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GRE Vocab > greg mat > Flashcards

greg mat Flashcards

1
Q

capricious

A

adjective

  1. given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
    • a ____ and often brutal administration
    • a ____ climate.
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2
Q

conspicuous

A

adjective

  1. standing out so as to be clearly visible
    • he was very thin, with a ______ Adam’s apple.
  2. attracting notice or attention:
    • he showed ______- bravery.
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3
Q

belie

A

verb (belies, belying, belied) [with object]

  1. (of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict:
    • his lively, alert manner ______ his years.
  2. fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray
    • the notebooks _____ Darwin’s later recollection.
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4
Q

cursory

A

adjective

  1. hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
    • a _____ glance at the figures.
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5
Q

daunting

A

adjective

  1. seeming difficult to deal with in anticipation; intimidating
    • a _____ task.
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6
Q

deify

A

verb (deifies, deifying, deified) [with object] (usually be deified)

  1. worship, regard, or treat (someone or something) as a god
    1. she was ___ by the early Romans as a fertility goddess.
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7
Q

flout

A

verb [with object]

  1. openly disregard (a rule, law or convention)
    • these same companies still ____ basic ethical practices.
  2. [no object] archaic mock; scoff:
    1. the women pointed and _____ at her.
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8
Q

humdrum

A

adjective

  1. lacking excitement or variety; dull; monotonous
    • ____ routine work.

noun

  1. dullness; monotony
    • an escape from the ____ of his life.
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9
Q

loquacious

A

adjective

  1. tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
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10
Q

misanthropic

A

adjective

  1. disliking humankind and avoiding human society
    1. a ___ drunken loner
    2. with his ___ outlook, he was an ugly character.
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11
Q

obsequious

A

adjective

  1. obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
    • they were served by ____ waiters.
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12
Q

puerile

A

adjective

  1. childishly silly and trivial
    • you’re making ____ excuses.
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13
Q

quixotic

A

adjective

  1. exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
    • a vast and perhaps _____ project.
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14
Q

spendthrift

A

noun

  1. a person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible way.
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15
Q

taciturn

A

adjective

  1. (of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
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16
Q

wary

A

adjective

  1. feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems
    • dogs that have been mistreated often remain very ____ of strangers
    • a ____ look.
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17
Q

advocate

A

noun

  1. a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy
    • he was an untiring ___ of economic reform.
  2. a person who pleads on someone else’s behalf
    • care managers can become ___ for their clients.
  3. a pleader in a court of law; a lawyer
    • Marshall was a skilled ___ but a mediocre judge.

verb [with obj.]

  1. publicly recommend or support
    • they ___ an ethical foreign policy.
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18
Q

alacrity

A

noun

  1. brisk and cheerful readiness
    • she accepted the invitation with ____.
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19
Q

amenable

A

adjective

  1. (of a person) open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled
    • parents who have had easy babies and ____ children.
  2. [predic.] (____ to) (of a thing) capable of being acted upon in a particular way; susceptible to
    • the patients had cardiac failure not ____ to medical treatment.
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20
Q

banal

A

adjective

  1. so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring
    • songs with ____, repeated words.
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21
Q

brazen

A

adjective

  1. bold and without shame:
    • he went about his illegal business with a ____ assurance
    • a ____ hussy!
  2. harsh in sound:
    • he music’s ____ chords.
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22
Q

candid

A

adjective

  1. truthful and straightforward; frank
    • his responses were remarkably ___
    • a ____ discussion.
  2. (of a photograph of a person) taken informally, especially without the subject’s knowledge.
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23
Q

caustic

A

adjective

  1. able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action
    • a ____ cleaner.
  2. sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way
    • the players were making ____ comments about the refereeing.
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24
Q

construe

A

Verb

  1. interpret (a word or action) in a particular way
    • his words could hardly be ____ as an apology.
  2. analyze the syntax of (a text, sentence, or word)
    • both verbs can be ____ with either infinitive.
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25
Q

contrite

A

adjective

  1. feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt
    • a broken and a ____ heart.
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26
Q

convoluted

A

adjective

  1. (especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow
    • its _____ narrative encompasses all manner of digressions.
  • chiefly technical intricately folded, twisted, or coiled
    • walnuts come in hard and _____ shells.
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27
Q

covet

A

verb [with obj.]

