Barron's GRE 3500 Master Word List 1-5

Saami R.
As found on Barron's 17th edition GRE preparation
384 words 2462 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abase
    cause to feel shame
  2. abash
    cause to be embarrassed
  3. abate
    become less in amount or intensity
  4. abbreviate
    shorten
  5. abdicate
    give up power, duties, or obligations
  6. aberrant
    markedly different from an accepted norm
  7. aberration
    a state or condition markedly different from the norm
  8. abet
    assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
  9. abeyance
    temporary cessation or suspension
  10. abhor
    feel hatred or disgust toward
  11. abject
    of the most contemptible kind
  12. abjure
    formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
  13. ablution
    the act of washing oneself, as for ritual purposes
  14. abnegation
    the denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief
  15. abolish
    do away with
  16. abominable
    unequivocally detestable
  17. abominate
    find repugnant
  18. aboriginal
    having existed from the beginning
  19. abortive
    failing to accomplish an intended result
  20. abrasive
    causing irritation or erosion by friction
  21. abridge
    lessen, diminish, or curtail
  22. abrogate
    revoke formally
  23. abscission
    the act of cutting something off
  24. abscond
    run away, often taking something or somebody along
  25. absolute
    perfect or complete or pure
  26. absolve
    grant remission of a sin to
  27. abstain
    refrain from doing, consuming, or partaking in something
  28. abstemious
    marked by temperance in indulgence
  29. abstinence
    the trait of refraining from something, especially alcohol
  30. abstract
    existing only in the mind
  31. abstruse
    difficult to understand
  32. abusive
    characterized by physical or psychological maltreatment
  33. abut
    lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
  34. abysmal
    exceptionally bad or displeasing
  35. abyss
    a bottomless gulf or pit
  36. academic
    associated with an educational institution
  37. accede
    yield to another's wish or opinion
  38. accelerate
    move faster
  39. accessible
    capable of being reached
  40. accessory
    a supplementary component that improves capability
  41. acclaim
    enthusiastic approval
  42. acclimate
    get used to a certain environment
  43. acclivity
    an upward slope or grade, as in a road
  44. accolade
    a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
  45. accommodate
    have room for; hold without crowding
  46. accomplice
    a person who joins with another in carrying out some plan
  47. accord
    concurrence of opinion
  48. accost
    approach and speak to someone aggressively or insistently
  49. accoutre
    provide with military equipment
  50. accretion
    an increase by natural growth or addition
  51. accrue
    grow by addition
  52. acerbic
    sour or bitter in taste
  53. acerbity
    a sharp bitterness
  54. acetic
    relating to a clear organic acid with a pungent odor
  55. acidulous
    being sour to the taste
  56. acknowledge
    declare to be true or admit the existence or reality of
  57. acme
    the highest point of something
  58. acoustics
    the study of the physical properties of sound
  59. acquiesce
    agree or express agreement
  60. acquittal
    a judgment of not guilty
  61. acrid
    strong and sharp, as a taste or smell
  62. acrimonious
    marked by strong resentment or cynicism
  63. acrophobia
    a morbid fear of great heights
  64. actuarial
    relating to statistics to calculate insurance premiums
  65. actuate
    put in motion
  66. acuity
    sharpness of vision
  67. acumen
    shrewdness shown by keen insight
  68. acute
    ending in a sharp point
  69. adage
    a condensed but memorable saying embodying an important fact
  70. adamant
    very hard native crystalline carbon valued as a gem
  71. adapt
    make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
  72. addendum
    textual matter that is appended to the end of a publication
  73. addiction
    being dependent on something habit-forming
  74. addle
    mix up or confuse
  75. address
    the place where a person or organization can be found
  76. adept
    having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
  77. adhere
    stick to firmly
  78. adherent
    someone who believes and helps to spread a doctrine
  79. adjacent
    having a common boundary or edge
  80. adjunct
    something added to another thing but not essential to it
  81. adjuration
    a solemn and earnest appeal to someone to do something
  82. adjutant
    an officer who acts as an assistant to a more senior officer
  83. admonish
    scold or reprimand; take to task
  84. adorn
    make more attractive, as by adding ornament or color
  85. adroit
    quick or skillful or adept in action or thought
  86. adulation
    exaggerated flattery or praise
  87. adulterate
    make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
  88. advent
    arrival that has been awaited
  89. adventitious
    associated by chance and not an integral part
  90. adversary
    someone who offers opposition
  91. adverse
    in an opposing direction
  92. adversity
    a state of misfortune or affliction
  93. advert
    a public promotion of some product or service
  94. advocacy
    active support of an idea or cause
  95. advocate
    a person who pleads for a person, cause, or idea
  96. aegis
    armor plate that protects the chest
  97. aerie
    the lofty nest of a bird of prey, such as a hawk or eagle
  98. aesthetic
    characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
