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GRE Vocab Words
a list of vocab words
298
General Vocab
Graduate
11/13/2007

Additional General Vocab Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
abberant  
Definition
deviating from normal or correct.
Term
abscond
Definition
to leave secretly and hide, often to avoid the law.
Term
advocate
Definition
to speak, plead, or argue for a cause, or in another’s behalf. (n) -- one who advocates.
Term
aggrandize
Definition
to make greater, to increase, thus, to exaggerate.
Term
amalgamate
Definition
to unite or mix. (n) -- amalgamation.
Term
ambiguous
Definition
vague; subject to more than one interpretation
Term
ambrosial
Definition
extremely pleasing to the senses, divine (as related to the gods) or delicious (n: ambrosia)
Term
anachronism
Definition
a person or artifact appearing after its own time or out of chronological order (adj: anachronistic)
Term
anomalous
Definition
peculiar; unique, contrary to the norm (n: anomaly)
Term
antediluvian
Definition
ancient; outmoded; (literally,before the flood)
Term
antipathy
Definition
hostility toward, objection, or aversion to
Term
arbitrate
Definition
to settle a dispute by impulse (n: arbitration)
Term
assuage
Definition
to make less severe; to appease or satisfy
Term
attenuate
Definition
weaken (adj: attenuated)
Term
audacious
Definition
extremely bold; fearless, especially said of human behavior (n: audacity)
Term
aver
Definition
to declare
Term
banal
Definition
commonplace or trite (n: banality)
Term
barefaced
Definition
unconcealed, shameless, or brazen
Term
blandishment
Definition
blandishmentspeech or action intended to coax someone into doing something
Term
bombast
Definition
pompous speech (adj: bombastic)
Term
breach
Definition
a lapse, gap or break, as in a fortress wall. To break or break through.ex: Unfortunately, the club members never forgot his breach of ettiquette.
Term
burgeon
Definition
to grow or flourish; a bud or new growth (adj: burgeoning )
Term
buttress
Definition
to support. a support
Term
cadge
Definition
to get something by taking advantage of someone
Term
caprice
Definition
impulse (adj: capricious)
Term
castigate
Definition
to chastise or criticize severely
Term

catalyst

Definition
an agent of change (adj: catalytic; v. catalyze)
Term
caustic
Definition
capable of dissolving by chemical action; highly critical: "His caustic remarks spoiled the mood of the party."
Term
chicanery
Definition
deception by trickery
Term
complaisant
Definition
willingly compliant or accepting of the status quo (n: complaisance)
Term
conflagration
Definition
a great fire
Term
corporeal
Definition
of or having to do with material, as opposed to spiritual; tangible. (In older writings, coeporeal could be a synonym for corporal. This usage is no longer common)
Term
corporal
Definition
of the body: "corporal punishment." a non-commissioned officer ranked between a sergeant and a private.
Term
corroborate
Definition
to strengthen or support: "The witness corroborted his story." (n: corroboration)
Term
craven
Definition
coward
Term
culpable
Definition
deserving of blame (n: culpability)
Term
dearth
Definition
lack, scarcity: "The prosecutor complained about the dearth of concrete evidence against the suspect."
Term
deference
Definition
submission or courteous yielding: "He held his tongue in deference to his father." (n: deferential. v. defer)
Term

