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GRE Frequently Used Words
Exactly the title
333
English
Graduate
08/26/2013
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Term
Abate
 Definition
v. Subside or Moderate
Term
Abberant
 Definition
adj. Abnormal or deviant
Term
abeyance
 Definition
n. suspend action
Term
abscond
 Definition
v. depart secretly and hide
Term
abstemious
 Definition
adj. abstaining from food and drink: Temperate
Term
admonish
 Definition
v. Warn
Term
adulterate
 Definition
v. to make impure
Term
aesthetic
 Definition
adj. artistically pleasing
Term
aggregate
 Definition
v. to gather
Term
alacrity
 Definition
n. cheerful promptness: eagernes
Term
alleviate
 Definition
v. to ease
Term
amalgamate
 Definition
v. to lump together
Term
ambiguous
 Definition
adj. undefined
Term
ambivalence
 Definition
n. having conflicting thoughts or feelings
Term
ameliorate
 Definition
v. to improve
Term
anachronism
 Definition
n. something or someone misplaced in time
Term
analogous
 Definition
adj. comparable
Term
anarchy
 Definition
n. having no governing body, in a state of chaos
Term
anomalous
 Definition
adj. out of the ordinary
Term
antipathy
 Definition
n. dislike
Term
apathy
 Definition
n. uncaring
Term
appease
 Definition
v. to pacify
Term
apprise
 Definition
v. inform
Term
approbation
 Definition
n. approval
Term
appropriate
 Definition
v. to acquire for oneself
Term
ardous
 Definition
adj. hard; strenuous
Term
artless
 Definition
adj. without guile; open and honest
Term
ascetic
 Definition
adj. practicing self-denial
Term
assidious
 Definition
adj. diligent
Term
assuage
 Definition
v. to ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
Term
attenuate
 Definition
v. make thin; weaken
Term
audacious
 Definition
adj. daring; bold
Term
austere
 Definition
adj. forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented
Term
autonomous
 Definition
adj. self-governing
Term
aver
 Definition
v. state confidently
Term
banal
 Definition
adj. hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality
Term
belie
 Definition
v. contradict; give a false impression
Term
beneficent
 Definition
ajd. kindly; doing good
Term
bolster
 Definition
v. support; reinforce
Term
bombastic
 Definition
adj. pompous; using inflated language
Term
boorish
 Definition
adj. rude; insensitive
Term
burgeon
 Definition
v. grow forth; send out buds
Term
burnish
 Definition
v. make shiny by rubbing; polish
Term
buttress
 Definition
v. support; prop up
Term
cacophonous
 Definition
adj. discordant; inharmonious
Term
capricous
 Definition
adj. unpredictable; fickle
Term
castigation
 Definition
n. punishment; severe criticism
Term
catalyst
 Definition
n. agent that brings about a change
Term
caustic
 Definition
adj. burning; sarcastically biting
Term
chicanery
 Definition
n. trickery; deception
Term
coagulate
 Definition
v. thicken; congeal
Term
coda
 Definition
n. concluding section of music
Term
cogent
 Definition
adj. convincing
Term
commensurate
 Definition
adj. equal in extent
Term
compendium
 Definition
n. brief, comprehensive summary
Term
complaisant
 Definition
adj. trying to please
Term
compliant
 Definition
adj. yielding; conforming to requirements
Term
conciliatory
 Definition
adj. reconciling; soothing
Term
condone
 Definition
v. overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
Term
confound
 Definition
v. confuse; puzzle
Term
connoisseur
 Definition
n. person competent to act as a judge of art, etc.; the lover of an art
Term
contention
 Definition
n. claim; thesis
Term
contentious
 Definition
adj. quarrelsome
Term
contrite
 Definition
adj. penitent
Term
conundrum
 Definition
n. riddle; difficult problem
Term
converge
 Definition
v. approach; tend to meet; come together
Term
convoluted
 Definition
adj. coiled around; involved; intricate
Term
craven
 Definition
adj. cowardly
Term
daunt
 Definition
v. intimidate; frighten
Term
decorum
 Definition
n. propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners
Term
default
 Definition
n. failure to act
Term
deference
 Definition
n. courteous regard for another's wish.
