GRE 800 words

Neil N.
342 words 9 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abject
    of the most contemptible kind
  2. abjure
    formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
  3. abscond
    run away, often taking something or somebody along
  4. abstemious
    marked by temperance in indulgence
  5. adjunct
    something added to another thing but not essential to it
  6. alacrity
    liveliness and eagerness
  7. allay
    lessen the intensity of or calm
  8. anachronism
    locating something at a time when it couldn't have existed
  9. antipathy
    a feeling of intense dislike
  10. apogee
    the farthest point in an orbit around the Earth
  11. apothegm
    a short pithy instructive saying
  12. apposite
    being of striking appropriateness and pertinence
  13. apprise
    inform somebody of something
  14. approbation
    official acceptance or agreement
  15. apropos
    of a suitable, fitting, or pertinent nature
  16. arabesque
    position in which the dancer has one leg raised behind
  17. ardor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
  18. argot
    a characteristic language of a particular group
  19. artless
    simple and natural; without cunning or deceit
  20. ascetic
    someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
  21. asperity
    harshness of manner
  22. asceticism
    rigorous self-denial and active self-restraint
  23. bourgeoisie
    a socioeconomic group that is neither wealthy nor poor
  24. asperity
    harshness of manner
  25. aspersion
    a disparaging remark
  26. assiduous
    marked by care and persistent effort
  27. astringent
    tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue
  28. atavism
    a reappearance of an earlier characteristic
  29. austere
    of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
  30. aver
    declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
  31. avocation
    an auxiliary activity
  32. avuncular
    being or relating to an uncle
  33. banal
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
  34. beatify
    make blessedly happy
  35. bedizen
    decorate tastelessly
  36. belie
    be in contradiction with
  37. blandishment
    flattery intended to persuade
  38. blase
    nonchalantly unconcerned
  39. bombastic
    ostentatiously lofty in style
  40. bovine
    any of various wild or domestic cattle
  41. brazen
    not held back by conventional ideas of behavior
  42. bucolic
    devoted to raising sheep or cattle
  43. cadge
    obtain or seek to obtain by wheedling
  44. aficionado
    a serious devotee of some activity, genre, or performer
  45. calumny
    a false accusation of an offense
  46. cant
    a slope in the turn of a road or track
  47. capricious
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
  48. caprice
    a sudden desire
  49. captious
    tending to find and call attention to faults
  50. carping
    persistent petty and unjustified criticism
  51. castigation
    verbal punishment
  52. caucus
    meet to select a candidate or promote a policy
  53. caustic
    capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
  54. churlish
    having a bad disposition; surly
  55. coda
    the closing section of a musical composition
  56. complaisant
    showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
  57. compunction
    a feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed
  58. concomitant
    following or accompanying as a consequence
  59. congenial
    suitable to your needs
  60. continence
    voluntary control over urinary and fecal discharge
  61. contrite
    feeling or expressing pain or sorrow
  62. contumacious
    willfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient
  63. convivial
    occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
  64. cozen
    be dishonest with
  65. dauntless
    invulnerable to fear or intimidation
  66. dearth
    an insufficient quantity or number
  67. decorous
    characterized by propriety and dignity and good taste
  68. defunct
    no longer in force or use; inactive
  69. demotic
    of or for the common people
  70. demur
    politely refuse or take exception to
  71. denigrate
    attack the good name and reputation of someone
  72. denizen
    a plant or animal naturalized in a region
  73. denouement
    the outcome of a complex sequence of events
  74. bellicose
    having or showing a ready disposition to fight
  75. deride
    treat or speak of with contempt
  76. desiccate
    lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless
  77. desuetude
    a state of inactivity or disuse
  78. desultory
    marked by lack of definite plan, purpose, or enthusiasm
  79. detraction
    a petty disparagement
  80. diaphanous
    so thin as to transmit light
  81. diatribe
    thunderous verbal attack
  82. dichotomy
    a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses
  83. diffidence
    lack of self-assurance
  84. discomfit
    cause to lose one's composure
  85. dissonance
    disagreeable sounds
