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GRE vocab review
This is a list of vocab cards for the general GRE
203
Other
Graduate
10/12/2008

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Term
aggrandize
Definition
to increase in intensity, power, or prestige
Term
alchemy
Definition
a medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals, especially base metals into gold
Term
anachronism
Definition
something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context
Term
astringent
Definition
having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe
Term
contiguous
Definition
sharing a border; touching; adjacent
Term
convention
Definition
a generally agreed-upon practice or atttitude
Term
cynicism
Definition
an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness
Term
decorum
Definition
polite or appropriate conduct or behavior
Term
derision
Definition
scorn; ridicule; contemptuous treatment
Term
desiccate
Definition
to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull
Term
dilettante
Definition
one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
Term
disparage
Definition
to slight or belittle
Term
divulge
Definition
to disclose something secret
Term
immutable
Definition
not capable of change
Term
inimical
Definition
damaging; harmful; injurious
Term
intractable
Definition
not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate
Term
neophyte
Definition
a recent convert; a beginner; a novice
Term
presumptuous
Definition
overstepping due bounds (as of property or courtesy); taking liberties
Term
pristine
Definition
pure; uncorrupted; clean
Term
probity
Definition
adherence to highest principles; uprightness
Term
proclivity
Definition
a natural disposition or inclination
Term
profligate
Definition
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
Term
propensity
Definition
a natural inclination or tendency; penchant
Term
prosaic
Definition
dull; unimaginitive
Term
pungent
Definition
characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
Term
quixotic
Definition
foolishly impractacal; marked by lofty romantic ideals
Term
quotidian
Definition
occurring or recurring daily; commonplace
Term
rarefy
Definition
to make or become thin, less dense; to refine
Term
recondite
Definition
hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
Term
refulgent
Definition
radiant; shiny; brilliant
Term
renege
Definition
to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise
Term
shard
Definition
a piece of broken pottery or glass
Term
sparse
Definition
thin; not dense; arranged at widely s paced intervals
Term
spendthrift
Definition
one who spends money wastefully
Term
subtle
Definition
not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern
Term
tacit
Definition
implied; not implicitly stated
Term
terse
Definition
brief and concise in wording
Term
tout
Definition
to publicly praise or promote
Term
trenchant
Definition
sharply deceptive; keen; penetrating
Term
unfeigned
Definition
genuine; not false or hypocritical
Term
untenable
Definition
indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable
Term
vacillate
Definition
to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another; to waver
Term
variegated
Definition
multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color
Term
vexation
Definition
annoyance; irritation
Term
vigilant
Definition
alertly watcful
Term
vituperate
Definition
to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; to berate
Term
volatile
Definition
readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle; explosive
Term
acerbic
Definition
having a sour or bitter taste or character
Term
amalgamate
Definition
to combine several elements into a whole
Term
amenable
Definition
agreeable; responsive to suggestion
Term
bolster
Definition
to provide support or reinforcement
Term
bombastic
Definition
pompous; grandiloquent
Term
credulous
Definition
tending to believe too readily; gullible
Term
diatribe
Definition
a harsh denuniciation
Term
fawn
Definition
to flatter or praise excessively
Term
fervent
Definition
greatly emotional or zealous
Term
flout
Definition
to demonstrate contempt for, as in a rule or convention
Term
fortuitous
Definition
happening by fortunate accident or chance
Term
garrulous
Definition
pointlessly talkative; talking too much
Term
germane
Definition
erlevant to the subject matter at hand; appropriate in subject matter
Term
glib
Definition
marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial
Term
halcyon
Definition
calm and peaceful
Term
hubris
Definition
arrogant presumption or pride
Term
idolatrous
Definition
given to intense or excessive devotion to something
Term
imminent
Definition
about to happen; impending
Term
imperturbable
Definition
marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness
Term
impetuous
Definition
hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
Term
imperturbable
Definition
marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness
Term
impetuous
Definition
hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
Term
implacable
Definition
not capable of being appeased or significantly changed
Term
indifferent
Definition
having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice
Term
intrepid
Definition
steadfast and courageous
Term
laconic
Definition
using few words; terse
Term
malleable
Definition
caapble of being shaped or formed; tractable; pliable
Term
maverick
Definition
an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party
Term
mendacity
Definition
the condition of being unthruthful; dishonesty
Term
mercurial
Definition
characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
Term
meticulous
Definition
characterized by extreme care and precision; attentive to detail
Term
mollify
Definition
to calm or sooth; to reduce in emotional intensity
Term
obdurate
Definition
unyielding; hardhearted; intractable
Term
obfuscate
Definition
to deliberately obscure; to make confusing
Term
obsequious
Definition
exhibiting a fawning attentiveness
Term
obstinate
Definition
stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising
Term
opporbrium
Definition
disgrace; contempt; scorn
Term
ostentatious
Definition
characterized or given to pretentiousness
Term
pedantic
Definition
the parading of learning; excessive attention to minutiae and formal rules
Term
pervade
Definition
to permeate throughout
Term
pervasive
Definition
having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout
Term
phlegmatic
Definition
clam; sluggish; unemotional
Term
pirate
Definition
