Vocab from GRE Prep, Hardest

Question 1

gauche

Answer 1

unsophisticated; lacking manners

Question 2

ennui

Answer 2

n. dissatisfaction and restlessness due to boredom or apathy

Question 3

germane

Answer 3

relevant to the matter at hand

Question 4

emollient

Answer 4

having the effect of softening

Question 5

epigram

Answer 5

a witty saying

Question 6

evanescent

Answer 6

tending to vanish

Question 7

ingenue

Answer 7

a naive, innocent young woman

Question 8

vicissitude

Answer 8

a sudden, unexpected change, as in one’s life

Question 9

equanimity

Answer 9

steadiness of mind

Question 10

iniquitous

Answer 10

wicked or unjust

Question 11

garrulous

Answer 11

overly talkative, especially in trivial matters

Question 12

facetious

Answer 12

humorous with a sarcastic tone

Question 13

divest

Answer 13

to deprive or dispossess. to dispose of assets.

Question 14

flout

Answer 14

to demonstrate contempt for; to mock with distain

Question 15

picayune

Answer 15

of little value, paltry, petty; something of little value

Question 16

cardinal

Answer 16

of paramount importance; dark red

Question 17

controvert

Answer 17

to deny the truth of

Question 18

augury

Answer 18

divination; an omen, portent

Question 19

chary

Answer 19

very cautious; not giving or spending freely; shy

Question 20

hidebound

Answer 20

rigid, dry, unmoving

Question 21

penury

Answer 21

extreme poverty or destitution

Question 22

phthisis

Answer 22

a disease characterized by body-part atrophy (especially of the lungs)

Question 23

blithe

Answer 23

carefree and happy

Question 24

belie

Answer 24

to give a false impression

to reveal as untrue

Question 25

arabesque

Answer 25

a complex, ornate design

Question 26

carp

Answer 26

to raise trivial objections

Question 27

chimera

Answer 27

a creature possessing the body parts of different animals | a fanciful mental illusion

Question 28

complaisant (note spelling)

Answer 28

eager to please

Question 29

consternation

Answer 29

a state of confused terror or apprehension

Question 30

contrite

Answer 30

full of remorse

Question 31

pedant

Answer 31

1) shows off learning 2) sticks to rules

Question 32

forbear

Answer 32

refrain from doing something

Question 33

salacious

Answer 33

causing sexual desire, bawdy

Question 34

philately

Answer 34

study of postage stamps

Question 35

peremptory

Answer 35

admitting of no contradiction; putting an end to further debate; haughty; imperious

Question 36

vaunt

Answer 36

boast

Question 37

parsimonious

Answer 37

frugal, cheap

Question 38

inimical

Answer 38

hostile, unfriendly

Question 39

encomium

Answer 39

enthusiastic praise

Question 40

provident

Answer 40

looking to the future; frugal

Question 41

malevolent

Answer 41

wishing evil on others

Question 42

blandish

Answer 42

to coax or influence with flattery

Question 43

mince

Answer 43

to speak carefully; to euphemize

Question 44

forestall

Answer 44

to deal with ahead of time

Question 45

importune

Answer 45

to beg persistently

Question 46

calumny

Answer 46

a false statement; slander, aspersion

Question 47

baleful

Answer 47

full of sinister influence, pernicious, ominous

Question 48

unctuous

Answer 48

oily, greasy | characterized by insincere earnestness

Question 49

panegyric

Answer 49

a formal and elaborate public compliment; praise, laudation

Question 50

arrant

Answer 50

impudent thorough, utter, notorias shameless, brazen

Question 51

byzantine

Answer 51

labyrinthine, complex, intricate

Question 52

inveigh

Answer 52

to attack verbally, deprecate

Question 53

paean

Answer 53

song of praise or triumph

Question 54

inquest

Answer 54

judicial inquiry

Question 55

epicurean

Answer 55

indulging in luxury

Question 56

sempiternal

Answer 56

eternal, infinite

Question 57

couch

Answer 57

to express in indirect terms; to frame in a certain way

Question 58

insensible

Answer 58

unconscious; unresponsive

Question 59

plumb

Answer 59

to measure the depth to examine critically straight up and down

Question 60

decorous

Answer 60

conforming to what is acceptable to society | marked by propriety and etiquette

Question 61

ascetic

Answer 61

relating to self-denial

Question 62

decry

Answer 62

strongly disapprove of

Question 63

aver

Answer 63

to declare as true

Question 64

overweening

Answer 64

presumptuously arrogant or conceited, overconfident, overbearing

Question 65

lassitude

Answer 65

a state of listless exhaustion, weakness, or weariness of the mind or body

Question 66

impugn

Answer 66

to challenge or attack one's beliefs or motives as false

Question 67

macerate

Answer 67

to soften by steeping in a liquid, or decompose | to emaciate; to starve

Question 68

callow

Answer 68

lacking maturity or experience

Question 69

execrate

Answer 69

to declare to be hateful or abhorrent; denounce to loathe to curse

Question 70

suppliant

Answer 70

asking humbly, beseeching | a person who requests or begs

Question 71

frangible

Answer 71

fragile; easily broken

Question 72

effusive

Answer 72

related to excessive or unchecked emotion

Question 73

scurvy

Answer 73

not admirable, despicable

Question 74

remedial

Answer 74

intended as a remedy | concerned w. correction of faulty habits and general competence

Question 75

normative

Answer 75

relating to norms or standards

Question 76

recrudescent

Answer 76

breaking out again: renewing

Question 77

entreat

Answer 77

to plead

Question 78

internecine

Answer 78

mutually destructive characterized by bloodshed and carnage relating to intra-group struggle

Question 79

vituperate

Answer 79

to scold

Question 80

dissipated

Answer 80

devoted to the pursuit of pleasure; hedonistic

Question 81

invidious

Answer 81

offensive, provoke resentment or ill-will

Question 82

asperity

Answer 82

severity, rigor | acrimony, irritability

Question 83

puissant

Answer 83

powerful, mighty

Question 84

propitiate

Answer 84

to appease

Question 85

ineffable

Answer 85

incapable of being described in words