  86. distend
    cause to expand as if by internal pressure
  87. distrait
    having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety
  88. divest
    take away possessions from someone
  89. doggerel
    a comic verse of irregular measure
  90. dross
    worthless or dangerous material that should be removed
  91. effete
    excessively self-indulgent, affected, or decadent
  92. effrontery
    audacious behavior that you have no right to
  93. emaciated
    very thin, especially from disease or hunger or cold
  94. emollient
    a substance with a soothing effect when applied to the skin
  95. encomium
    a formal expression of praise
  96. endemic
    native to or confined to a certain region
  97. enervate
    weaken physically, mentally, or morally
  98. engender
    call forth
  99. equable
    not varying
  100. dialectic
    a contradiction of ideas that determines their interaction
  101. equanimity
    steadiness of mind under stress
  102. ethnocentric
    centered on a specific ethnic group, usually one's own
  103. etiology
    the cause of a disease
  104. exculpate
    pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
  105. execrable
    unequivocally detestable
  106. exhort
    spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
  107. exigency
    a pressing or urgent situation
  108. expatiate
    add details to clarify an idea
  109. expiate
    make amends for
  110. extant
    still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost
  111. extirpate
    destroy completely, as if down to the roots
  112. facetious
    cleverly amusing in tone
  113. factotum
    a servant employed to do a variety of jobs
  114. fatuous
    devoid of intelligence
  115. fawning
    attempting to win favor by flattery
  116. felicitous
    exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style
  117. fervor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
  118. fervent
    characterized by intense emotion
  119. fetid
    offensively malodorous
  120. fetter
    a shackle for the ankles or feet
  121. fiat
    a legally binding command or decision
  122. florid
    elaborately or excessively ornamented
  123. flout
    treat with contemptuous disregard
  124. foment
    try to stir up
  125. forbearance
    a delay in enforcing rights or claims or privileges
  126. forestall
    keep from happening or arising; make impossible
  127. forswear
    formally reject or disavow
  128. founder
    stumble and nearly fall
  129. fracas
    a noisy, angry argument or fight between people
  130. fractious
    easily irritated or annoyed
  131. fresco
    a mural done with watercolors on wet plaster
  132. frieze
    an ornament consisting of a horizontal sculptured band
  133. froward
    habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition
  134. fulminate
    cause to explode violently and with loud noise
  135. fulsome
    unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating
  136. gainsay
    take exception to
  137. garrulous
    full of trivial conversation
  138. gauche
    lacking social poise or refinement
  139. geniality
    a disposition to be friendly and approachable
  140. gerrymander
    divide voting districts unfairly and to one's advantage
  141. glib
    artfully persuasive in speech
  142. goad
    stab or urge on as if with a pointed stick
  143. gossamer
    a gauze fabric with an extremely fine texture
  144. gregarious
    temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others
  145. grouse
    complain
  146. guileless
    innocent and free of deceit
  147. gustatory
    of or relating to the sense of taste
  148. halcyon
    a mythical bird said to breed at the winter solstice
  149. harangue
    a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion
  150. harrowing
    causing extreme distress
  151. hermetic
    completely sealed or airtight
  152. hirsute
    having or covered with hair
  153. histrionic
    overly dramatic or emotional
  154. homily
    a sermon on a moral or religious topic
  155. imbroglio
    an intricate and confusing interpersonal situation
  156. impassive
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
  157. impecunious
    not having enough money to pay for necessities
  158. impede
    be a hindrance or obstacle to
  159. imperturbable
    marked by extreme calm and composure
  160. implacable
    incapable of being appeased or pacified
  161. imprecation
    the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil
  162. impute
    attribute or credit to
  163. inchoate
    only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
  164. incarnate
    possessing or existing in bodily form
  165. incursion
    the act of entering some territory or domain
  166. indigence
    a state of extreme poverty or destitution
  167. indolent
    disinclined to work or exertion
  168. ineluctable
    impossible to avoid or evade
  169. ingenuous
    lacking in sophistication or worldliness
  170. insensible
    barely able to be perceived
  171. insinuate
