GRE words

Matthew S.
419 words 2 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. adulterate
    make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
  2. abstemious
    marked by temperance in indulgence
  3. adversary
    someone who offers opposition
  4. advocate
    a person who pleads for a person, cause, or idea
  5. aesthetic
    characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
  6. affinity
    a natural attraction or feeling of kinship
  7. aggregate
    a sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together
  8. amalgamate
    bring or combine together or with something else
  9. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
  10. ambivalence
    mixed feelings or emotions
  11. ameliorate
    make better
  12. anachronism
    locating something at a time when it couldn't have existed
  13. analogous
    similar or equivalent in some respects
  14. anarchy
    a state of lawlessness and disorder
  15. anomalous
    deviating from the general or common order or type
  16. antipathy
    a feeling of intense dislike
  17. apathy
    an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
  18. application
    the action of putting something into operation
  19. approbation
    official acceptance or agreement
  20. appropriate
    suitable for a particular person, place, or situation
  21. arbitrary
    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
  22. ascetic
    someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
  23. aspiration
    a cherished desire
  24. assiduous
    marked by care and persistent effort
  25. assuage
    provide physical relief, as from pain
  26. attenuate
    become weaker, in strength, value, or magnitude
  27. audacious
    disposed to venture or take risks
  28. augment
    enlarge or increase
  29. auspicious
    indicating favorable circumstances and good luck
  30. austere
    of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
  31. autonomous
    existing as an independent entity
  32. banal
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
  33. belie
    be in contradiction with
  34. beneficent
    doing or producing good
  35. benevolent
    showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
  36. bolster
    support and strengthen
  37. burgeon
    grow and flourish
  38. burnish
    polish and make shiny
  39. cacophony
    loud confusing disagreeable sounds
  40. cajole
    influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
  41. candor
    the quality of being honest and straightforward
  42. capricious
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
  43. chauvinist
    a person with a prejudiced belief in his own superiority
  44. coagulate
    change from a liquid to a thickened or solid state
  45. coda
    the closing section of a musical composition
  46. cogent
    powerfully persuasive
  47. collusion
    secret agreement
  48. compliant
    disposed to act in accordance with someone's wishes
  49. conciliatory
    making or willing to make concessions
  50. condescend
    behave in a patronizing manner
  51. conducive
    tending to bring about; being partly responsible for
  52. connoisseur
    an expert able to appreciate a field
  53. condone
    excuse, overlook, or make allowances for
  54. consensus
    agreement in the judgment reached by a group as a whole
  55. constraint
    the state of being physically limited
  56. contentious
    showing an inclination to disagree
  57. conundrum
    a difficult problem
  58. converge
    be adjacent or come together
  59. correlation
    a reciprocal connection between two or more things
  60. corrosive
    capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
  61. credulity
    tendency to believe readily
  62. criterion
    the ideal in terms of which something can be judged
  63. cynical
    believing the worst of human nature and motives
  64. dearth
    an insufficient quantity or number
  65. debacle
    a sudden and complete disaster
  66. debase
    make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
  67. decorum
    propriety in manners and conduct
  68. deference
    courteous regard for people's feelings
  69. definitive
    clearly formulated
  70. delineate
    represented accurately or precisely
  71. deprecate
    express strong disapproval of; deplore
  72. derision
    the act of treating with contempt
  73. derivative
    a compound obtained from another compound
  74. desiccate
    lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless
  75. deterrent
    something immaterial that interferes with action or progress
  76. detraction
    a petty disparagement
  77. dichotomy
    a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses
  78. diffidence
    lack of self-assurance
  79. diffusion
    the act of dispersing something
  80. dilemma
    state of uncertainty in a choice between unfavorable options
  81. diligence
    conscientiousness in paying proper attention to a task
  82. discerning
    having or revealing keen insight and good judgment
  83. discordant
    not in agreement or harmony
  84. discrepancy
