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300 Essential GRE words
essentials!
300
English
Post-Graduate
11/23/2010
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Term
aberrant
 Definition
deviating from what is normal
Term
abeyance
 Definition
temporary suppression or suspension
Term
abscond
 Definition
to depart secretly
Term
abstemious
 Definition
moderate in appetite
Term
admonish
 Definition
to caution or reprimand
Term
aesthetic
 Definition
relating to beauty or art
Term
aggregate
 Definition
amounting to a whole; total
Term
alacrity
 Definition
cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed
Term
amalgamate
 Definition
to combine into a unified whole
Term
ambiguous
 Definition
unclear or doubtful in meaning
Term
ambivalence
 Definition
the state of having conflicting emotional attitudes
Term
ameliorate
 Definition
to improve
Term
anachronism
 Definition
something out of the proper time
Term
analogous
 Definition
comparable
Term
anomalous
 Definition
irregular; deviating from the norm
Term
antipathy
 Definition
dislike; hostility
Term
apprise
 Definition
to inform
Term
approbation
 Definition
praise; approval
Term
appropriate
 Definition
to take possession for one's own use; confiscate
Term
artless
 Definition
guileless; natural
Term
ascetic
 Definition
one who practices self-denial
Term
assiduous
 Definition
diligent; hard-working
Term
assuage
 Definition
to make less severe
Term
attenuate
 Definition
to weaken
Term
audacious
 Definition
bold; daring
Term
austere
 Definition
stern; unadorned
Term
autonomous
 Definition
self-governing; independent
Term
aver
 Definition
to affirm; declare to be true
Term
banal
 Definition
commonplace; trite
Term
belie
 Definition
to contradict; misrepresent; give a false impression
Term
beneficent
 Definition
kindly; doing good
Term
bombastic
 Definition
pompous; using inflated language
Term
boorish
 Definition
rude; insensitive
Term
burgeon
 Definition
to flourish
Term
burnish
 Definition
to polish
Term
buttress
 Definition
to reinforce; support
Term
cacophonous
 Definition
unpleasant or harsh-sounding
Term
capricious
 Definition
fickle
Term
castigation
 Definition
punishment; chastisement; criticism
Term
catalyst
 Definition
something causing change
Term
causality
 Definition
relationship between cause and effect
Term
chicanery
 Definition
trickery; fraud
Term
coagulate
 Definition
thicken; congeal
Term
coda
 Definition
concluding part of a literary or musical composition; something that summarizes or concludes
Term
commensurate
 Definition
proportional
Term
compendium
 Definition
brief, comprehensive summary
Term
complaisant
 Definition
overly polite; willing to please; obliging
Term
conciliatory
 Definition
overcoming distrust or hostility
Term
confound
 Definition
to baffle, perplex, mix up
Term
connoisseur
 Definition
one possessing expert knowledge or training; one of informed and discriminating taste
Term
contention
 Definition
assertion
Term
contentious
 Definition
quarrelsome; causing quarrels
Term
conundrum
 Definition
riddle; puzzle with no solution
Term
conventional
 Definition
customary
Term
convoluted
 Definition
twisted; complicated
Term
craven
 Definition
cowardly
Term
decorum
 Definition
proper behavior
Term
deference
 Definition
respect; regard for another's wishes
Term
delineate
 Definition
to represent or depict
Term
denigrate
 Definition
to slur someone's reputation
Term
derivative
 Definition
something derived; unoriginal
Term
desiccate
 Definition
to dry completely
Term
desultory
 Definition
random; disconnected; rambling
Term
diatribe
 Definition
bitter verbal attack
Term
dichotomy
 Definition
division into two usually contradictory parts
Term
diffidence
 Definition
shyness; lack of confidence
Term
diffuse
 Definition
to spread out
Term
digression
 Definition
act of straying from the main point
Term
dirge
 Definition
funeral hymn
Term
disabuse
 Definition
to free from a misconception
Term
discerning
 Definition
perceptive; exhibiting keen insight and good judgment
Term
discordant
 Definition
not in tune
Term
discredit
 Definition
to dishonor; disgrace; cause to be doubted
Term
discrepancy
 Definition
difference between