Term
delineate
 Definition
v. portray; depict; sketch
Term
denigrate
 Definition
v. belittle or defame; blacken
Term
deride
 Definition
v. ridicule; make fun of
Term
derivative
 Definition
adj. unoriginal; obtained from another source
Term
desiccate
 Definition
v. dry up
Term
desultory
 Definition
adj. aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
Term
deterrent
 Definition
n. something that discourages; hinderance
Term
diatribe
 Definition
n. bitter scolding; invective
Term
dichotomy
 Definition
n. split; branching into two parts (especially contradicting ones.
Term
diffidence
 Definition
n. shyness
Term
diffuse
 Definition
adj. wordy; rambling; spread out
Term
digression
 Definition
n. wandering away from the subject.
Term
dirge
 Definition
n. lament with music
Term
disabuse
 Definition
v. correct a false impression; undecieve.
Term
discerning
 Definition
adj. mentally quick and observant; having insight.
Term
discordant
 Definition
adj. not harmonious; conflicting.
Term
discredit
 Definition
v. defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve
Term
discrepancy
 Definition
n. lack of consistency; difference.
Term
discrete
 Definition
adj. seperate; unconnected.
Term
disingenuous
 Definition
adj. lacking genuine candor; insincere.
Term
disinterested
 Definition
adj. unpregudiced
Term
disjointed
 Definition
adj. disconnected
Term
dismiss
 Definition
v. eliminate from consideration' reject.
Term
disparage
 Definition
v. belittle.
Term
disparate
 Definition
adj. basically different; unrelated.
Term
dissemble
 Definition
v. disguise; pretend.
Term
disseminate
 Definition
v. distribute; spread; scatter.
Term
dissolution
 Definition
n. breaking of a union; decay; termination
Term
dissonance
 Definition
n. discord; opposite of harmony.
Term
distend
 Definition
v. expand; swell out.
Term
distill
 Definition
v. purify; refine; concentrate.
Term
diverge
 Definition
v. vary; go in different directions from the same point.
Term
divest
 Definition
v. strip; deprive.
Term
document
 Definition
v. provide written evidence.
Term
dogmatic
 Definition
adj. opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal.
Term
dormant
 Definition
adj. sleeping; lethargic; latent.
Term
dupe
 Definition
n. someone easily fooled.
Term
ebullient
 Definition
adj. showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm.
Term
eclectic
 Definition
adj. selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources.
Term
efficacy
 Definition
n. power to produce desired effect.
Term
effrontery
 Definition
n. insolent boldness; temerity
Term
elegy
 Definition
n. poem or song expressing lamentation.
Term
elicit
 Definition
v. draw out by discussion.
Term
embellish
 Definition
v. adorn; ornament; enhance, as a story.
Term
emperical
 Definition
adj. based on experience.
Term
emulate
 Definition
v. imitate; rival.
Term
endemic
 Definition
adj. prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country.
Term
enervate
 Definition
v. weaken.
Term
engender
 Definition
v. cause; produce.
Term
enhance
 Definition
v. increase; improve.
Term
ephemeral
 Definition
adj. short- lived; fleeting.
Term
equanimity
 Definition
n. calmness of temperament; composure.
Term
equivocate
 Definition
v. intentionally mislead; attempt to conceal the truth
Term
erudite
 Definition
adj. learned; scholarly.
Term
esoteric
 Definition
adj. hard to understand; known only to the chosen few.
Term
eulogy
 Definition
n. expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death.
Term
euphemism
 Definition
n. mild expression in place of an unpleasant one.
Term
exacerbate
 Definition
v. worsen; embitter
Term
exculpate
 Definition
v. clear from blame.
Term
exigency
 Definition
n. urgent state; demand or requirement.
Term
extrapolation
 Definition
n. projection; conjecture.
Term
facetious
 Definition
adj. joking (often inappropriately); humorous.
Term
facilitate
 Definition
v. help bring about; make less difficult.
Term
fallacious
 Definition
adj. false; misleading.