    a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions
  85. discrete
    constituting a separate entity or part
  86. disinterested
    unaffected by concern for one's own welfare
  87. disjointed
    taken apart at the points of connection
  88. disparage
    express a negative opinion of
  89. disparate
    fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
  90. disperse
    move away from each other
  91. disseminate
    cause to become widely known
  92. dissent
    a difference of opinion
  93. dissolution
    separation into component parts
  94. dissonance
    disagreeable sounds
  95. distill
    undergo condensation
  96. diverge
    move or draw apart
  97. diversion
    a turning aside
  98. docile
    easily handled or managed
  99. dogmatic
    pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
  100. dogma
    a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
  101. dormant
    inactive but capable of becoming active
  102. droll
    comical in an odd or whimsical manner
  103. ebullient
    joyously unrestrained
  104. eclectic
    selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
  105. efficacy
    capacity or power to produce a desired result
  106. elicit
    call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
  107. elusive
    skillful at evading capture
  108. embellish
    make more attractive, as by adding ornament or color
  109. empirical
    derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
  110. emulate
    strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
  111. endemic
    native to or confined to a certain region
  112. enervate
    weaken physically, mentally, or morally
  113. engender
    call forth
  114. enigmatic
    not clear to the understanding
  115. enmity
    a state of deep-seated ill-will
  116. ephemeral
    anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day
  117. episodic
    divided into or composed of distinct scenes or events
  118. episodic memory
    memory for episodes in your own life
  119. equanimity
    steadiness of mind under stress
  120. equivocate
    be deliberately ambiguous or unclear
  121. erudite
    having or showing profound knowledge
  122. eulogy
    a formal expression of praise for someone who has died
  123. evanescent
    short-lived; tending to vanish or disappear
  124. exonerate
    pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
  125. extrapolation
    an inference about the future based on known facts
  126. extricate
    release from entanglement or difficulty
  127. facetious
    cleverly amusing in tone
  128. fallacious
    containing or based on incorrect reasoning
  129. fallacy
    a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning
  130. fallible
    wanting in moral strength, courage, or will
  131. fawning
    attempting to win favor by flattery
  132. felicitous
    exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style
  133. fervor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
  134. fetter
    a shackle for the ankles or feet
  135. fledgling
    young bird that has just become capable of flying
  136. flippancy
    inappropriate levity
  137. flippant
    showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness
  138. forbearance
    a delay in enforcing rights or claims or privileges
  139. forestall
    keep from happening or arising; make impossible
  140. gainsay
    take exception to
  141. garner
    assemble or get together
  142. garrulity
    the quality of being wordy and talkative
  143. geniality
    a disposition to be friendly and approachable
  144. graduate
    receive an academic degree upon completion of one's studies
  145. gratuitous
    unnecessary and unwarranted
  146. gregarious
    temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others
  147. guile
    shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
  148. guileless
    innocent and free of deceit
  149. hamper
    prevent the progress or free movement of
  150. heresy
    a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion
  151. homogeneous
    all of the same or similar kind or nature
  152. homogenous
    all of the same or similar kind or nature
  153. hypocritical
    professing feelings or virtues one does not have
  154. hypothetical
    a conjectural possibility or circumstance
  155. imminent
    close in time; about to occur
  156. immutable
    not subject or susceptible to change or variation
  157. impair
    make worse or less effective
  158. impassive
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
  159. impeded
    made difficult or slow
  160. impervious
    not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
  161. implicit
    suggested though not directly expressed
  162. impromptu
    with little or no preparation or forethought
  163. imprudent
    not sensible, responsible, or wise
  164. incongruity
    the quality of disagreeing
  165. indigence
    a state of extreme poverty or destitution
  166. indiscriminate
    failing to make or recognize distinctions
  167. indolence
    inactivity resulting from a dislike of work
