of sources, an eclectic group of friends (friends from diverse groups), enjoy eclectic cuisine (fusion cooking that uses ingredients from different national cuisines)
201
QUIESCENT (adj)
being quiet and still
202
CANDOR (n)
the quality of being open, honest, and sincere
203
TACT (v)
talk carefully without hurting anyone’s feelings, consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense
204
DEFERENCE (n)
make a gesture of respect (sự tôn trọng)
205
DENIGRATE (v)
to say bad things about a person/thing, attack the good name and reputation of someone
206
DIDACTIC (adj)
instructive (especially excessively) in a negative way
207
AFFABLE (adj)
friendly, pleasant, and easy to talk to (niềm nở)
208
JOCULAR (adj)
characterized by jokes and good humor
209
MOROSE (adj)
a cloud of sadness hanging over, being extremely gloomy and depressed
210
DISDAINFUL (adj)
full of or expressing contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior (khinh thường)
211
INEVITABLE (adj)
incapable of being avoided or prevented (không thể tránh khỏi)
212
DECRY (v)
express strong disapproval of
213
PRECLUDE (v)
to prevent it from happening
214
ENIGMATIC (adj)
not clear to the understanding, tough to figure out
215
PRAGMATIC (adj)
describe a person or a solution that takes a realistic approach (thực dụng)
216
DOGMATIC (adj)
to follow a set of rules no matter what, to follow a doctrine relating to morals and faith, a set of beliefs that is passed down and never questioned (giáo điều)
217
COGNIZANT (adj)
if you are cognizant of what's going on at the table behind you in the lunchroom, that means you know they're plotting to throw peas at your head. If you are cognizant of something, you are aware of or informed about it.
218
DISSEMBLE (v)
to try to deceive someone, behave unnaturally or affectedly
219
VACILLATE (v)
be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
220
EQUIVOCATE (v)
you are unwilling to make a decision and almost intentionally go back and forth between two choices
221
CONCUR (v)
to agree or approve of something
222
UNSOLICITED (adj)
not asked for and possibly not wanted
223
GRATIFICATION (n)
the act or an instance of satisfying
224
ACCESSION (n)
the act of advancing into a position, the act of attaining or gaining access to a new office or right or position
225
UMBRAGE (n)
a feeling of anger caused by being offended
226
COMPENDIUM (n)
a publication containing a variety of works
227
AXIOMATIC (adj)
evident without proof or argument, a self-evident truth
228
HERETICAL (adj)
characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards, what is considered a heretical point of view can change over time
229
ERUDITE (adj)
having or showing profound knowledge
230
RETICENT (adj)
either quiet or restrained, reluctant to draw attention to yourself
231
URBANE (adj)
showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience, sophisticated, polished, cultured, refined (cầu kỳ, đánh bóng, tinh tế)
232
CANDID (n)
openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness (thẳng thắn)
233
EQUIXOTIC (adj)
romantic and unrealistic, or possessed by almost impossible hopes, not sensible about practical matters; idealistic and unrealistic
234
CONTENTIOUS (adj)
involving or likely to cause controversy
235
TENDENTIOUS (adj)
promoting a specific, and controversial, point of view
236
UNEXPURGATED (adj)
not having material deleted
237
APOLITICAL (adj)
uninterested in politics
238
MELLIFLUOUS (adj)
describe something that sounds sweet and smooth
239
EXECRABLE (adj)
a harshly critical term in the arts - very poor quality or condition
240
SQUANDER (v)
spend thoughtlessly; throw away
241
EVINCE (v)
show or express clearly
242
TRANSIENT (adj)
always changes or moves around
243
BURNISHED (adj)
polished until it shines
244
IMPUGNED (adj)
call into question or attack as wrong. if your usually grumpy brother is suddenly nice and sweet, you'll impugn his motives if you're smart — he probably just wants something from you.
245
PARRY (v)
block the movement of an opponent
246
DEFRAUD (v)
to con someone out of money (lừa đảo)
247
ESOTERIC (adj)
esoteric knowledge meant getting initiated into the mystical arts, learning secrets unknown to regular folks
248
EPHEMERAL (adj)
anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form, lasting a very short time
249
APPOSITE (adj)
fitting or relevant
250
NEBULOUS (adj)
lacking definite form or limits
251
UBIQUITOUS (adj)
being present everywhere at once
252
OBSTREPEROUS (adj)
boisterous, noisy, aggressive, defiant
253
RAPACIOUS (adj)
living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey, excessively greedy and grasping
254
ANTAGONIST (n)
someone who opposes someone else, isn't always bad or mean; your opponent on the tennis court, for example, could be called your antagonist