Term
fatuous
 Definition
adj. foolish; inane.
Term
fawning
 Definition
adj. courting favor by cringing and flattering.
Term
felicitous
 Definition
adj. apt; suitably expressed; well chosen.
Term
fervor
 Definition
n. glowing ardor; intensity of feeling.
Term
flag
 Definition
v. droop; grow feeble
Term
fledgling
 Definition
adj. inexperienced.
Term
flout
 Definition
v. reject; mock.
Term
foment
 Definition
v. stir up; instigate.
Term
forestall
 Definition
v. prevent by taking action in advance.
Term
frugality
 Definition
n. thrift; economy
Term
futile
 Definition
adj. useless; hopeless; ineffectual.
Term
gainsay
 Definition
v. deny
Term
garrulous
 Definition
adj. loquacious; wordy; talkative.
Term
goad
 Definition
v. urge on
Term
gouge
 Definition
v. overcharge
Term
grandiloquent
 Definition
adj. pompous; bombastic; using high sounding language
Term
gregarious
 Definition
adj. sociable
Term
guileless
 Definition
adj. without deciet
Term
gullible
 Definition
adj. easily deceived.
Term
harangue
 Definition
n. long, passionate, and vehement speech.
Term
homogenous
 Definition
adj. of the same kind.
Term
hyperbole
 Definition
n. exaggeration; overstatement.
Term
iconoclastic
 Definition
adj. attacking cherished traditions.
Term
idolatry
 Definition
n. worship of idols; excessive admiration.
Term
immutable
 Definition
adj. unchangeable
Term
impair
 Definition
v. injure; hurt.
Term
impassive
 Definition
adj. without feeling; imperturbable; stoical
Term
impede
 Definition
v. hinder; block
Term
impermeable
 Definition
adj. impervious; not permitting passage through its substance.
Term
imperturbable
 Definition
adj. calm; placid
Term
impervious
 Definition
adj. impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed.
Term
implacable
 Definition
adj. incapable of being pacified
Term
implicit
 Definition
adj. understood but not stated.
Term
implode
 Definition
v. burst inward.
Term
inadvertently
 Definition
adv. unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly.
Term
inchoate
 Definition
adj. recently begun; rudimentary; elementary.
Term
incongruity
 Definition
n. lack of harmony; absurdity.
Term
inconsequential
 Definition
adj. insignificant; unimportant.
Term
incorporate
 Definition
v. introduce something into a larger whole; combine; unite.
Term
indeterminate
 Definition
adj. uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite.
Term
indigence
 Definition
n. poverty
Term
indolent
 Definition
adj. lazy
Term
inert
 Definition
adj. inactive; lacking power to move
Term
ingenuous
 Definition
adj. naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated
Term
inhenrent
 Definition
adj. firmly established by nature or habit.
Term
innocuous
 Definition
adj. harmless
Term
insensible
 Definition
adj. unconscious; unresponsive.
Term
insinuate
 Definition
v. hint; imply; creep in.
Term
insipid
 Definition
adj. lacking in flavor; dull.
Term
insularity
 Definition
n. narrow-mindedness; isolation
Term
intractable
 Definition
adj. unruly; stubborn; unyielding.
Term
intransigence
 Definition
n. refusal of any compromise; stubbornness.
Term
inundate
 Definition
v. overwhelm; flood; submerge.
Term
inured
 Definition
adj. accustomed; hardened.
Term
invective
 Definition
n. abuse
Term
irascible
 Definition
adj. irritable; easily angered.
Term
irresolute
 Definition
adj. uncertain how to act; weak.
Term
itinerary
 Definition
n. plan of a trip.
Term
laconic
 Definition
adj. brief and to the point.
Term
lassitude
 Definition
n. languor; weariness.
Term
latent
 Definition
adj. potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden.
Term
laud
 Definition
v. praise.
Term
lethargic
 Definition
adj. drowsy; dull
Term
levee
 Definition
n. earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding.
Term
levity
 Definition
n. lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity.
Term
log
 Definition
n. record of a voyage or flight; record of day to day activities.