  99. affable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
  100. affected
    influenced
  101. affidavit
    written declaration made under oath
  102. affiliation
    the act of becoming formally connected or joined
  103. affinity
    a natural attraction or feeling of kinship
  104. affirmation
    the act of asserting or stating something
  105. affix
    attach to
  106. affliction
    a cause of great suffering and distress
  107. affluence
    abundant wealth
  108. affront
    a deliberately offensive act
  109. agape
    with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
  110. agenda
    a list of matters to be taken up, as at a meeting
  111. agglomeration
    the act of collecting in a mass
  112. aggrandize
    embellish; increase the scope, power, or importance of
  113. aggregate
    a sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together
  114. aggressor
    someone who attacks
  115. aghast
    struck with fear, dread, or consternation
  116. agility
    the gracefulness of a quick and nimble person or animal
  117. agitate
    move or cause to move back and forth
  118. agnostic
    a person who claims the existence of God is unknowable
  119. agog
    highly excited
  120. agrarian
    relating to rural matters
  121. alacrity
    liveliness and eagerness
  122. alchemy
    a pseudoscientific forerunner of chemistry in medieval times
  123. alcove
    a small recess opening off a large room or garden
  124. alias
    a name that has been assumed temporarily
  125. alienate
    arouse hostility or indifference in
  126. alimentary
    of or providing nourishment
  127. alimony
    support paid by one spouse to another after separation
  128. allay
    lessen the intensity of or calm
  129. allege
    report or maintain
  130. allegiance
    the act of binding yourself to a course of action
  131. allegory
    a short moral story
  132. alleviate
    provide physical relief, as from pain
  133. alliteration
    use of the same consonant at the beginning of each word
  134. allocate
    distribute according to a plan or set apart for a purpose
  135. alloy
    a mixture containing two or more metallic elements
  136. allude
    make an indirect reference to
  137. allure
    the power to entice or attract
  138. allusion
    passing reference or indirect mention
  139. alluvial
    relating to deposits carried by rushing streams
  140. aloof
    distant, cold, or detached in manner
  141. aloft
    at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
  142. altercation
    a noisy, angry argument or fight between people
  143. altruistic
    showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others
  144. amalgamate
    bring or combine together or with something else
  145. amass
    collect or gather
  146. amazon
    a large, strong, and aggressive woman
  147. ambidextrous
    equally skillful with each hand
  148. ambience
    the atmosphere of an environment
  149. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
  150. ambivalence
    mixed feelings or emotions
  151. amble
    walk leisurely
  152. ambrosia
    the food and drink of the gods
  153. ambulatory
    able to walk about
  154. ameliorate
    make better
  155. amenable
    disposed or willing to comply
  156. amend
    make revisions to
  157. amenities
    things that make you comfortable and at ease
  158. amiable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
  159. amicable
    characterized by friendship and good will
  160. amiss
    in an improper or mistaken manner
  161. amity
    a state of friendship and cordiality
  162. amnesia
    partial or total loss of memory
  163. amnesty
    a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense
  164. amorally
    without regard for the distinction between right and wrong
  165. amorous
    inclined toward or displaying love
  166. amorphous
    having no definite form or distinct shape
  167. amphibian
    cold-blooded vertebrate living on land but breeding in water
  168. amphitheater
    an oval large stadium with tiers of seats
  169. ample
    more than enough in size or scope or capacity
  170. amplify
    increase the volume of
  171. amputate
    remove surgically
  172. amok
    wildly; without self-control
  173. amulet
    a trinket thought to be a magical protection against evil
  174. anachronism
    locating something at a time when it couldn't have existed
  175. analgesic
    capable of relieving pain
  176. analogous
    similar or equivalent in some respects
  177. analogy
    drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity
  178. anarchist
    an advocate of the abolition of governments
  179. anarchy
    a state of lawlessness and disorder
  180. anathema
    a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication
  181. ancestry
    the lineage of an individual
  182. anchor
    a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
  183. ancillary
    furnishing added support
  184. anecdote
    short account of an incident
  185. anemia
    a deficiency of red blood cells
  186. anesthetic
    a drug that causes temporary loss of bodily sensations
  187. anguish
    extreme distress of body or mind
  188. angular
    having straight lines and sharp points or corners
  189. animadversion
    harsh criticism or disapproval
  190. animated
    having life or vigor or spirit
  191. animosity
    a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
  192. animus
    a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
  193. annals
    a chronological account of events in successive years
  194. anneal
    bring to a desired consistency by heating and cooling
  195. annex
    attach to
  196. annihilate