  1. yearn to possess or have (something)
    • the president-elect ____ time for exercise and fishing
  2. (as adj. )
    • he won the ____ Booker Prize for fiction.
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28
Q

craven

A

adjective

  1. contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly
    • a ____ abdication of his moral duty.
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29
Q

decorum

A

noun

  1. behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety
    • you exhibit remarkable modesty and ____.
  2. etiquette
    • he had no idea of funeral ____.
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30
Q

deft

A

adjective

  1. neatly skillful and quick in one’s movements
    • a ___ piece of footwork.
  2. demonstrating skill and cleverness
    • the script was both ___ and literate.
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31
Q

demur

A

verb [no obj.]

  1. raise doubts or objections or show reluctance
    1. normally she would have accepted the challenge, but she _____.
  2. Law
    1. put forward a _____-rer.

noun [usu. with negative]

  1. the action or process of objecting to or hesitating over something
    • they accepted this ruling without _____.
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32
Q

diatribe

A

noun

  1. a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something
    • a _____ against the Roman Catholic Church.
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33
Q

abjure

A

verb [with object] formal

  • solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim):
    • MPs were urged to ___ their Jacobite allegiance.
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34
Q

arcane

A

adjective

  • understood by few; mysterious or secret
    • ___ procedures for electing people.
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35
Q

artless

A

adjective

  • without guile or deception:
    • an ____, naive girl
    • ____ sincerity.
  • • without effort or pretentiousness; natural and simple
    • an ____ literary masterpiece.
  • • without skill or finesse
    • her awkward, ____ prose
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36
Q

assuage

A
  • To lessen, calm or satisfy
  • VERB. If you assuage an unpleasant feeling that someone has, you make them feel it less strongly.
    • The announcement appeared designed to ____ concerns at home and abroad. [VERB noun]
    • She was just trying to ____ her guilt by playing the devoted mother. [VERB noun]
  • VERB. If you assuage a need or desire for something, you satisfy it.
    • The meat they’d managed to procure ____ their hunger
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37
Q

bucolic

A

adjective

  • relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life
    • the church is lovely for its ____ setting.
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38
Q

burgeon

A

verb [no object]

  • begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish:
    • the city’s suburbs have ___-ed, sprawling out from the centre.
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39
Q

cacophonous

A

adjective

  • involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds:
    • the ____ sound of slot machines.
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40
Q

canonize

A

verb [with object]

  • (in the Roman Catholic Church) officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint:
    • he was the last English saint to be ___d prior to the Reformation.
  • treat or regard as being above reproach or of great significance:
    • we have ___-ed freedom of speech as an absolute value overriding all others.
  • place in or regard as belonging to a canon of literary or artistic works
    • Warhol is now _____d as one of the most important artists of the twentieth century
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41
Q

censure

A

verb [with object]

  • express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal statement:
    • the company was heavily ___-d by inspectors from the Department of Trade

noun [mass noun]

  • the formal expression of severe disapproval:
    • two MPs were singled out for censure
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42
Q

chicanery

A

noun [mass noun]

  • the use of deception (engaño) or subterfuge to achieve one’s purpose:
    • storylines packed with ____ chicanery.
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43
Q

coalesce

A

verb [no object]

  • come together to form one mass or whole:
    • the puddles had __-d into shallow streams.
  • • [with object] combine (elements) in a mass or whole:
    • his idea served to __ all that happened into one connected whole.
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44
Q

cogent

A

adjective

  • (of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing:
    • the newspaper’s lawyers must prepare a ___ appeal.
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45
Q

contend

A

verb

  • [no object] (contend with/against) struggle to overcome/surmount (a difficulty):
    • she had to __ with his uncertain temper.
  • (contend for) compete with others in a struggle to achieve (something):
    • factions within the government were ___-ing for the succession to the presidency.
  • assert something as a position in an argument:
    • he ___-s that the judge was wrong.
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46
Q

deference

A

noun [mass noun]