Term
loquacious
 Definition
adj. talkative.
Term
lucid
 Definition
adj. easily understood; clear; intelligible.
Term
luminous
 Definition
adj. shining; issuing light.
Term
magnanimity
 Definition
n. generosity.
Term
malingerer
 Definition
n. one who feigns illness to escape duty.
Term
malleable
 Definition
adj. capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionable.
Term
maverick
 Definition
n. rebel; nonconformist.
Term
mendacious
 Definition
adj. lying; habitually dishonest.
Term
metamorphosis
 Definition
n. change of form.
Term
meticulous
 Definition
adj. excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulous.
Term
misanthrope
 Definition
n. one who hates mankind.
Term
mitigate
 Definition
v. appease; moderate.
Term
mollify
 Definition
v. soothe.
Term
morose
 Definition
adj. ill-humored; sullen; melancholy.
Term
mundane
 Definition
adj. worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday.
Term
negate
 Definition
v. cancel out; nullify; deny.
Term
neophyte
 Definition
n. recent convert; beginner.
Term
obdurate
 Definition
adj. stubborn.
Term
obsequious
 Definition
adj. slavishly attentive;servile; sycophantic.
Term
obviate
 Definition
v. make unnecessary; prevent problems.
Term
occlude
 Definition
v. shut; close.
Term
officious
 Definition
adj. meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services.
Term
onerous
 Definition
adj. burdensome.
Term
opprobrium
 Definition
n. infamy; vilification.
Term
oscillate
 Definition
v. vibrate; waver.
Term
ostentatious
 Definition
adj. showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention.
Term
paragon
 Definition
n. model of perfection.
Term
partisan
 Definition
adj. one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party.
Term
pathological
 Definition
adj. related to the study of disease; diseased or markedly abnormal.
Term
paucity
 Definition
n. scarcity.
Term
pedantic
 Definition
adj. showing off learning; bookish.
Term
penchant
 Definition
n. strong inclination; liking.
Term
penury
 Definition
n. severe poverty; stinginess.
Term
perennial
 Definition
n. something long-lasting.
Term
perfidious
 Definition
adj. treacherous; disloyal.
Term
perfunctory
 Definition
adj. superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm
Term
permeable
 Definition
adj. penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through.
Term
pervasive
 Definition
adj. spread throughout.
Term
phlegmatic
 Definition
adj. calm; not easily disturbed.
Term
piety
 Definition
n. devoutness; reverence for god.
Term
placate
 Definition
v. pacify; conciliate.
Term
plasticity
 Definition
n. ability to be molded.
Term
platitude
 Definition
n. trite remark; commonplace statement.
Term
plethora
 Definition
n. excess; overabundance.
Term
plummet
 Definition
v. fall sharply.
Term
porous
 Definition
adj. full of pores; like a sieve.
Term
pragmatic
 Definition
adj. practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact of something.
Term
preamble
 Definition
n. introductory statement.
Term
precarious
 Definition
adj. uncertain; risky.
Term
precipitate
 Definition
adj. rash; premature; hasty; sudden.
Term
precursor
 Definition
n. forerunner.
Term
presumptuous
 Definition
adj. overconfident; impertinently bold; taking liberties.
Term
prevaricate
 Definition
v. lie.
Term
pristine
 Definition
adj. characteristic of earlier times; primitive, unspoiled.
Term
probity
 Definition
n. uprightness; incorruptibility.
Term
problematic
 Definition
adj. doubtful; unsettled; questionable; perplexing.
Term
prodical
 Definition
adj. wasteful; reckless with money.
Term
profound
 Definition
adj. deep; not superficial; complete.
Term
prohibitive
 Definition
adj. tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; inclined to prevent or forbid.
Term
proliferate
 Definition
v. grow rapidly; spread; multiply.
Term
propensity
 Definition
n. natural inclination.
Term
propitiate
 Definition
v. appease.
Term
propriety
 Definition
n. fitness; correct conduct.
Term
proscribe
 Definition
v. ostracize; banish; outlaw.
Term
pungent
 Definition
adj. stinging; sharp in taste or smell; caustic.