Term
discrete
 Definition
constituting a separate thing; distinct
Term
disingenuous
 Definition
not candid; crafty
Term
disinterested
 Definition
unprejudiced; objective
Term
disjointed
 Definition
lacking order or coherence; dislocated
Term
dismiss
 Definition
put away from consideration; reject
Term
disparage
 Definition
to belittle
Term
disparate
 Definition
dissimilar
Term
dissemble
 Definition
to pretend; disguise one's motives
Term
disseminate
 Definition
to spread; scatter; disperse
Term
dissolution
 Definition
disintegration; debauchery
Term
dissonance
 Definition
discord; lack of harmony
Term
distend
 Definition
to expand; swell out
Term
distill
 Definition
extract essential elements
Term
doctrinaire
 Definition
relating to a person who cannot compromise about points of a theory or doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding
Term
dogmatic
 Definition
stating opinions without proof
Term
dupe
 Definition
to deceive, trick
Term
ebullient
 Definition
exhilarated; enthusiastic
Term
eclectic
 Definition
selecting from various sources
Term
efficacy
 Definition
efficiency
Term
effrontery
 Definition
shameless boldness; presumptuousness
Term
elegy
 Definition
poem or song expressing lamentation
Term
elicit
 Definition
provoke; draw out
Term
embellish
 Definition
to adorn, decorate, enhance, make more attractive by adding details
Term
empirical
 Definition
derived from observation or experiment
Term
emulate
 Definition
to imitate; copy
Term
endemic
 Definition
belonging to an area; inherent
Term
enervate
 Definition
to weaken
Term
engender
 Definition
to cause; produce
Term
ephemeral
 Definition
short-lived; fleeting
Term
equanimity
 Definition
composure; calmness
Term
equivocate
 Definition
to intentionally use vague language
Term
erudite
 Definition
learned; scholarly
Term
esoteric
 Definition
hard to understand; only understood by a few
Term
eulogy
 Definition
high praise, especially of one recently deceased
Term
euphemism
 Definition
use of agreeable language in lieu of "unacceptable" language
Term
exacerbate
 Definition
to make worse, aggravate
Term
exculpate
 Definition
to clear of blame; vindicate
Term
exigency
 Definition
crisis; urgent requirements
Term
extraneous
 Definition
not essential
Term
facetious
 Definition
humorous
Term
facilitate
 Definition
to make less difficult
Term
fallacious
 Definition
based on a false idea or fact; misleading
Term
fatuous
 Definition
foolishly self-satisfied
Term
fawning
 Definition
seeking favor through flattery
Term
felicitous
 Definition
suitably expressed; appropriate; well-chosen
Term
flag
 Definition
to droop; grow weak
Term
fledgling
 Definition
beginner; novice
Term
flout
 Definition
to treat scornfully
Term
foment
 Definition
to incite; arouse
Term
forestall
 Definition
to prevent; delay
Term
frugality
 Definition
thrift
Term
gainsay
 Definition
to deny; dispute; oppose
Term
garrulous
 Definition
very talkative; wordy
Term
goad
 Definition
to prod; urge on
Term
gouge
 Definition
to tear out; scoop out; overcharge
Term
grandiloquent
 Definition
pompous; bombastic
Term
gregarious
 Definition
sociable
Term
guileless
 Definition
free of cunning or deceit; artless
Term
gullible
 Definition
easily deceived
Term
harangue
 Definition
long, pompous speech; tirade
Term
homogeneous
 Definition
composed of identical parts; uniform in composition
Term
hyperbole
 Definition
purposeful exaggeration for effect
Term
iconoclastic
 Definition
attacking cherished traditions
Term
idolatry
 Definition
idol worship; blind or excessive devotion
Term
immutable
 Definition
unchangeable
Term
impair
 Definition
to damage; injure
Term
impassive
 Definition
showing no emotion
Term
impede
 Definition
to hinder; block
Term
impermeable
 Definition
impossible to penetrate
Term
imperturbable
 Definition
not easily disturbed
Term
impervious
 Definition
impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
Term
implacable
 Definition
inflexible; incapable of being pleased
Term
implicit
 Definition
implied; understood but not stated
Term
implode
 Definition
collapse inward violently
Term
inadvertently
 Definition
unintentionally
Term
inchoate
 Definition