  • polite submission and respect
    • he addressed her with the ___ due to age
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47
Q

desultory

A

adjective

  • lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm:
    • a few people were left, dancing in a ___ fashion.
  • (of conversation or speech) going from one subject to another in a half-hearted way:
    • the ___ conversation faded.
  • occurring randomly or occasionally:
    • ___ passengers were appearing.
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48
Q

diffident

A

adjective

  • modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence:
    • a __ youth.
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49
Q

equivocal

A

adjective

  • open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous:
    • the ___ nature of her remarks.
  • • (of a person) using ambiguous or evasive language:
    • he has always been ____ about the meaning of his lyrics.
  • • uncertain or questionable in nature:
    • the results of the investigation were ___.
  • __te as as a verb:* use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself:
  • the government have ___ted too often in the past.
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50
Q

prodigal

A

adjective

  • spending money or using resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant:
    • ___ habits die hard.
  • having or giving something on a lavish scale:
    • the dessert was ___ with whipped cream.
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51
Q

verbose

A

adjective

  • using or expressed in more words than are needed:
    • much academic language is obscure and ___.
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52
Q

cherish

A

verb [with object]

  • protect and care for (someone) lovingly:
    • he cared for me beyond measure and ___ed me in his heart.
  • hold (something) dear:
    • I ____ the letters she wrote | (as adjective ___ed) : ___ed possessions.
  • keep (a hope or ambition) in one’s mind:
    • he had long ___ed a secret fantasy about his future.
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53
Q

disparate

A

adjective

  • essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison
    • they inhabit _____ worlds of thought.
  • containing elements very different from one another
    • a culturally ___ country.
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54
Q

emulate

A

verb [with object]

  • match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation:
    • lesser men trying to ____ his greatness.
  • imitate:
    • hers is not a hairstyle I wish to ____.
  • Computing reproduce the function or action of (a different computer, software system, etc.).
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55
Q

fervid

A

adjective

  • intensely enthusiastic or passionate, especially to an excessive degree:
    • his ___ protestations of love.
  • literary hot, burning, or glowing.
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56
Q

garrulous

A

adjective

  • excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters
    • a ____ cab driver.
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57
Q

inimical

A

adjective

  • tending to obstruct or harm
    • the policy was ___ to Britain’s real interests.
  • unfriendly; hostile
    • an ___ alien power.
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58
Q

paradigmatic

A

adjective

  • serving as a typical example of something
    • his biography is ____ of the experiences of this generation.
  • of or denoting the relationship between a set of linguistic items that form mutually exclusive choices in particular syntactic roles. Contrasted with syntagmatic.
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59
Q

pedantic

A

adjective

  • excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overscrupulous:
    • his analyses are careful and even painstaking, but never ____
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60
Q

placid

A

adjective

  • not easily upset or excited
    • a __, contented man.
  • calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity:
    • the __ waters of a small lake.
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61
Q

precipitate

A

verb |[with object]

  • cause (an event or situation, typically one that is undesirable) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely
    • the incident ___ed a political crisis.
  • [with object and adverbial of direction] cause to move suddenly and with force
    • suddenly the ladder broke, ___ing them down into a heap.
  • (precipitate someone/something into) send someone or something suddenly into a particular state or condition
    • they were ___ed into a conflict for which they were quite unprepared.
  • Chemistry cause (a substance) to be deposited in solid form from a solution
    • cell proteins were then ___ed and washed in 10% trichloroacetic acid.

adjective | prɪˈsɪpɪtət |

  • done, made, or acting suddenly or without careful consideration
    • I must apologize for my staff—their actions were ___ed
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62
Q

punctilious

A

adjective

  • showing great attention to detail or correct behaviour:
    • he was ___ in providing every amenity for his guests.
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63
Q

recondite

A

adjective

  • (of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse:
    • the book is full of ___ information.
64
Q

scrupulous

A

adjective

  • (of a person or process) careful, thorough, and extremely attentive to details:
    • the research has been carried out with ___ attention to detail.
  • very concerned to avoid doing wrong:
    • she’s too ___ to have an affair with a married man.
65
Q

tranquil

A

adjective

  • free from disturbance; calm:
    • her ___ gaze
    • the sea was ___.
66
Q

aloof

A

adjective

  • not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant
    • they were courteous but faintly ___
    • an ___ and somewhat austere figure.
  • • conspicuously uninvolved
    • he stayed ___ from the bickering.
67
Q

clangor

A

noun [in singular]

  • a continuous loud banging or ringing sound
    • he went deaf because of the ___ of the steam hammers.
68
Q

debunk

A

verb [with object]