  168. inept
    generally incompetent and ineffectual
  169. inequity
    injustice by virtue of not conforming with standards
  170. inertia
    the tendency of something to stay in rest or motion
  171. ingenuous
    lacking in sophistication or worldliness
  172. insipid
    lacking interest or significance or impact
  173. insularity
    lack of openness to new ideas; narrow-mindedness
  174. intangible
    incapable of being perceived by the senses, especially touch
  175. intractable
    difficult to manage or mold
  176. intransigence
    stubborn refusal to compromise or change
  177. intrinsically
    with respect to its inherent nature
  178. invective
    abusive language used to express blame or censure
  179. irate
    feeling or showing extreme anger
  180. itinerary
    an established line of travel or access
  181. judicious
    marked by the exercise of common sense in practical matters
  182. laconic
    brief and to the point
  183. laudatory
    full of or giving praise
  184. lethargic
    deficient in alertness or activity
  185. levity
    a manner lacking seriousness
  186. lucid
    transparently clear; easily understandable
  187. luminous
    softly bright or radiant
  188. malleable
    capable of being shaped or bent
  189. maverick
    someone who exhibits independence in thought and action
  190. mitigate
    lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
  191. mollify
    cause to be more favorably inclined
  192. obdurate
    stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
  193. obsequious
    attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
  194. officious
    intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
  195. opaque
    not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy
  196. ossify
    become bony
  197. ostentatious
    intended to attract notice and impress others
  198. paradigm
    a standard or typical example
  199. paradox
    a statement that contradicts itself
  200. paragon
    a perfect embodiment of a concept
  201. parody
    a composition that imitates or misrepresents a style
  202. parsimonious
    excessively unwilling to spend
  203. partisan
    a fervent and even militant proponent of something
  204. pathological
    relating to the study of diseases
  205. paucity
    an insufficient quantity or number
  206. pedagogy
    the profession of a teacher
  207. pedantic
    marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning
  208. penury
    a state of extreme poverty or destitution
  209. perennial
    lasting an indefinitely long time
  210. perfunctory
    hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
  211. permeable
    allowing fluids or gases to pass or diffuse through
  212. pervasive
    spreading or spread throughout
  213. phlegmatic
    showing little emotion
  214. piety
    righteousness by virtue of being religiously devout
  215. placate
    cause to be more favorably inclined
  216. plethora
    extreme excess
  217. pragmatic
    concerned with practical matters
  218. precarious
    not secure; beset with difficulties
  219. precipitate
    bring about abruptly
  220. precocious
    characterized by exceptionally early development
  221. precursor
    something indicating the approach of something or someone
  222. presumptuous
    going beyond what is appropriate, permitted, or courteous
  223. pretentious
    creating an appearance of importance or distinction
  224. prevaricate
    be deliberately ambiguous or unclear
  225. pristine
    immaculately clean and unused
  226. probity
    complete and confirmed integrity
  227. problematic
    making great mental demands
  228. prodigal
    recklessly wasteful
  229. prodigy
    an unusually gifted or intelligent person
  230. profligate
    unrestrained by convention or morality
  231. prolific
    intellectually productive
  232. propensity
    a natural inclination
  233. proscribe
    command against
  234. pundit
    an expert who publicly gives opinions via mass media
  235. pungency
    a strong odor or taste property
  236. qualified
    meeting the proper standards and requirements for a task
  237. quiescent
    being quiet or still or inactive
  238. rancor
    a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
  239. recant
    formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
  240. reciprocate
    act, feel, or give mutually or in return
  241. redoubtable
    inspiring fear
  242. refractory
    stubbornly resistant to authority or control
  243. refute
    overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
  244. relinquish
    turn away from; give up
  245. render
    give or supply
  246. reprobate
    a person without moral scruples
  247. rescind
    cancel officially
  248. resign
    accept as inevitable
  249. resolution
    a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner
  250. resolve
    find a solution or answer
  251. reticent
    reluctant to draw attention to yourself
  252. reverent
    feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
  253. salubrious