depict

Definition
to show, create a picture of.
Term
deprecation
Definition
belittlement. (v. deprecate)
Term
depredation
Definition
the act of preying upon or plundering: "The depredations of the invaders demoralized the population."
Term
descry
Definition
to make clear, to say
Term
desiccate
Definition
to dry
Term
diatribe
Definition
a bitter abusive denunciation.
Term
diffident
Definition
lacking self-confidence, modest (n: diffidence)
Term
disabuse
Definition
to free a person from falsehood or error: "We had to disabuse her of the notion that she was invited."
Term
disparaging
Definition
belittling (n: disparagement. v. disparage)
Term
dispassionate
Definition
calm; objective; unbiased
Term
dissemble
Definition
to conceal one's real motive, to feign
Term
dogged
Definition
stubborn or determined: "Her dogged pursuit of the degree eventually paid off."
Term
dogmatic
Definition
relying upon doctrine or dogma, as opposed to evidence
Term
eclectic
Definition
selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources: "Many modern decorators prefer an eclectic style." (n: eclecticism)
Term
efficacy
Definition
effectiveness; capability to produce a desired effect
Term
effluent
Definition
the quality of flowing out. something that flows out, such as a stream from a river (n: effluence)
Term
emollient
Definition
softening; something that softens
Term
emulate
Definition
to strive to equal or excel (n: emulation)
Term
encomium
Definition
a formal eulogy or speech of praise
Term
endemic
Definition
prevalent in or native to a certain region, locality, or people: "The disease was endemic to the region." Don't confuse this word with epidemic.
Term
enervate
Definition
to weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of: "The heatenervated everyone." (adj: enervating)
Term
engender
Definition
to give rise to, to propagate, to cause: "His slip of the toungue engendered much laughter."
Term
enigma
Definition
puzzle; mystery: "Math is an enigma to me." (adj: enigmatic)
Term
ephemeral
Definition
lasting for only a brief time, fleeting (n: ephemera)
Term
equivocal
Definition
ambiguous; unclear; subject to more than one interpretation -- often intentionally so: "Republicans complained that Bill Clinton's answers were equivocal." (v. equivocate)
Term

erudite

Definition
scholarly; displaying deep intensive learning. (n: erudition)
Term
esoteric
Definition
intended for or understood by only a few: "The esoteric discussion confused some people." (n: esoterica)
Term
eulogy
Definition
a spoken or written tribute to the deceased (v. eulogize)
Term
exacerbate
Definition
to increase the bitterness or violence of; to aggravate: "The decision to fortify the border exacerbated tensions."
Term
exculpate
Definition
to demonstrate or prove to be blameless:  "The evidence tended to exculpate the defendant."(adj: exculpatory)
Term
exorbitant
Definition
exceeding customary or normal limits, esp. in quantity or price: "The cab fare was exorbitant."
Term
explicit
Definition
fully and clearly expressed
Term
extant
Definition
extantin existence, still existing: The only extant representative of that species."
Term
fathom
Definition
a measure of length (six feet) used in nautical settings. to penetrate to the depths of something in order to understand it: "I couldn't fathom her reasoning on that issue."
Term
fawn
Definition
to seek favor or attention; to act subserviantly (n, adj: fawning)
Term
feign
Definition
to give false appearance or impression: "He feigned illness to avoid going to school." (adj: feigned)
Term
fervid, fervent
Definition
highly emotional; hot: "The partisans displayed a fervent patriotism." (n: fervor
Term
fledgling
Definition
a baby bird; an inexperienced person; inexperienced.
Term
florid
Definition
flushed with a rosy color, as in complexion; very ornate and flowery: "florid prose."
Term
floundering
Definition
struggling: "We tried to save the floundering business."
Term
garrulous
Definition
verbose; talkative; rambling: "We tried to avoid our garrulous neighbor."
Term
gossamer
Definition
fine cobweb on foliage; fine gauzy fabric; very fine: "She wore a gossamer robe."
Term
guile
Definition
skillful deceit: "He was well known for his guile." (v. bequile; adj: beguiling. Note, however, that these two words have an additional meaning: to charm (v.) or charming (adj:), while the word guile does not generally have any such positive connotations)
Term
guileless
Definition
honest; straightforward (n: guilelessness)
Term
hapless
Definition
unfortunate
Term
headlong
Definition
headfirst; impulsive; hasty. impulsively; hastily; without forethought: "They rushed headlong into marriage."
Term
homogenous
Definition
similar in nature or kind; uniform: "a homogeneous society."
Term
iconoclast
Definition
one who attacks traditional ideas or institutions or one who destroys sacred images (adj: iconoclastic)
Term
impecunious
Definition
penniless; poor
Term
imperious
Definition
commanding
Term
implication
Definition
insinuation or connotation (v. implicate)
Term
improvidence
Definition
an absence of foresight; a failure to provide for future needs or events: "Their improvidence resulted in the loss of their home."
Term
inchoate
Definition

n an initial or early stage; incomplete; disorganized: "The act of writing forces one to clarify incohate thoughts."