  • expose the falseness or hollowness of (an idea or belief):
    • she ___s all the usual rubbish about acting.
  • reduce the inflated reputation of (someone):
    • comedy takes delight in ___ing heroes.
69
Q

estranged

A

adjective

  • (of a person) no longer close or affectionate to someone; alienated
    • Harriet felt more __ed from her daughter than ever
    • her __ed father.
  • • (of a wife or husband) no longer living with their spouse:
    • his __ed wife.
70
Q

extravagant

A

adjective

  • lacking restraint in spending money or using resources:
    • it was rather ___ to buy both.
  • resulting from or showing a lack of restraint in spending money or resources:
    • ___ gifts like computer games.
  • exceeding what is reasonable or appropriate; excessive or elaborate:
    • ___ claims about the merchandise
71
Q

fanciful

A

adjective

  • over-imaginative and unrealistic:
    • ever more ____ proposals were raised.
  • existing only in the imagination:
    • ____ lunar inhabitants.
  • highly ornamental or imaginative in design:
    • a ____ Art Nouveau bar.
72
Q

frivolous

A

adjective

  • not having any serious purpose or value:
    • ____ ribbons and lacy frills
    • rules to stop ____ lawsuits.
  • • (of a person) carefree and superficial:
    • the ____, fun-loving flappers of the twenties
73
Q

imperious

A

adjective

  • arrogant and domineering:
    • his ___ demands.
74
Q

irresolute

A

adjective

  • showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain:
    • she stood ___ outside his door.
75
Q

panache

A

noun

  • [mass noun] flamboyant confidence of style or manner:
    • he entertained London society with great ____.
  • historical a tuft or plume of feathers, especially as a headdress or on a helmet.
76
Q

plodding

A

adjective

  • slow-moving and unexciting:
    • a ____ comedy drama.
  • (of a person) thorough and hard-working but lacking in imagination or intelligence
    • ____, methodical Ralph Bellamy.
77
Q

prosaic

A

adjective

  • having or using the style or diction of prose as opposed to poetry; lacking imaginativeness or originality
    • ___ language can’t convey the experience.
  • • commonplace; unromantic
    • the masses were too preoccupied by ___ day-to-day concerns.
78
Q

restive

A

adjective

  • (of a person) unable to remain still, silent, or submissive, especially because of boredom or dissatisfaction:
    • the crowd had been waiting for hours and many were becoming ___
    • he reiterated his determination to hold the ___ republics together.
  • (of a horse) stubbornly standing still or moving backwards or sideways; refusing to advance:
    • both their horses became ___ at once.
79
Q

undermine

A

verb [with object]

  • erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation):
    • the flow of water had ___ed pillars supporting the roof.
  • dig or excavate beneath (a building or fortification) so as to make it collapse:
    • the demolition engineers did eventually ___ two of the tower’s six sides.
  • lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, especially gradually or insidiously:
    • this could ___ years of hard work
80
Q

weary

A

adjective (wearier, weariest)

  • feeling or showing extreme tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion:
    • he gave a long, ___ sigh.
  • calling for a great amount of energy or endurance; tiring and tedious:
    • the ___ journey began again.
  • reluctant to see or experience any more of; tired of:
    • she was ___ of their constant arguments
    • [in combination] : war-___ Americans.
81
Q

zealous

A

adjective

  • having or showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective:
    • the council was extremely ____ in the application of the regulations.
82
Q

admonish

A

verb [with object]

  • warn or reprimand someone firmly:
    • she ___ed me for appearing at breakfast unshaven.
  • • [with object and infinitive] advise or urge (someone) earnestly:
    • she ___ed him to drink no more than one glass of wine.
  • archaic warn (someone) of something to be avoided:
    • he ___ed the people against the evil of such practices
83
Q

affectation

A

noun [mass noun]

  • behaviour, speech, or writing that is pretentious and designed to impress:
    • the ___ of a man who measures every word for effect
    • [count noun] : she called the room her boudoir, which he thought an ___.
  • [count noun] a studied display of real or pretended feeling:
    • an ___ of calm.
84
Q

bolster

A

verb [with object]