    suggest in an indirect or covert way; give to understand
  172. insipid
    lacking interest or significance or impact
  173. insouciant
    marked by unconcern
  174. insularity
    lack of openness to new ideas; narrow-mindedness
  175. interpolate
    insert words into texts, often falsifying it thereby
  176. intimate
    marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
  177. intransigence
    stubborn refusal to compromise or change
  178. inured
    made tough by habitual exposure
  179. invective
    abusive language used to express blame or censure
  180. inveigh
    complain bitterly
  181. inveigle
    influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
  182. inveterate
    habitual
  183. invidious
    containing or implying a slight or showing prejudice
  184. irascible
    quickly aroused to anger
  185. irresolute
    uncertain how to act or proceed
  186. itinerant
    traveling from place to place to work
  187. jaundiced
    showing or affected by prejudice or envy or distaste
  188. jibe
    be compatible, similar, or consistent
  189. jocose
    characterized by jokes and good humor
  190. junta
    a group of officers who rule a country after seizing power
  191. labile
    liable to change
  192. laconic
    brief and to the point
  193. lascivious
    driven by lust
  194. lassitude
    a feeling of lack of interest or energy
  195. levity
    a manner lacking seriousness
  196. libertine
    unrestrained by convention or morality
  197. limn
    make a portrait of
  198. limpid
    clear and bright
  199. litany
    a prayer consisting of a series of invocations by the priest with responses from the congregation
  200. loquacious
    full of trivial conversation
  201. lucre
    informal term for money
  202. lustrous
    reflecting light
  203. Machiavellian
    of or relating to amoral or conniving political principles
  204. machination
    a crafty and involved plot to achieve your ends
  205. malign
    speak unfavorably about
  206. menagerie
    a collection of live animals for study or display
  207. mendacious
    given to lying
  208. mendicant
    a pauper who lives by begging
  209. meretricious
    tastelessly showy
  210. militate
    have force or influence; bring about an effect or change
  211. minatory
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
  212. misanthrope
    someone who dislikes people in general
  213. miscellany
    a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
  214. misogynist
    a misanthrope who dislikes women in particular
  215. modicum
    a small or moderate or token amount
  216. mollify
    cause to be more favorably inclined
  217. monolithic
    imposing in size or bulk or solidity
  218. motley
    consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
  219. nonplussed
    filled with bewilderment
  220. nostrum
    patent medicine whose efficacy is questionable
  221. nugatory
    of no real value
  222. obdurate
    stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
  223. obsequious
    attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
  224. occlude
    block passage through
  225. obviate
    do away with
  226. occult
    supernatural forces and events and beings collectively
  227. officious
    intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
  228. onerous
    burdensome or difficult to endure
  229. opprobrium
    a state of extreme dishonor
  230. overweening
    presumptuously arrogant
  231. ornate
    marked by complexity and richness of detail
  232. paean
    a hymn of praise
  233. pallid
    pale, as of a person's complexion
  234. panegyric
    formally expressing praise
  235. patois
    a regional dialect of a language
  236. pellucid
    transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
  237. penury
    a state of extreme poverty or destitution
  238. peregrination
    traveling or wandering around
  239. peremptory
    putting an end to all debate or action
  240. perennial
    lasting an indefinitely long time
  241. perfidious
    tending to betray
  242. perfunctory
    hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
  243. perigee
    the nearest point in an orbit around the Earth
  244. perturb
    disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried
  245. petulant
    easily irritated or annoyed
  246. phlegmatic
    showing little emotion
  247. physiognomy
    the human face
  248. piquant
    having an agreeably pungent taste
  249. pique
    call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
  250. placate
    cause to be more favorably inclined
  251. placid
    calm and free from disturbance
  252. plaintive
    expressing sorrow
  253. platitude
    a trite or obvious remark
  254. plumb
    exactly vertical
  255. plutocracy
    a political system governed by the wealthy people
  256. prate
    speak about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly
  257. prattle
    speak about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly
  258. precipitate
    bring about abruptly