Term
qualified
 Definition
adj. limited; restricted.
Term
quibble
 Definition
n. minor objection or complaint.
Term
quiescent
 Definition
adj. at rest; dormant; temporarily inactive.
Term
rarefied
 Definition
adj. made less dense [of a gas].
Term
recalcitrant
 Definition
adj. obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly.
Term
recant
 Definition
v. disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error.
Term
recluse
 Definition
n. hermit; loner.
Term
recondite
 Definition
adj. difficult to understand; profound; secret.
Term
refractory
 Definition
adj. stubborn; unmanageable.
Term
refute
 Definition
v. disprove
Term
relegate
 Definition
v. banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign.
Term
reproach
 Definition
v. express disapproval or disappointment.
Term
reprobate
 Definition
n. scoundrel; person lacking moral principles.
Term
repudiate
 Definition
v. disown; disavow.
Term
rescind
 Definition
v. cancel.
Term
resolution
 Definition
n. determination.
Term
resolve
 Definition
n. determination; firmness of purpose.
Term
reticent
 Definition
adj. reserved; uncommunicative; inclined to silence.
Term
reverent
 Definition
adj. respectful; worshipful.
Term
sage
 Definition
n. person celebrated for wisdom.
Term
salubrious
 Definition
adj. healthful
Term
sanction
 Definition
v. approve; ratify
Term
satiate
 Definition
v. satisfy fully.
Term
saturate
 Definition
v. soak thoroughly.
Term
savor
 Definition
v. enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality.
Term
secrete
 Definition
v. hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism.
Term
shard
 Definition
n. fragment, generally of pottery.
Term
skeptic
 Definition
n. doubter; person who suspends judgment until having examined the evidence supporting a point of view.
Term
solicitous
 Definition
adj. worried, concerned.
Term
soporific
 Definition
adj. sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness.
Term
specious
 Definition
adj. seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)
Term
spectrum
 Definition
n. colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism
Term
sporadic
 Definition
adj. occurring irregularly.
Term
stigma
 Definition
n. token of disgrace; brand.
Term
stint
 Definition
v. be thrifty; set limits.
Term
stipulate
 Definition
v. make express conditions, specify.
Term
stolid
 Definition
adj. dull, impassive.
Term
striated
 Definition
adj. marked with parallel bands; grooved.
Term
strut
 Definition
n. pompous walk; a supporting bar.
Term
subpoena
 Definition
n. writ of summoning a witness to appear.
Term
subside
 Definition
v. settle down; descend; grow quiet.
Term
substantiate
 Definition
v. establish by evidence; verify; support.
Term
supersede
 Definition
v. cause to be set aside, replace; make obsolete.
Term
supposition
 Definition
n. hypothesis; surmise.
Term
tacit
 Definition
adj. understood; not put into words.
Term
tangential
 Definition
adj. peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing.
Term
tenuous
 Definition
adj. thin; rare; slim.
Term
tirade
 Definition
n. extended scolding; denunciation; harangue.
Term
torpor
 Definition
n. lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy.
Term
tortuous
 Definition
adj. winding; full of curves.
Term
tractable
 Definition
adj. docile; easily managed.
Term
transgression
 Definition
n. violation of a law; sin.
Term
truculence
 Definition
n. aggressiveness; ferocity.
Term
vacillate
 Definition
v. waver; fluctuate.
Term
venerate
 Definition
v. revere.
Term
veracious
 Definition
adj. truthful.
Term
verbose
 Definition
adj. wordy.
Term
viable
 Definition
adj. practical or workable; capable of maintaining life.
Term
viscous
 Definition
adj. sticky, gluey.
Term
vituperative
 Definition
adj. abusive; scolding.
Term
volatile
 Definition
adj. changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidly.
Term
warranted
 Definition
adj. justified; authorized.
Term
wary
 Definition
adj. very cautious.
Term
welter
 Definition
n. turmoil; bewildering jumble.
Term
whimsical
 Definition
n. capricious; fanciful.
Term
zealot
 Definition
n. fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal.
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