incoherent 

Term
incorrigible
Definition
not capable of being corrected: "The school board finally decided the James was incorrigible and expelled him from school."
Term
indelible
Definition
permanent; unerasable; strong: "The Queen made an indelible impression on her subjects."
Term
ineffable
Definition
undescribable; inexpressible in words; unspeakable
Term
ingenuous
Definition
unsophisticated; artless; straightforward; candid: "Wilson's ingenuous response to the controversial calmed the suspicious listeners."
Term
innocuous
Definition
harmless; having no adverse affect; not likely to provoke strong emotion
Term
insensible
Definition
numb; unconscious: "Wayne was rendered insensible by a blow to the head." unfeeling; insensitive: "They were insensibile to the suffering of others.:
Term
insipid
Definition
lacking zest or excitement; dull
Term
insular
Definition
of or pertaining to an island, thus, excessively exclusive: "Newcomers found it difficult to make friends in the insular community."
Term

intransigent

Definition
stubborn; immovable; unwilling to change: "She was so intransigent we finally gave up trying to convince her." (n: intransigence)
Term
irascible
Definition
prone to outbursts of temper, easily angered
Term
laconic
Definition
using few words; terse: "a laconic reply."
Term
laudable
Definition
praiseworthy; commendable (v. laud)
Term
leviathan
Definition
giant whale, therefore, something very large
Term
loquacious
Definition
talkative
Term
lucid
Definition
clear; translucent: "He made a lucid argument to support his theory."
Term
lugubrious
Definition
weighty, mournful, or gloomy, especially to an excessive degree: "Jake's lugubrious monologues depressed his friends."
Term
magnanimity
Definition
generosity and nobility. (adj: magnanimous)
Term
malevolent
Definition
malicious; evil; having or showing ill will: "Some early American colonists saw the wilderness as malevolent and sought to control it."
Term
misanthrope
Definition
one who hates people: "He was a true misanthrope and hated even himself."
Term
misnomer
Definition
incorrect name or word for something
Term
misogynist
Definition
one who hates women
Term
mitigate
Definition
to make less forceful; to become more moderate; to make less harsh or undesirable: "He was trying to mitigate the damage he had done." (n: mitigation)
Term
nefarious
Definition
wicked, evil: "a nefarious plot."
Term
noisome
Definition
harmful, offensive, destructive: "The noisome odor of the dump carried for miles."
Term
obdurate
Definition
hardened against influence or feeling; intractable.
Term
obviate
Definition
to prevent by anticipatory measures; to make unnecessary:
Term
occlude
Definition
to close or shut off; to obstruct (n: occlusion)
Term
opaque
Definition
not transparent or transluscent; dense; difficult to comprehend, as inopaque reasoning
Term
ossified
Definition
turned to bone; hardened like bone; Inflexible: "The ossified culture failed to adapt to new economic conditions and died out."
Term
panegyric
Definition
a writing or speech in praise of a person or thing
Term
peccadillo
Definition
small sin or fault
Term
pedantic
Definition
showing a narrow concern for rules or formal book learning; making an excessive display of one's own learning: "We quickly tired of his pedantic conversation." (n: pedant, pedantry).
Term
perfidious
Definition
deliberately treacherous; dishonest (n: perfidy)
Term
petulant
Definition
easily or frequently annoyed, especially over trivial matters; childishly irritable
Term
phlegmatic
Definition
not easily excited; cool; sluggish
Term
ponderous
Definition
heavy; massive; awkward; dull: "A ponderous book is better than a sleeping pill."
Term
precipice
Definition
cliff with a vertical or nearly vertical face; a dangerous place from which one is likely to fall; metaphorically, a very risky circumstance
Term
prodigal
Definition
rashly wasteful: "Americans' prodigal devotion to the automobile is unique."
Term
propitiate
Definition
to conciliate; to appease: "They made sacrifices to propitiate angry gods."
Term
Pulchritudinous
Definition
n. physically beautiful
Term
pusillanimous
Definition
coward
Term
quiescence
Definition
inactivity; stillness; dormancy (adj: quiescent)
Term
rarefy
Definition
to make or become thin; to purify or refine (n: rarefaction, adj: rarefied)
Term