  259. prehensile
    adapted for grasping especially by wrapping around an object
  260. presage
    a foreboding about what is about to happen
  261. preternatural
    existing outside of or not in accordance with nature
  262. prevaricate
    be deliberately ambiguous or unclear
  263. probity
    complete and confirmed integrity
  264. prodigal
    recklessly wasteful
  265. propitiate
    make peace with
  266. proscribe
    command against
  267. provident
    giving something useful for the future
  268. puissant
    powerful
  269. punctilious
    marked by precise accordance with details
  270. pungent
    strong and sharp to the sense of taste or smell
  271. pusillanimous
    lacking in courage, strength, and resolution
  272. quagmire
    a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
  273. quiescent
    being quiet or still or inactive
  274. disquietude
    feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable
  275. pejorative
    expressing disapproval
  276. aplomb
    great coolness and composure under strain
  277. deft
    skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands
  278. quorum
    a gathering of the minimal number of members of a group
  279. raconteur
    a person skilled in telling anecdotes
  280. raiment
    especially fine or decorative clothing
  281. rarefied
    of high moral or intellectual value
  282. recalcitrant
    stubbornly resistant to authority or control
  283. recondite
    difficult to understand
  284. redoubtable
    inspiring fear
  285. refractory
    stubbornly resistant to authority or control
  286. refulgent
    radiating or as if radiating light
  287. regale
    occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
  288. remonstrate
    argue in protest or opposition
  289. renege
    fail to fulfill a promise or obligation
  290. repine
    express discontent
  291. reprobate
    a person without moral scruples
  292. reticent
    reluctant to draw attention to yourself
  293. riposte
    a counterattack made immediately after successfully parrying
  294. rococo
    having excessive asymmetrical ornamentation
  295. rubric
    category name
  296. salacious
    suggestive of or tending to moral looseness
  297. salutary
    tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health
  298. salubrious
    promoting health
  299. sardonic
    disdainfully or ironically humorous
  300. sartorial
    of or relating to tailoring or clothing
  301. saturnine
    bitter or scornful
  302. sedition
    an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority
  303. sedulous
    marked by care and persistent effort
  304. sextant
    an instrument for measuring angular distance
  305. sidereal
    of or relating to the stars or constellations
  306. simian
    relating to or resembling an ape or a monkey
  307. sinecure
    a job that involves minimal duties
  308. sinuous
    curved or curving in and out
  309. sodden
    wet through and through; thoroughly wet
  310. solicitous
    full of anxiety and concern
  311. somatic
    characteristic of the body as opposed to the mind or spirit
  312. soporific
    inducing sleep
  313. sordid
    foul and run-down and repulsive
  314. specious
    plausible but false
  315. spendthrift
    someone who spends money freely or wastefully
  316. stentorian
    very loud or booming
  317. stolid
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
  318. stricture
    a principle that restricts the extent of something
  319. strident
    unpleasantly loud and harsh
  320. stultify
    deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or worthless
  321. succor
    assistance in time of difficulty
  322. subsume
    contain or include
  323. sundry
    consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
  324. supine
    lying face upward
  325. sylvan
    relating to or characteristic of wooded regions
  326. thespian
    a theatrical performer
  327. toady
    a person who tries to please someone to gain an advantage
  328. torpor
    a state of motor and mental inactivity
  329. travesty
    a composition that imitates or misrepresents a style
  330. truculence
    stubborn and defiant aggressiveness
  331. tryst
    a secret rendezvous, especially a romantic one
  332. tutelary
    providing protective supervision
  333. undulate
    move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
  334. valedictory
    a farewell oration
  335. variegated
    having an assortment of colors
  336. venal
    capable of being corrupted
  337. venerate
    regard with feelings of respect and reverence
  338. virtuoso
    someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
  339. vitiate
    make imperfect
  340. vituperative
    marked by harshly abusive criticism
  341. eminence
    high status importance owing to marked superiority
  342. notoriety
    the state of being known for some unfavorable act or quality
Created on Thu Nov 29 22:49:19 EST 2012 (updated Mon Dec 31 17:24:06 EST 2012)

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