    promoting health
  254. savor
    a particular taste or smell, especially an appealing one
  255. scapegoat
    someone who is punished for the errors of others
  256. scrupulous
    characterized by extreme care and great effort
  257. secular
    someone who is not a clergyman or a professional person
  258. shard
    a broken piece of a brittle artifact
  259. skeptic
    someone who habitually doubts accepted beliefs
  260. sophistry
    a deliberately invalid argument in the hope of deceiving
  261. soporific
    inducing sleep
  262. spurious
    plausible but false
  263. stigma
    a symbol of disgrace or infamy
  264. stint
    supply sparingly and with restricted quantities
  265. strut
    walk in a proud, confident way
  266. substantiate
    establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
  267. stipulate
    make an express demand or provision in an agreement
  268. striate
    marked with stripes
  269. supposition
    the cognitive process of conjecturing
  270. sustenance
    the act of providing a means of subsistence or survival
  271. sycophant
    a person who tries to please someone to gain an advantage
  272. symbiosis
    the relation between two interdependent species of organisms
  273. tenacity
    persistent determination
  274. tepid
    moderately warm
  275. torpor
    a state of motor and mental inactivity
  276. tractable
    easily managed
  277. truculence
    stubborn and defiant aggressiveness
  278. turbid
    clouded as with sediment
  279. ubiquitous
    being present everywhere at once
  280. vacillation
    indecision in speech or action
  281. vacuous
    devoid of matter
  282. venerate
    regard with feelings of respect and reverence
  283. veracious
    habitually speaking the truth
  284. vie
    compete for something
  285. visionary
    a person with unusual powers of foresight
  286. welter
    a confused multitude of things
  287. whimsical
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
  288. yield
    give or supply
  289. zealot
    a fervent and even militant proponent of something
  290. data
    a collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn
  291. eased
    (of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
  292. interpretation
    the act of expressing something in an artistic performance
  293. resolved
    explained or answered
  294. complication
    the act or process of making more difficult or challenging
  295. hypothesis
    a tentative insight that is not yet verified or tested
  296. reveal
    make visible
  297. consistency
    uniformity or stability in arrangement, behavior, or quality
  298. regaining
    getting something back again
  299. deny
    declare untrue; contradict
  300. pursuing
    following in order to overtake or capture
  301. pervade
    spread or diffuse through
  302. encompass
    include in scope
  303. gather
    assemble or get together
  304. accumulate
    get or gather together
  305. raise
    move upwards
  306. corral
    a pen for cattle
  307. narrative
    an account that tells the particulars of an act or event
  308. compliment
    a remark expressing praise and admiration
  309. diatribe
    thunderous verbal attack
  310. discourse
    an extended communication dealing with some particular topic
  311. vindictive
    disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge
  312. mercenary
    a person hired to fight for another country than their own
  313. belligerent
    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
  314. invasion
    any entry into an area not previously occupied
  315. authoritative
    of recognized power or excellence
  316. dedication
    complete and wholehearted fidelity
  317. signatory
    one who writes his or her name on and is bound by a document
  318. sobriety
    the state of being unaffected or not intoxicated by alcohol
  319. executor
    a person appointed to carry out the terms of the will
  320. allegiance
    the act of binding yourself to a course of action
  321. buttress
    a support usually of stone or brick
  322. fawn
    a young deer
  323. imperiousness
    the trait of being imperious and overbearing
  324. distraught
    deeply agitated especially from emotion
  325. directness
    trueness of course toward a goal
  326. elaborate
    marked by complexity and richness of detail
  327. originality
    the quality of being new (not derived from something else)
  328. boggle
    overcome with amazement
  329. coddle
    cook in nearly boiling water
  330. permissiveness
    a disposition to allow freedom of choice and behavior
  331. disillusioned
    freed from false ideas
  332. interrupted
    discontinued temporarily
  333. covetous
    immoderately desirous of acquiring something
  334. rapacious
    living by preying on other animals
  335. tranquil
    free from disturbance by heavy waves
  336. placid
    calm and free from disturbance
  337. metamorphose
    change in outward structure or looks
  338. broach
    bring up a topic for discussion
  339. gist
    the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
