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Common GRE Words
Common GRE Words
140
English
Graduate
07/11/2011

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Term
abate
Definition
to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
Term
abscond
Definition
to leave secretly
Term
abstain
Definition
to choose not to do something
Term
abyss
Definition
an extremely deep hole
Term
adulterate
Definition
to make impure
Term
advocate
Definition
to speak in favor of
Term
aesthetic
Definition
concerning the appreciation of beauty
Term
aggrandize
Definition
to increase in power, influence, and reputation
Term
alleviate
Definition
to make more bearable
Term
amalgamate
Definition
to combine; to mix together
Term
ambiguous
Definition
doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways
Term
ameliorate
Definition
to make better; to improve
Term
anachronism
Definition
something out of place in time
Term
analogous
Definition
similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
Term
anomaly
Definition
deviation from what is normal
Term
antagonize
Definition
to annoy or provoke to anger
Term
antipathy
Definition
extreme dislike
Term
apathy
Definition
lack of interest or emotion
Term
arbitrate
Definition
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
Term
archaic
Definition
ancient, old-fashioned
Term
ardor
Definition
intense and passionate feeling
Term
assuage
Definition
to make something unpleasant less severe
Term
attenuate
Definition
to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
Term
audacious
Definition
fearless and daring
Term
austere
Definition
severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
Term
banal
Definition
predictable, cliche, boring
Term
bolster
Definition
to support; prop up
Term
bombastic
Definition
pompous in speech and manner
Term
cacophony
Definition
harsh, jarring noise
Term
dissemble
Definition
to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character
Term
dissonance
Definition
a harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
Term
dogma
Definition
a firmly held opinion, often a religious belief
Term
dogmatic
Definition
dictatorial in one's opinions
Term
dupe
Definition
to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
Term
eclectic
Definition
selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
Term
efficacy
Definition
effectiveness
Term
elegy
Definition
a sorrowful poem or speech
Term
eloquent
Definition
persuasive and moving, especially in speech
Term
emulate
Definition
to copy; to try to equal or excel
Term
enervate
Definition
to reduce in strength
Term
engender
Definition
to produce, cause, or bring about
Term
enigma
Definition
a puzzle, a mystery
Term
enumerate
Definition
to count, list, or itemize
Term
ephemeral
Definition
lasting a short time
Term
equivocate
Definition
to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
Term
erratic
Definition
wandering and unpredictable
Term
erudite
Definition
learned, scholarly, bookish
Term
esoteric
Definition
known or understood by only a few
Term
estimable
Definition
admirable
Term
euphemism
Definition
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
Term
exacerbate
Definition
to make worse
Term
exculpate
Definition
to clear from blame; prove innocent
Term
exigent
Definition
urgent; requiring immediate action
Term
exonerate
Definition
to clear of blame
Term
fawn
Definition
to grovel
Term
fervid
Definition
intensely emotional; feverish
Term
florid
Definition
excessively decorated or embellished
Term
foment
Definition
to arouse or incite
Term
frugality
Definition
a tendency to be thrifty or cheap
Term
garrulous
Definition
tending to talk a lot
Term
gregarious
Definition
outgoing,sociable
Term
guile
Definition
deceit or trickery
Term
iconoclast
Definition
one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
Term
imperturbable
Definition
not capable of being disturbed
Term
impervious
Definition
impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
Term
impetuous
Definition
quick to act without thinking
Term
implacable
Definition
unable to be calmed down or made peaceful
Term
inchoate
Definition
not fully formed; disorganized
Term
ingenuous
Definition
showing innocence or childlike simplicity
Term
inimical
Definition
hostile, unfriendly
Term
innocuous
Definition
harmless
Term
insipid
Definition
lacking interest or flavor
Term
intransigent
Definition
uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
Term
inundate
Definition
to overwhelm; to cover with water
Term
irascible
Definition
easily made angry
Term
laconic
Definition
using few words
Term
lament
Definition
to express sorrow; to grieve
Term
laud
Definition
to give praise; to glorify
Term
lavish
Definition
to give unsparingly (verb)
extremely generous or extravagant (adj.)
Term
loquacious
Definition
talkative
Term
lucid
Definition
clear and easily understood
Term
luminous
Definition
bright, brilliant, glowing
Term
malinger
Definition
to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
Term
malleable
Definition
capable of being shaped
Term
meticulous
Definition
extremely careful about details
Term
misanthrope
Definition
a person who dislikes others
Term
mitigate
Definition
to soften; to lessen
Term
mollify
Definition
to calm or make less severe
Term
monotony
Definition
lack of variation
Term
obdurate
Definition
hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion
Term
obsequious
Definition
overly submissive and eager to please
Term
obstinate
Definition
stubborn, unyielding
Term
obviate
Definition
to prevent; to make unnecessary
Term
occlude
Definition
to stop up; to prevent the passage of
Term
onerous
Definition
troublesome and oppressive; burdensome
Term
opaque
Definition
impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light
Term
opprobrium
Definition
public disgrace
Term
ostentation
Definition
excessive showiness
Term
paradox
Definition
contradiction of or dilemma
Term
paragon
Definition
model of excellence or perfection
Term
pedant
Definition
someone who shows off learning
Term
perfidious
Definition
willing to betray one's trust
Term
perfunctory
Definition
done in a routine way; indifferent
Term
permeate
Definition
to penetrate
Term
placate
Definition
to soothe or pacify
Term
plethora
Definition
excess
Term
pragmatic
Definition
practical as opposed to idealistic
Term
precipitate
Definition
to throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation
Term
prevaricate
Definition
to lie or deviate from the truth
Term
pristine
Definition
fresh and clean; uncorrupted
Term
prodigal
Definition
lavish, wasteful
Term
proliferate
Definition
to increase in number quickly
Term
propitiate
Definition
to conciliate; to appease; satisfy or pacify
Term
propriety
Definition
correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs
Term
prudence
Definition
wisdom, caution, or restraint
Term
quiescent
Definition
motionless
Term
rarefy
Definition
to make thinner or sparser
Term
repudiate
Definition
to reject the validity of
Term
reticent
Definition
silent, reserved
Term
rhetoric
Definition
effective writing or speaking
Term
satiate
Definition
to satisfy fully or overindulge
Term
soporific
Definition
causing sleep or lethargy
Term
specious
Definition
deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious
Term
stigma
Definition
a mark of shame or discredit
Term
stolid
Definition
unemotional; lacking sensitivity
Term
sublime
Definition
lofty or grand
Term
tacit
Definition
done without using words
Term
taciturn
Definition
silent, not talkative
Term
tirade
Definition
long, harsh speech or verbal attack
Term
torpor
Definition
extreme mental and physical sluggishness
Term
transitory
Definition
temporary, lasting a brief time
Term
vacillate
Definition
to sway physically; to be indecisive
Term
venerate
Definition
to respect deeply
Term
veracity
Definition
filled with truth and accuracy
Term
verbose
Definition
wordy
Term
vex
Definition
to annoy
Term
volatile
Definition
easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive
Term
waver
Definition
to fluctuate between choices
Term
whimsical
Definition
acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
Term
zeal
Definition
passion, excitement
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