reproof

Definition
the act of censuring, scolding, or rebuking. (v. reprove).
Term
rescind
Definition
to repeal or annul
Term
sagacious
Definition
having a sharp or powerful intellect or discernment. (n: sagacity).
Term
sanguine
Definition
cheerful; confident: "Her sanguine attitude put everyone at ease."(Sangfroid (noun) is a related French word meaning unflappibility. Literally, it means cold blood)
Term
sate
Definition
to satisfy fully or to excess
Term
saturnine
Definition
having a gloomy or morose temperament
Term
morose  
Definition
gloomy
Term
savant
Definition
a very knowledgable person; a genious
Term
sedulous
Definition
diligent; persevering; persistent: "Her sedulous devotion to overcoming her background impressed many." (n: sedulity; sedulousness; adv. sedulously)
Term
specious
Definition
seemingly true but really false; deceptively convincing or attractive: "Her argument, though specious, was readily accepted by many."
Term
superficial
Definition
only covering the surface: "A superficial treatment of the topic was all they wanted."
Term
tacit
Definition
unspoken: "Katie and carmella had a tacit agreement that they would not mention the dented fender to their parents."
Term
temperate
Definition
exercising moderation and self-denial; calm or mild (n: temperance)
Term
tortuous
Definition
twisted; excessively complicated: "Despite public complaints, tax laws and forms have become increasingly tortuous." Note: Don't confuse this with torturous.
Term
tractable
Definition
ability to be easily managed or controlled: "Her mother wished she were more tractable." (n: tractibility)
Term
turpitude
Definition
depravity; baseness: "Mr. Castor was fired for moral turpitude."
Term
tyro
Definition
beginner; person lacking experience in a specific endeavor: "They easily took advantage of the tyro."
Term
vacuous
Definition
empty; without contents; without ideas or intelligence:: "She flashed a vacuous smile."
Term
venerate
Definition
great respect or reverence: "The Chinese traditionally venerated their ancestors; ancestor worship is merely a popular misnomer for this tradition." (n: veneration, adj: venerable)
Term
vex
Definition
to annoy; to bother; to perplex; to puzzle; to debate at length: "Franklin vexed his brother with his controversial writings."
Term
waver
Definition