  • support or strengthen:
    • the fall in interest rates is starting to ___ confidence.
  • provide (a seat) with padded support:
    • they ___ed the seats for a more comfortable ride.
85
Q

chauvunist

A

noun

  • a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.
  • a person displaying excessive or prejudiced support for their own cause, group, or sex:
    • we don’t want to lay ourselves open to charges that we’re chauvinists
    • a hard-drinking male chauvinist.
86
Q

dissemble

A

verb [no object]

  • conceal or disguise one’s true feelings or beliefs:
    • an honest, sincere person with no need to ___.
  • • [with object] disguise or conceal (a feeling or intention):
    • she smiled, ___ing her true emotion
87
Q

dogged

A

adjective

  • having or showing tenacity and grim persistence:
    • success required ___ed determination.
88
Q

dupe

A

verb [with object]

  • deceive; trick:
    • the newspaper was __d into publishing an untrue story.

noun

  • a victim of deception:
    • men who were simply the __s of their unscrupulous leaders.
89
Q

pertinacious

A

adjective formal

  • holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action:
    • he worked with a ___ resistance to interruptions.
90
Q

presumptuous

A

adjective

  • (of a person or their behaviour) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate:
    • I hope I won’t be considered ___ if I offer some advice.
91
Q

probity

A

noun [mass noun] formal

  • the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency:
    • financial ___.
92
Q

specious

A

adjective

  • superficially plausible, but actually wrong:
    • a ___ argument.
  • misleading in appearance, especially misleadingly attractive:
    • the music trade gives Golden Oldies a ___ appearance of novelty.
93
Q

subvert

A

verb [with object]

  • undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution):
    • an attempt to ___ democratic government.
94
Q

timorous

A

adjective

  • showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence:
    • a __ voice.
95
Q

tractable

A

adjective

  • (of a person) easy to control or influence:
    • she has always been ____ and obedient, even as a child.
  • • (of a situation or problem) easy to deal with:
    • trying to make the mathematics ____.
96
Q

transient

A

adjective

  • lasting only for a short time; impermanent:
    • a ___ cold spell.
  • staying or working in a place for a short time only:
    • the ___ nature of the labour force in catering.

noun

  • a person who is staying or working in a place for a short time only.
  • a momentary variation in current, voltage, or frequency.

pasajero

97
Q

ubiquitious

A

adjective

  • present, appearing, or found everywhere:
    • his ___ influence was felt by all the family
    • cowboy hats are ___ among the male singers.
98
Q

underscore

A

noun

  • a line drawn under a word or phrase for emphasis.
  • (on a computer or typewriter keyboard) a short horizontal line _ on the baseline.

verb

  • underline (something).
  • emphasize:
    • the company __ the progress made with fuel cells.
99
Q

venal

A

adjective

  • showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery; corrupt:
    • local customs officers are notoriously __
    • their generosity had been at least partly __.
100
Q

dearth

A

noun

  • a scarcity or lack of something:
    • there is a ___ of evidence.
  • Archaic a situation where food is in short supply.
101
Q

hyperbole

A

noun [mass noun]

  • exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally:
    • he vowed revenge with oaths and ___
    • [mass noun] : you can’t accuse us of ___
102
Q

indolent

A

adjective

  • wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy:
    • they were ____ and addicted to a life of pleasure.
  • Medicine (of a disease or condition) causing little or no pain.
  • (especially of an ulcer) slow to develop, progress, or heal; persistent
103
Q

insular

A

adjective

  • ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one’s own experience:
    • a stubbornly ___ farming people.
  • lacking contact with other people:
    • people living restricted and sometimes ___ existences.
  • relating to or from an island:
    • goods of ___ origin.
  • (of climate) equable because of the influence of the sea.
104
Q

intransigent

A

adjective

  • unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree about something:
    • her father had tried persuasion, but she was ___
105
Q

loathe

A

verb [with object]