imperfectly formed or formulated
Term
incongruity
 Definition
state of not fitting
Term
inconsequential
 Definition
insignificant; unimportant
Term
incorporate
 Definition
introduce something into another thing already in existence; combine
Term
indeterminate
 Definition
uncertain; indefinite
Term
indigence
 Definition
poverty
Term
indolent
 Definition
habitually lazy; idle
Term
inert
 Definition
unable to move; sluggish
Term
ingenuous
 Definition
naive and trusting; lacking sophistication
Term
inherent
 Definition
firmly established by nature or habit
Term
innocuous
 Definition
harmless
Term
insensible
 Definition
unconscious; unresponsive
Term
insinuate
 Definition
to suggest; say indirectly, imply
Term
insipid
 Definition
lacking in flavor; dull
Term
insularity
 Definition
narrow-mindedness; isolation
Term
intractable
 Definition
not easily managed
Term
intransigence
 Definition
stubbornness; refusal to compromise
Term
inundate
 Definition
to cover with water or overwhelm
Term
inured
 Definition
hardened; accustomed to; used to
Term
invective
 Definition
verbal abuse
Term
irascible
 Definition
easily angered
Term
irresolute
 Definition
unsure of how to act
Term
laconic
 Definition
using few words
Term
lassitude
 Definition
lethargy; sluggishness
Term
laud
 Definition
to priase
Term
lethargic
 Definition
inactive
Term
levee
 Definition
an embankment that prevents a river from overflowing
Term
levity
 Definition
light manner or attitude
Term
log
 Definition
record of a voyage; record of daily activities
Term
loquacious
 Definition
talkative
Term
lucid
 Definition
bright; clear; intelligible
Term
magnanimity
 Definition
generosity; nobility - especially in offering forgiveness
Term
malingerer
 Definition
one who feigns illness to avoid duty
Term
malleable
 Definition
capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionable
Term
maverick
 Definition
dissenter
Term
mendacious
 Definition
dishonest
Term
metamorphosis
 Definition
change; transformation
Term
meticulous
 Definition
very careful; fastidious
Term
misanthrope
 Definition
one who hates humanity
Term
mitigate
 Definition
to cause to become less harsh, severe, or painful; alleviate
Term
mollify
 Definition
to soothe
Term
morose
 Definition
ill-humored; sullen
Term
mundane
 Definition
worldly as opposed to spiritual; ordinary
Term
negate
 Definition
to nullify
Term
neophyte
 Definition
newbie
Term
obdurate
 Definition
stubborn
Term
obsequious
 Definition
overly submissive
Term
obviate
 Definition
to make unnecessary; to anticipate and prevent
Term
occlude
 Definition
to shut; block
Term
officious
 Definition
too helpful; meddlesome
Term
onerous
 Definition
burdensome
Term
opprobium
 Definition
disgrace; contempt
Term
oscillate
 Definition
to move back and forth
Term
ostentatious
 Definition
showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious
Term
paragon
 Definition
model of excellence or perfection
Term
partisan
 Definition
one-side; committed to a party, group, or cause; prejudiced
Term
pathological
 Definition
departing from normal condition
Term
paucity
 Definition
scarcity
Term
pedantic
 Definition
showing off learning
Term
penchant
 Definition
inclination
Term
penury
 Definition
extreme poverty
Term
perennial
 Definition
present throughout the years; persistent
Term
perfidious
 Definition
faithless; disloyal; untrustworthy
Term
perfunctory
 Definition
superficial; not thorough; performed really as a duty
Term
permeable
 Definition
penetrable
Term
pervasive
 Definition
spread throughout every part
Term
phlegmatic
 Definition
calm in temperament; sluggish
Term
piety
 Definition
devoutness
Term
placate
 Definition
to pacify
Term
plasticity
 Definition
condition of being able to be shaped or formed; pliability
Term
platitude
 Definition
stale, overused expression
Term
plethora
 Definition
excess; overabundance
Term
plummet
 Definition
to fall; plunge
Term
pragmatic
 Definition
practical
Term
precarious
 Definition
uncertain
Term
precipitate (2 definitions)
 Definition
adj.: rash, hasty, sudden
verb: to cause to happen; throw down from a height
Term
precursor
 Definition
forerunner; predecessor
Term
presumptuous
 Definition
rude; improperly bold