to hesitate or to tremble

Term
Abet
Definition
To Aid, Promote, Or Encourage The Commission Of (An Offense)
Term
Abeyance
Definition
A State Of Suspension Or Temporary Inaction.
Term
Abject
Definition
Sunk To A Low Condition.
Term
Abjure
Definition
To Recant, Renounce, Repudiate Under Oath
Term
Abrogate
Definition
To Abolish, Repeal.
Term
Accost
Definition
To Speak To
Term
Accouter
Definition
To Dress.
Term
Alacrity
Definition
Cheerful Willingness.
Term
Anhydrous
Definition
Withered. All the water removed
Term
Apogee
Definition
Climax
Term
Astringent
Definition
Harsh In Disposition Or Character.
Term
abide
Definition
be faithful to endure
Term
abjure
Definition
promise or swear to give up
Term
abraded
Definition
rubbed off worn away by friction
Term
abut
Definition
border on
Term
acarpous
Definition
effete no longer fertile worn out
Term
accretion
Definition
the growing of separate things into one
Term
admonitory
Definition
containing warning
Term
agog
Definition
eager/excited
Term
aplomb
Definition
self-confidence
Term
assiduous
Definition
diligent hard-working sedulous
Term
cant
Definition
insincere talk/jargon
Term
cantankerous
Definition
bad-tempered/quarrelsome
Term
chary
Definition
cautious wary
Term
churl
Definition
bad-tempered person
Term
coddle
Definition
treat with care and tenderness
Term
coeval
Definition
of the same period coexisting
Term
cogent
Definition
strong convincing
Term
cogitate
Definition
think deeply mediate
Term
commodious
Definition
having plenty of space for what is needed
Term
credulity
Definition
too great a readiness to believe things
Term
demagogue
Definition
person appealing not to reasons
Term
demur
Definition
to hesitate raise objections
Term
didactic
Definition
intended to instruct
Term
discountenance
Definition
refuse to approve of
Term
divestiture
Definition
taking off getting rid of giving up
Term
ebullient
Definition
overflowing with enthusiasm showing excitement
Term
effete
Definition
infertile worn out weak
Term
emote
Definition
stir up excite
Term
epicurean
Definition
devoted to pleasure (sensuous enjoyment)
Term
extempore
Definition
without previous thought or preparation
Term
fecund
Definition
fertile
Term
forbearance
Definition
patience willingness to wait
Term
gainsay
Definition
to deny to oppose
Term
germane
Definition
relevant pertinent to
Term
gourmand
Definition
a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess
Term
halcyon
Definition
calm and peaceful
Term
repartee  
Definition
a quick, witty reply.
Term
biddable
Definition
obedient; tractable; docile
Term
deign  
Definition
to condescend to give or grant
Term
amerce
Definition
to punish by imposing a fine
Term
concord
Definition
an agreement between two people, harmony
Term
malefaction  
Definition
an evil deed
Term
penchant  
Definition
a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something
Term
baleful  
Definition
full of menacing or malign influences; pernicious.
Term
vacillate
Definition
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute: His tendency to vacillate makes him a poor leader.
Term
contumacious
Definition
stubbornly perverse or rebellious; willfully and obstinately disobedient.
Term
sardonic
Definition
characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering
Term
indignation
Definition
strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base; righteous anger.
Term
resplendent
Definition
shining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid.
Term
stolid
Definition
not easily stirred or moved mentally; unemotional; impassive.
Term
hedonistic
Definition
a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification.
Term
propitious
Definition
presenting favorable conditions; favorable: propitious weather.
Term
evanescent
Definition
1.vanishing; fading away; fleeting.
2.tending to become imperceptible; scarcely perceptible.
Term
malapropos
Definition
inappropriate; out of place; inopportune; untimely: a malapropos remark.
Term
congruous
Definition
  1. Corresponding in character or kind; appropriate or harmonious
Term
urbane
Definition
having the polish and suavity regarded as characteristic of sophisticated social life in major cities: an urbane manner.
Term
idolatry
Definition
excessive admiration of
Term
idyll
Definition
a carefree episode or experience
Term
imbroglio
Definition
complicated and embarrassing situation
Term
immutable
Definition
That which cannot be changed
Term
importune
Definition
beg urgently solicit (of a prostitute)
Term
imprecation
Definition
an invocation of evil a curse
Term
impute
Definition
to attribute to a cause or source ascribe
Term
incense
Definition
makes angry
Term
incipient
Definition

beginning

 