    kill in large numbers
  197. annotate
    add explanatory notes to or supply with critical comments
  198. annuity
    income from capital investment paid regularly
  199. annul
    cancel officially
  200. anodyne
    capable of relieving pain
  201. anoint
    administer an oil or ointment to, often ceremonially
  202. anomalous
    deviating from the general or common order or type
  203. anomaly
    deviation from the normal or common order, form, or rule
  204. anonymity
    the state of being unknown
  205. antagonism
    an actively expressed feeling of dislike and hostility
  206. antecede
    be earlier in time; go back further
  207. antecedent
    a preceding occurrence or cause or event
  208. antediluvian
    of or relating to the period before the biblical flood
  209. anthem
    a song of devotion or loyalty
  210. anthology
    a collection of selected literary passages
  211. anthropoid
    resembling human beings
  212. anthropologist
    a social scientist specializing in the study of humanity
  213. anthropomorphic
    suggesting human features for animals or inanimate things
  214. antic
    ludicrously odd
  215. anticlimax
    a disappointing decline after a previous rise
  216. antidote
    a remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison
  217. antipathy
    a feeling of intense dislike
  218. antiquated
    so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
  219. antiseptic
    thoroughly clean and free of disease-causing organisms
  220. antithesis
    exact opposite
  221. anvil
    a heavy block on which hot metals are shaped by hammering
  222. apathy
    an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
  223. ape
    any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all
  224. aperture
    a natural opening in something
  225. apex
    the highest point of something
  226. aphasia
    inability to use language because of a brain lesion
  227. aphorism
    a short pithy instructive saying
  228. apiary
    a shed containing a number of beehives
  229. aplomb
    great coolness and composure under strain
  230. apocalyptic
    of or relating to a catastrophe
  231. apocryphal
    being of questionable authenticity
  232. apogee
    the farthest point in an orbit around the Earth
  233. apolitical
    neutral with regards to government policy
  234. apologist
    a person who argues to defend some policy or institution
  235. apostate
    not faithful to religion or party or cause
  236. apothecary
    a health professional who prepares and dispenses drugs
  237. apothegm
    a short pithy instructive saying
  238. apotheosis
    model of excellence or perfection of a kind
  239. appall
    strike with disgust or revulsion
  240. apparition
    a ghostly appearing figure
  241. appease
    make peace with
  242. appellation
    identifying words by which someone or something is called
  243. append
    fix to; attach
  244. application
    the action of putting something into operation
  245. apposite
    being of striking appropriateness and pertinence
  246. appraise
    consider in a comprehensive way
  247. appreciate
    be fully aware of; realize fully
  248. apprehend
    anticipate with dread or anxiety
  249. apprehensive
    in fear or dread of possible evil or harm
  250. apprise
    inform somebody of something
  251. approbation
    official acceptance or agreement
  252. appropriate
    suitable for a particular person, place, or situation
  253. appurtenance
    equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles
  254. apropos
    of a suitable, fitting, or pertinent nature
  255. aptitude
    inherent ability
  256. aquiline
    curved down like an eagle's beak
  257. arabesque
    position in which the dancer has one leg raised behind
  258. arable
    capable of being farmed productively
  259. arbiter
    someone chosen to judge and decide a disputed issue
  260. arbitrary
    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
  261. arbitrate
    act between parties with a view to reconciling differences
  262. arboretum
    a facility where trees and shrubs are cultivated
  263. arcade
    a structure composed of arches supported by columns
  264. arcane
    requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
  265. archaeology
    the branch of anthropology that studies prehistoric people
  266. archaic
    so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
  267. archetype
    something that serves as a model
  268. archipelago
    a group of many islands in a large body of water
  269. archives
    collection of records especially about an institution
  270. ardor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
  271. arduous
    characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
  272. argot
    a characteristic language of a particular group
  273. aria
    an elaborate song for solo voice
  274. arid
    lacking sufficient water or rainfall
  275. aristocracy
    a privileged class holding hereditary titles
  276. armada
    a large fleet
  277. aromatic
    having a strong pleasant odor
  278. arraign
    accuse of a wrong or an inadequacy
  279. array
    an impressive display or assortment
  280. arrears
    the state of being behind in payments
  281. arrest
    take into custody
  282. arrhythmic
    lacking a steady beat or accent
  283. arrogance
    overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner
  284. arroyo
    a stream or brook
  285. arsenal
    all the weapons and equipment that a country has
  286. artful
    not straightforward or candid
  287. articulate
    express or state clearly
  288. artifact
    a man-made object
  289. artifice
    the use of deception or trickery
  290. artisan