Term
prevaricate
 Definition
to quibble; evade the truth
Term
pristine
 Definition
untouched; uncorrupted
Term
probity
 Definition
honesty; high-mindedness
Term
problematic
 Definition
posing a problem; doubtful; unsettled
Term
prodigal
 Definition
wasteful; extravagant; lush
Term
proliferate
 Definition
to increase rapidly
Term
propensity
 Definition
inclination; tendency
Term
propitiate
 Definition
to win over; appease
Term
propriety
 Definition
correct conduct; fitness
Term
proscribe
 Definition
to condemn; forbid; outlaw
Term
pungent
 Definition
strong or sharp in smell or taste; penetrating; caustic; to the point
Term
qualified
 Definition
limited; restricted
Term
quibble
 Definition
to argue over insignificant and irrelevant details
Term
quiescent
 Definition
inactive; still
Term
rarefied
 Definition
refined
Term
recalcitrant
 Definition
resisting authority or control
Term
recant
 Definition
to retract a statement or opinion
Term
recondite
 Definition
abstruse; profound
Term
refractory
 Definition
stubborn; unmanageable; resisting ordinary methods of treatment
Term
refute
 Definition
to negate
Term
relegate
 Definition
to consign to an inferior position
Term
reproach
 Definition
to find fault with; blame
Term
reprobate
 Definition
morally unprincipled person
Term
repudiate
 Definition
to reject as having no authority
Term
rescind
 Definition
to cancel
Term
resolution
 Definition
determination; resolve
Term
reticent
 Definition
not speaking freely; reserved; reluctant
Term
reverent
 Definition
expressing deep respect; worshipful
Term
sage
 Definition
wise
Term
salubrious
 Definition
healthful
Term
sanction
 Definition
to approve, ratify, permit
Term
satiate
 Definition
to satisfy fully
Term
saturate
 Definition
to soak thoroughly; imbue throughout
Term
secrete
 Definition
produce and release substance into organism
Term
shard
 Definition
a piece of broken glass or poetry
Term
skeptic
 Definition
one who doubts
Term
solicitous
 Definition
concerned; attentive; eager
Term
soporific
 Definition
sleep producing
Term
specious
 Definition
seeming to be logical and sound, but not really so
Term
spectrum
 Definition
band of colors produced when sunlight passes through a prism; a broad range of related ideas or objects
Term
sporadic
 Definition
irregular
Term
stigma
 Definition
mark of disgrace or inferiority
Term
stint
 Definition
to be sparing
Term
stipulate
 Definition
to specify as an essential condition
Term
stolid
 Definition
having or showing little emotion
Term
striated
 Definition
marked with thin, narrow grooves or channels
Term
strut
 Definition
to swagger; display to impress others
Term
subpoena
 Definition
notice ordering someone to appear in court
Term
substantiate
 Definition
to support with proof or evidence
Term
supersede
 Definition
to replace, especially to displace as inferior or antiquated
Term
supposition
 Definition
the act of assuming to be true or real
Term
tacit
 Definition
implicit; silently understood
Term
tangential
 Definition
peripheral; digression
Term
tenuous
 Definition
weak; insubstantial
Term
tirade
 Definition
long, violent speech; verbal assault
Term
torpor
 Definition
lethargy; dormancy; sluggishness
Term
tortuous
 Definition
having many twists and turns; highly complex
Term
tractable
 Definition
obedient; yielding
Term
transgression
 Definition
act of trespassing or violating a law or rule
Term
truculence
 Definition
aggressiveness; ferocity
Term
vacillate
 Definition
to waver; oscillate
Term
venerate
 Definition
to adore; honor; respect
Term
veracious
 Definition
truthful; accurate
Term
verbose
 Definition
wordy
Term
viable
 Definition
practicable; capable of developing
Term
viscous
 Definition
thick, syrupy, and sticky
Term
vituperative
 Definition
using or containing harsh, abusive censure
Term
volatile
 Definition
tending to vary frequently; fickle
Term
warranted
 Definition
justified
Term
wary
 Definition
careful; cautious
Term
welter
 Definition
to wallow or roll; toss about; be in turmoil
Term
whimsical
 Definition
fanciful; unpredictable
Term
zealot
 Definition
one fanatically devoted to a cause
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