  • feel intense dislike or disgust for:
    • she __ him on sight.
106
Q

platitude

A

noun

  • a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful:
    • she began uttering liberal ___.
107
Q

sedulous

A

adjective

  • (of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence:
    • he watched himself with the most __ care.
108
Q

stern

A

adjective

  • (of a person or their manner) serious and unrelenting, especially in the assertion of authority and exercise of discipline:
    • a smile transformed his ____ face
    • Mama looked ____.
  • (of an act or statement) strict and severe:
    • ____ measures to restrict vehicle growth.
  • (of competition or opposition) putting someone or something under extreme pressure:
    • the past year has been a ____ test of the ability of British industry.
109
Q

tendentious

A

adjective

  • expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one:
    • a ___ reading of history.
110
Q

convivial

A

adjective

  • (of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable:
    • a ____ cocktail party.
  • (of a person) cheerful and friendly; jovial:
    • she was relaxed and ____.
111
Q

agregious

A

adjective

  • outstandingly bad; shocking:
    • ___ abuses of copyright.
  • archaic remarkably good
112
Q

evanescent

A

adjective

  • mainly literary soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing:
    • the evanescent Arctic summer.
113
Q

forestal

A

verb [with object]

  • prevent or obstruct (an anticipated event or action) by taking advance action:
    • they will present their resignations to ____ a vote of no confidence.
  • act in advance of (someone) in order to prevent them from doing something:
    • he would have spoken but David ____ him.
  • historical buy up (goods) in order to profit by an enhanced price.
114
Q

gainsay

A

verb

  • deny or contradict (a fact or statement):
    • the impact of the railways cannot be ____d.
  • • speak against or oppose (someone):
    • none could ____ her.
115
Q

galvanize

A

verb [with object]

  • shock or excite (someone) into taking action:
    • the urgency of his voice ____d them into action.
  • coat (iron or steel) with a protective layer of zinc:
    • they promised they would ____ the iron railings to prevent rusting.
116
Q

indiscriminate

A

adjective

  • done at random or without careful judgement:
    • the ____ use of antibiotics can cause problems.
  • • (of a person) not using or exercising discrimination:
    • she was ____ with her affections
117
Q

nettlesome

A

adjective mainly US

  • causing annoyance or difficulty:
    • ____ regional disputes.
118
Q

obviate

A

verb [with object]

  • remove (a need or difficulty):
    • the presence of roller blinds ____d the need for curtains.
  • avoid or prevent (something undesirable):
    • a parachute can be used to ____ disaster.
119
Q

oust

A

verb [with object]

  • drive out or expel (someone) from a position or place:
    • the reformists were ___ed from power.
  • Law deprive of or exclude from possession of something. Take away (a court’s jurisdiction) in a matter.
120
Q

perfidy

A

noun [mass noun] literary

  • the state of being deceitful and untrustworthy:
    • it was an example of his ___
121
Q

profuse

A

adjective

  • (especially of something offered or discharged) very plentiful; abundant:
    • I offered my ___ apologies.
  • • archaic (of a person) extravagant:
    • they are __ in hospitality.
122
Q

sagacious

A

adjective

  • having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; wise or shrewd:
    • they were ___ enough to avoid any outright confrontation.
123
Q

sanguine

A

adjective

  • optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation:
    • he is ____ about prospects for the global economy
    • the committee takes a more ____ view.
124
Q

scant

A

adjective

  • barely sufficient or adequate:
    • companies with ____ regard for the safety of future generations.
  • [attributive] barely amounting to a specified number or quantity:
    • she weighed a ____ two pounds.
125
Q

skulduggery

A

noun [mass noun]

  • underhand, unscrupulous, or dishonest behaviour or activities:
    • a firm that investigates commercial __
126
Q

vapid

A

adjective

  • offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; bland:
    • tuneful but ___ musical comedies.
127
Q

boorish

A

adjective

  • rough and bad-mannered; coarse:
    • ___ behaviour.
128
Q

brook

A

verb [with object and negative] formal

  • tolerate or allow (something, typically dissent or opposition):
    • Jenny would ___ no criticism of Matthew.
129
Q

circumspect

A

adjective

  • wary and unwilling to take risks:
    • the officials were very ___ in their statements.
130
Q

comity

A

noun (plural comities) formal

  • an association of nations for their mutual benefit.
  • [mass noun] courtesy and considerate behaviour towards others:
    • a show of public __ in the White House.
131
Q

deleterious

A

adjective formal

  • causing harm or damage:
    • divorce is assumed to have ___ effects on children.
132
Q

edify

A

verb

  • instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually:
    • Rachel had __ed their childhood with frequent readings from Belloc.
133
Q

elicit

A
  • evoke or draw out (a reaction, answer, or fact) from someone:
    • I tried to ___ a smile from Joanna
    • the work __ed enormous public interest.
134
Q