    a skilled worker who practices some trade or handicraft
  291. artless
    simple and natural; without cunning or deceit
  292. ascendancy
    the state when one person or group has power over another
  293. ascertain
    learn or discover with confidence
  294. ascetic
    someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
  295. ascribe
    attribute or credit to
  296. aseptic
    free of pathological microorganisms
  297. ashen
    pale from illness or emotion
  298. asinine
    devoid of intelligence
  299. askance
    with suspicion or disapproval
  300. askew
    turned or twisted to one side
  301. asperity
    harshness of manner
  302. aspersion
    a disparaging remark
  303. aspirant
    an ambitious young person
  304. aspire
    have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
  305. assail
    attack someone physically or emotionally
  306. assay
    a test of a substance to determine its components
  307. assent
    agree or express agreement
  308. assert
    declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
  309. assessment
    the act of judging a person or situation or event
  310. assiduous
    marked by care and persistent effort
  311. assimilate
    make alike
  312. assuage
    provide physical relief, as from pain
  313. assumption
    the act of taking something for granted
  314. asteroid
    a small celestial body composed of rock and metal
  315. astigmatism
    impaired eyesight common in nearsighted people
  316. astral
    being or relating to or resembling or emanating from stars
  317. astringent
    tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue
  318. astronomical
    relating to the branch of physics studying celestial bodies
  319. astute
    marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
  320. asunder
    into parts or pieces
  321. asylum
    a shelter from danger or hardship
  322. asymmetric
    characterized by lack of balance in the arrangement of parts
  323. atavism
    a reappearance of an earlier characteristic
  324. atheist
    someone who denies the existence of god
  325. atone
    turn away from sin or do penitence
  326. atrocity
    an act of shocking cruelty
  327. atrophy
    a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse
  328. attentive
    taking heed
  329. attenuate
    become weaker, in strength, value, or magnitude
  330. attest
    provide evidence for
  331. attribute
    a quality belonging to or characteristic of an entity
  332. attrition
    the act of rubbing together
  333. atypical
    not representative of a group, class, or type
  334. audacious
    disposed to venture or take risks
  335. audit
    examine carefully for accuracy
  336. augment
    enlarge or increase
  337. augury
    an event indicating important things to come
  338. august
    profoundly honored
  339. aureole
    the outermost region of the sun's atmosphere
  340. auroral
    characteristic of the dawn
  341. auspicious
    indicating favorable circumstances and good luck
  342. austere
    of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
  343. authenticate
    establish the undisputed credibility of something
  344. authoritarian
    characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule
  345. authoritative
    of recognized power or excellence
  346. autocratic
    characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule
  347. automaton
    a mechanism that can move independently of external control
  348. autonomous
    existing as an independent entity
  349. autopsy
    an examination and dissection of a dead body
  350. auxiliary
    furnishing added support
  351. avalanche
    a slide of large masses of snow, ice and mud down a mountain
  352. avarice
    reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth
  353. avenge
    take action in return for a perceived wrong
  354. aver
    declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
  355. averse
    strongly opposed
  356. aversion
    a feeling of intense dislike
  357. avert
    turn away or aside
  358. aviary
    a building where birds are kept
  359. avid
    marked by active interest and enthusiasm
  360. avocation
    an auxiliary activity
  361. avow
    declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
  362. avuncular
    being or relating to an uncle
  363. awe
    an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
  364. awl
    a pointed tool for marking surfaces or for punching holes
  365. awry
    turned or twisted to one side
  366. axiom
    a proposition that is not susceptible of proof or disproof
  367. azure
    bright blue in color, like a clear sky
  368. babble
    utter meaningless sounds
  369. bacchanalian
    used of riotously drunken merrymaking
  370. badger
    sturdy carnivorous burrowing mammal with strong claws
  371. badinage
    frivolous banter
  372. baffle
    be a mystery or bewildering to
  373. bait
    something used to lure fish or other animals
  374. baleful
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
  375. balk
    refuse to proceed or comply
  376. ballast
    any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
  377. balm
    preparation applied externally as a remedy or for soothing
  378. balmy
    mild and pleasant
  379. banal
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
  380. bandy
    discuss lightly
  381. bane
    something causing misery or death
  382. baneful
    evil or sinister
  383. bantering
    cleverly amusing in tone
  384. barb
    a point facing the main point making an arrowhead or spear
Created on Thu Sep 27 11:37:22 EDT 2012 (updated Thu Sep 27 11:52:27 EDT 2012)

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