  340. divestiture
    the partial or full sale of a company's division or assets
  341. subsidization
    the act of providing a subsidy
  342. monopolization
    domination to the exclusion of others
  343. extant
    still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost
  344. extraneous
    not belonging to that in which it is contained
  345. extricable
    capable of being extricated
  346. tractability
    the trait of being easily persuaded
  347. infertility
    the state of being unable to produce offspring
  348. implausibility
    the quality of provoking disbelief
  349. impenetrability
    the quality of being impenetrable
  350. incorrigible
    impervious to correction by punishment
  351. indefatigably
    with indefatigable energy
  352. noisome
    causing or able to cause nausea
  353. trepidation
    a feeling of alarm or dread
  354. sorrow
    an emotion of great sadness associated with loss
  355. ardor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
  356. entrust
    put into the care or protection of someone
  357. centrifuge
    an apparatus that separates particles from a suspension
  358. corrode
    cause to deteriorate due to water, air, or an acid
  359. incinerate
    become reduced to ashes
  360. evaporate
    change into gas or steam
  361. lustrous
    reflecting light
  362. raucous
    unpleasantly loud and harsh
  363. repulse
    force or drive back
  364. odious
    extremely repulsive or unpleasant
  365. sinuous
    curved or curving in and out
  366. cursory
    hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
  367. accumulation
    a gain or increase in something over time
  368. sordid
    foul and run-down and repulsive
  369. hold
    have in one's hands or grip
  370. recitation
    a public instance of repeating something prepared in advance
  371. derisive
    expressing contempt or ridicule
  372. subordination
    the state of being lower in rank to something
  373. incursion
    the act of entering some territory or domain
  374. abrogate
    revoke formally
  375. hapless
    unfortunate and deserving pity
  376. aver
    declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
  377. sedulous
    marked by care and persistent effort
  378. overzealous
    marked by excessive enthusiasm for a cause or idea
  379. tranquility
    an untroubled state that is free from disturbances
  380. unspoken
    expressed without verbal communication
  381. orthodox
    adhering to what is commonly accepted
  382. equivocal
    open to two or more interpretations
  383. hull
    dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut
  384. liturgy
    a rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship
  385. rite
    any customary observance or practice
  386. emollient
    a substance with a soothing effect when applied to the skin
  387. dynamo
    a coil that rotates between the poles of an electromagnet
  388. precipitation
    the falling to earth of any form of water
  389. implacable
    incapable of being appeased or pacified
  390. perfidious
    tending to betray
  391. conspire
    act in agreement and in secret towards a deceitful purpose
  392. irascible
    quickly aroused to anger
  393. avenge
    take action in return for a perceived wrong
  394. amendable
    capable of being corrected by additions
  395. misanthrope
    someone who dislikes people in general
  396. reactionary
    extremely conservative or resistant to change
  397. curmudgeon
    an irascible, cantankerous person full of stubborn ideas
  398. xenophobia
    a fear of foreigners or strangers
  399. miscreant
    a person without moral scruples
  400. flatter
    praise somewhat dishonestly
  401. wheedle
    influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
  402. extract
    remove, usually with some force or effort
  403. mutter
    talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
  404. retain
    secure and keep for possible future use or application
  405. radiate
    send out rays or waves
  406. epicure
    a person who takes great pleasure in fine food and drink
  407. prevarication
    the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
  408. emaciation
    extreme thinness, usually caused by starvation or disease
  409. inundation
    an overwhelming number or amount
  410. amelioration
    the act of relieving ills and changing for the better
  411. invigoration
    the activity of giving vitality and vigour to something
  412. magnification
    the act of expanding something in apparent size
  413. unalloyed
    free from admixture
  414. minatory
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
  415. reassuring
    restoring confidence and relieving anxiety
  416. dormancy
    a state of quiet (but possibly temporary) inaction
  417. stock
    a supply of something available for future use
  418. occult
    supernatural forces and events and beings collectively
  419. nascent
    being born or beginning
Created on Sun Jun 05 20:03:23 EDT 2011 (updated Sun Jun 05 20:04:19 EDT 2011)

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