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GRE Vocab > Key Terms Group 2 > Flashcards

Key Terms Group 2 Flashcards

(75 cards)

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1
Q

Abate

A

To make or become less in degree, intensity, or amount
Synonyms: decrease, diminish, reduce

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2
Q

Accolade

A

an award or other expression of honor or praise
Synonyms: award, honor

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3
Q

Adulation

A

excessive admiration, praise, or devotion; flattery
Synonyms: devotion, fawning, flattery, worship

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4
Q

Aesthetic

A

having to do with beauty or the arts
Synonym: artistic

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5
Q

Ameliorate

A

to get or make better
Synonyms: alleviate, improve, relieve

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6
Q

Ascetic

A

strictly self-denying, often for spiritual purposes
Synonyms: austere, disciplined, strict

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7
Q

Avarice

A

a greed for wealth that cannot be satisfied
Synonyms: covetousness, greed, rapacity

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8
Q

Burgeon

A

to sprout, bloom, and grow
Synonyms: blossom, flourish

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9
Q

Bucolic

A

having to do with shepherds or rural life
Synonyms: pastoral, rural, rustic

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10
Q

Cacophony

A

harsh, discordant sound
Synonyms: discord, noise

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11
Q

Canon

A

a body of fundamental rules or standards; a set
of sacred texts or other comprehensive list of
texts
Synonyms: dogma, law, principle

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12
Q

Castigation

A

severe criticism or punishment
Synonyms: chastisement, discipline, invective

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13
Q

Catalyst

A

an agent that causes or speeds up a change
or activity; literally, a substance that causes or
speeds up a chemical reaction

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14
Q

Caustic

A

burning or stinging; causing corrosion

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15
Q

Chary

A

cautious

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16
Q

Cogent

A

very convincing and appealing to reason; relevant
Synonyms: apt, compelling, persuasive, telling

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17
Q

Complaisance

A

inclined to please
Synonyms: agreeable, gracious, obliging

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18
Q

Contentious

A

controversial; tending toward disputes or controversy
Synonyms: argumentative, contentious

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19
Q

Contrite

A

feeling or showing sorrow for wrongdoing
Synonyms: apologetic, penitent, remorseful, sorry

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20
Q

Culpable

A

deserving blame
Synonyms: blameworthy, guilty, liable

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21
Q

Dearth

A

a shortage, an inadequate supply
Synonyms: deficiency, lack, scarcity

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22
Q

Demur

A

to express disagreement, object
Synonyms: oppose, refuse

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23
Q

Didactic

A

tending or intended to inform or teach
Synonyms: academic, instructive, pendantic

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24
Q

Discretion

A

cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions

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25
Disinterested
not personally engaged, without emotional interest
26
Dogmatic
fanatic about a doctrine or theory Synonyms: dogmatic, fanatical, impractical, inflexible
27
Ebullience
lively, enthusiastic Synonyms: buoyant, high-spirited, vivacious
28
Eclectic
choosing from a variety of sources; composed of a variety of styles, methods, or ideas Synonyms: assorted, diverse, varied
29
Elegy
a poem or song expressing sorrow at the loss of one who has died Synonyms: lament, requiem
30
Emollient
having the power to soothe or make soft and supple Synonyms: healing, soothing; lotion, salve
31
Empirical
based on observation or experience without resorting to theory Synonyms: experimental, observed, practical
32
Enigmatic
puzzling, mysterious Synonyms: ambiguous, perplexing
33
Ephemeral
lasting a short time Synonyms: brief, fleeting, momentary, passing
34
Esoteric
known only by the initiated Synonyms: arcane, hidden, occult
35
Eulogy
a speech or piece of writing given in honor of someone who has died Synonyms: tribute
36
Exonerate
to clear from blame; to relieve of a responsibility Synonyms: absolve, exonerate, vindicate; discharge, liberate
37
Facetious
not serious, inappropriately jokey Synonyms: amusing, frivolous, humorous
38
Fallacy
a deceptive or mistaken idea or belief Synonyms: delusion, error, misconception
39
Furtive
done secretly or in an underhanded way Synonyms: cunning, sly, stealthy
40
Gregarious
tending to be social Synonyms: convivial, friendly, outgoing
41
Harangue
a rant Synonyms: diatribe, jeremiad, tirade
42
Heretical
departing from accepted beliefs, characterized by heresy Synonyms: dissident, unorthodox
43
Hyperbole
composed of parts that are all alike; extravagant and intentional exaggeration Synonyms: embellishment, hype, overstatement
44
Impecunious
having little or no money Synonyms: destitute, impoverished, penniless, poor
45
Incipent
Beginning to come into being or to become apparent
46
Inert
having no power to act or move Synonyms: dormant, inactive, motionless
47
Innocuous
harmless, unlikely to offend Synonyms: innocent, inoffensive, unobjectionable
48
Instansigent
refusing to compromise
49
Inveigle
to obtain by deception or flattery
50
Morose
gloomy or sullen in mood or temperament Synonyms: dour, melancholy, pessimistic
51
Odious
causing or deserving of hatred Synonyms: detestable, disgusting, loathsome, offensive, repugnant
52
Opaque
blocking light, dark; difficult to understand Synonyms: cloudy, impenetrable, murky; concealed, incomprehensible, obscure, unclear
53
Oscillation
to swing back and forth; to vary in opinions, beliefs, or conditions Synonyms: fluctuate, vacillate
54
Penurious
penny-pinching , excessively thrifty, ungenerous
55
Pernicious
destructive or deadly Synonyms: detrimental, harmful, injurious, noxious, ruinous
56
Persue
To examine with great care
57
Pious
characterized by religious devotion or by conspicuous and hypocritical virtue Synonyms: devout, religious, reverent, righteous, sanctimonious, scrupulous
58
Precursor
that which precedes or anticipates another Synonyms: forerunner, predecessor
59
Preen
to groom, to dress smartly; to congratulate oneself for an accomplishment Synonym: primp
60
Prodigious
inspiring wonder; extraordinary in size or degree Synonyms: exceptional, extraordinary, fabulous, marvelous; huge, enormous
61
Prolific
abundantly productive, fertile Synonyms: bountiful, fruitful, teeming
62
Putrefy
to rot Synonyms: decay, spoil, stink
63
Quaff
to drink deeply with great enjoyment Synonyms: down, imbibe
64
Quiescence
stillness; motionlessness; quality of being a rest
65
Redoubtable
inspiring fear or respect Synonyms: awesome, eminent, formidable, illustrious
66
Sanction
to approve, give permission Synonyms: allow, authorize, endorse
67
Satire
the use of irony or ridicule to expose human folly Synonyms: irony, mockery, parody
68
Squalid
filthy from neglect or poverty Synonyms: disgusting, miserable, sordid
69
Stoic
not showing feeling Synonyms: dispassionate, indifferent, philosophic, self-controlled
70
Supplant
to take the place of, especially by force, through treachery, or through superiority Synonyms: overthrow, succeed, supersede, undermine, uproot
71
Torpid
lethargic; sluggish; dormant
72
Ubiquitous
existing everywhere at once Synonyms: omnipresent, pervasive, widespread
73
Urbane
polite, polished, or elegant in manner Synonyms: civilized, cultured, elegant, refined, sophisticated
74
Vilify
to slander Synonyms: attack, censure, defame, denigrate, disparage
75
Viscous

GRE Vocab (3 decks)

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