feeble

A

adjective

  • lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness:
    • by now, he was too ____ to leave his room.
  • (of a sound) faint:
    • her ____ cries of pain.
  • lacking strength of character: I
    • know it’s ____ but I’ve never been one to stand up for myself.
  • failing to convince or impress:
    • a ____ excuse.
135
Q

forbear

A
  • politely or patiently restrain an impulse to do something; refrain:
    • he modestly ___ to include his own work.
  • • [with object] refrain from doing or using (something):
    • Rebecca could not ___ a smile.
136
Q

haphazard

A

adjective

  • lacking any obvious principle of organization:
    • the music business works in a ___ fashion.
137
Q

hodgepodge

A

noun North American

  • a confused mixture; a hotchpotch:
    • Rob’s living room was a ___ of modern furniture and antiques.
138
Q

mordant

A

adjective

  • (especially of humour) having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting:
    • a ___ sense of humour.
139
Q

outstrip

A

verb (outstrips, outstripping, outstripped) [with object]

  • move faster than and overtake (someone else):
    • during the morning warm-up, he once again __ed the field.
  • • exceed:
    • supply far __ed demand.
140
Q

precarious

A

adjective

  • not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse:
    • a __ ladder.
  • dependent on chance; uncertain:
    • he made a ___ living as a painter.
141
Q

trifling

A

adjective

  • unimportant or trivial:
    • a ___ sum.
142
Q

acumen

A

noun [mass noun]

  • the ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions:
    • she hides a shrewd business -___.
143
Q

befuddled

A

adjective

  • unable to think clearly; confused or perplexed:
    • even in my __ state I could see that they meant trouble
    • he has an air of __ unworldliness.
144
Q

eschew

A

verb [with object]

  • deliberately avoid using; abstain from:
    • he appealed to the crowd to ___ violence
145
Q

esoteric

A

adjective

  • intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest:
    • __ philosophical debates.
146
Q

exculpate

A

verb [with object] formal

  • show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing:
    • the article ___d the mayor.
147
Q

fastidious

A

adjective

  • very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail:
    • she dressed with ___ care.
  • very concerned about matters of cleanliness:
    • the child seemed ___ about getting her fingers dirty
148
Q

feign

A

verb [with object]

  • pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury):
    • she __ed nervousness.

fingir

149
Q

hamper

A

noun

  • a basket with a carrying handle and a hinged lid, used for food, cutlery, and plates on a picnic:
    • a picnic ____.
  • North American a large basket with a lid, used for laundry:
    • a laundry ____.
150
Q

nonchalant

A

adjective

  • (of a person or manner) feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm:
    • she gave a ___ shrug.
151
Q

portend

A

verb [with object]

  • be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen:
    • the eclipses ____ some major events.
152
Q

salutary

A

adjective

  • (especially with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant) producing good effects; beneficial:
    • it failed to draw __ lessons from Britain’s loss of its colonies.
153
Q

sever

A

verb [with object]

  • divide by cutting or slicing, especially suddenly and forcibly:
    • the head was ____d from the body.
  • • put an end to (a connection or relationship); break off:
    • the notice itself may be sufficient to ____ the joint tenancy.
154
Q

slight

A

adjective

  • small in degree; inconsiderable:
    • a ____ increase
    • a ____ ankle injury
    • the chance of success is very ____.
  • (especially of a creative work) not profound or substantial; rather trivial or superficial:
    • a ____ romantic comedy.
  • (of a person or their build) not sturdy; thin or slender:
    • she was ____ and delicate-looking.
155
Q

supersede

A

verb [with object]

  • take the place of (a person or thing previously in authority or use); supplant:
    • the older models of car have now been ___.
156
Q

tout

A

Verb

  • [with object] attempt to sell (something), typically by a direct or persistent approach:
    • Sanjay was ____ing his wares
    • shop managers would stand in the street ____ing for business.
  • attempt to persuade people of the merits of:
    • she was ____ed as a potential Prime Minister.
157
Q

wane

A

verb [no object]

  • (of the moon) have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size.
  • (of a state or feeling) decrease in vigour or extent; become weaker:
    • confidence in the dollar ___ed.

menguar

GRE Vocab (2 decks)

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