Term
indolence
Definition
laziness
Term
indomitable
Definition
not easily discouraged or subdued
Term
inimical
Definition
harmful or friendly
Term
insouciant
Definition
carefree
Term
invective
Definition
abusive language curses
Term
lachrymose
Definition
causing tears
Term
lassitude
Definition
weariness tiredness
Term
levee
Definition
formal reception/embankment
Term
lien
Definition
legal claim until a debt on it is repaid
Term
limn
Definition
paint portray
Term
lithe
Definition
bending twisting
Term
lope
Definition
move along with long strides
Term
lucubrate
Definition
write in scholarly fashion
Term
maudlin
Definition
sentimental in a silly way
Term
mendacity
Definition
dishonesty
Term
maverick
Definition
rebel, nonconformist
Term
mercurial
Definition
quickly changing in charachter, fleeting
Term
nadir
Definition
lowest point
Term
nascent
Definition
coming into existence
Term
obloquy
Definition
harsh language
Term
obsequious
Definition
eager to serve
Term
obstreperous
Definition
noisy loud
Term
officious
Definition
to eager to help or offer advice
Term
onerous
Definition
burdensome
Term
paean
Definition
a song of praise or triumph
Term
parley
Definition
negotiations between enemies
Term
penitent
Definition
feeling regret
Term
perfunctory
Definition
done as duty, without care
Term
perspicacity
Definition
quick judging and understanding
Term
pied
Definition
of different colors
Term
prosaic
Definition
trite, banal, everyday, mundane
Term
pugnacious
Definition
fond in the habit of fighting
Term
quail
Definition
lose courage
Term
quixotic
Definition
generous, unselfish
Term
quotidian
Definition
banal everyday
Term
Protean
Definition
taking many forms, readily changeable
Term
protract
Definition
to lengthen
Term
reticent
Definition
reserved in speech
Term
provincial
Definition
related to province ; limited in interest ; having narrow-minded views.
synonym(s): unsophisticated ; narrow-minded.
Term
Punctilious
Definition
excessively attentive to details ; stressing fine points.
synonym(s): meticulous.
Term
Puerile
Definition
1.of or pertaining to a child or to childhood.
2.childishly foolish; immature or trivial: a puerile piece of writing.
Term
puissant
Definition
mighty, strong, potent
Term
trenchant
Definition
a. incisive ; sharp ; strong and effective.
synonym(s): incisive ; keen ; sharp ; decisive.
Term
senility
Definition
characteristic of old age ; feeblemindedness due to age.
synonym(s): old age.
Term
Truculent
Definition
1.fierce; cruel; savagely brutal.
2.brutally harsh; vitriolic; scathing: his truculent criticism of her work.
3.aggressively hostile; belligerent.
Term
Turbid
Definition
Cloudy, unclear
Term
din
Definition
a loud, confused noise; a continued loud or tumultuous sound; noisy clamor.
Term
Recondite
Definition
dealing with very profound, difficult, or abstruse subject matter
Term
Traduce
Definition
to speak maliciously and falsely of; slander; defame
Term
Apposite
Definition
suitable; well-adapted; pertinent; relevant; apt
Term
Benison
Definition
A Blessing
Term
Beatific
Definition

bestowing bliss, blessings, happiness, or the like

Blissful, Saintly 

Term
Benign
Definition
Having a kind disposition
Term
choleric
Definition
extremely irritable or easily angered; irascible
Term
Chimerical
Definition
unreal; imaginary; visionary
Term
Animus
Definition
strong dislike or enmity; hostile attitude; animosity.
Term
carousal
Definition
a noisy or drunken feast or social gathering; revelry.
Term
blanch
Definition
to bleach, whiten by removing color
Term
amble
Definition
slow pace
Term
captious
Definition
apt to notice and make much of trivial faults or defects; faultfinding; difficult to please.
Term
ambulatory
Definition
pertaining to walking
Term
hackneyed
Definition
banal, trite, unoriginal
Term
haggard
Definition
exhausted, wasted, gaunt appearance
Term
languor
Definition
lack of energy
Term
opprobrium
Definition
the disgrace or the reproach incurred by conduct considered outrageously shameful; infamy.
Term
odious
Definition
1.deserving or causing hatred; hateful; detestable.
2.highly offensive; repugnant; disgusting.
Term
jaundice
Definition

yellow

biased 

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