to illegally use or reproduce
Term
plethora
Definition
an overabundance; a surplus
Term
polemical
Definition
controversial; argumentative
Term
pragmatic
Definition
practical rather than idealistic
Term
rancorous
Definition
characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment
Term
rhetoric
Definition
the art or study of effective use of language for communication or persuasion
Term
salubrious
Definition
promoting health or well-being
Term
sedulous
Definition
diligent; persistent; hardworking
Term
solvent
Definition
able to meet financial obligations; able to dissolve another substance
Term
soporific
Definition
causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
Term
abate
Definition
to lessen in intensity or degree
Term
accolade
Definition
an expression of praise
Term
adulation
Definition
excessive praise; intense adoration
Term
aesthetic
Definition
dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to the art or the beautiful
Term
avaraice
Definition
greed, especially for wealth
Term
burgeon
Definition
to grow rapidly or flourish
Term
cacophony
Definition
harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance
Term
canon
Definition
an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature
Term
castigation
Definition
severe criticism or punishment
Term
catalyst
Definition
a substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction without changing itself
Term
catalyst
Definition
a person or thing that causes change
Term
caustic
Definition
burning or stinging; causing corrosion
Term
chary
Definition
way; cautious; sparing
Term
cogent
Definition
appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
Term
complaisance
Definition
the willingness to comply with the wishes of others
Term
contrite
Definition
regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness
Term
dearth
Definition
smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack
Term
demur
Definition
to question or oppose
Term
didactic
Definition
intended to teach or instruct
Term
discretion
Definition
cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions
Term
disinterested
Definition
indifferent; free from self-interest
Term
dogmatic
Definition
stubbornly opinionated
Term
ebullience
Definition
the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts or feelings
Term
elegy
Definition
a mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead
Term
emollient
Definition
soothing, especially to the skin; making less harsh
Term
empirical
Definition
based on observation or experiment
Term
enigmatic
Definition
mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand
Term
esoteric
Definition
intended for or understood by a small, specific group
Term
exonerate
Definition
to remove blame
Term
fallacy
Definition
an invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief
Term
furtive
Definition
marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious
Term
gregarious
Definition
sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people
Term
harrangue
Definition
to deliver a pompous speech or tirade
Term
heretical
Definition
violating accepted dogma or convention
Term
impecunious
Definition
lacking funds; without money
Term
incipient
Definition
beginning to come into being or to become apparent
Term
inert
Definition
unmoving; lethargic; sluggish
Term
innocuous
Definition
harmless; causing no damage
Term
intransigent
Definition
refusing to compromise
Term
inveigle
Definition
to obtain by deception or flattery
Term
morose
Definition
sad; sullen; melancholy
Term
odious
Definition
evoking intense aversion or dislike
Term
opaque
Definition
impenetrable by light; not reflecting light
Term
peruse
Definition
to examine with great care
Term
preen
Definition
to dress up; to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care
Term
prodigious
Definition
abundant in size, force, or extent; extraordinary
Term
putrefy
Definition
to rot; to decay and give off a foul ordor
Term
quaff
Definition
to drink deeply
Term
sanction
Definition
authoritative permission or approval; a penalty intended to enforce compliance
Term
urbane
Definition
sophisticated; refined; elegant
Term
viscous
Definition
thick; sticky
Term
abscond
Definition
to depart clandestinely; to steal off and hide
Term
ameliorate
Definition
to make better or more tolerable
Term
arduous
Definition
strenuous; taxing; requiring significant effort
Term
ascetic
Definition
one who practices rigid self-deniall, especially as an act of religious devotion
Term
austere
Definition
without adornment; bare; severely simple; ascetic
Term
axiom
Definition
a universally recognized principle
Term
axiomatic
Definition
taken as a given; possessing self-evident truth
Term
bucolic
Definition
rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants
Term
canonical
Definition
following or in agreement with accepted, traditioanl standards
Term
contentious
Definition
argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement
Term
convoluted
Definition
complex or complicated
Term
culpable
Definition
deserving blame
Term
disabuse
Definition
to undeceive; to set right
Term
eclectic
Definition
composed of elements drawn from various sources
Term
effrontery
Definition
extreme boldness; presumptuousness
Term
ephemeral
Definition
brief; fleeting
Term
erudite
Definition
very learned; scholarly
Term
eulogy
Definition
a speech honoring the dead
Term
extemporaneous
Definition
improvised; done without preparation
Term
facetious
Definition
playful; humorous
Term
fulminate
Definition
to loudly attack or denounce
Term
hyperbole
Definition
an exaggerated statement, often used as a figure of speech
Term
lucid
Definition
clear; easily understood
Term
oscillation
Definition
the art or state of swinging back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm
Term
paean
Definition
a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving
Term
penurious
Definition
penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous
Term
perfidy
Definition
intentional breach of faith; treachery
Term
pernicious
Definition
extremely harmful; potentially causing death
Term
perspicacious
Definition
acutely perceptive; having keen discernment
Term
pious
Definition
extremely reverent or devout; showing strong religious devotion
Term
precipitate
Definition
to cause or happen before anticipated or required
Term
precursor
Definition
one that precedes and indicates or anounces another
Term
predilection
Definition
a disposition in favor of something; preference
Term
prolific
Definition
producing large volumes or amounts; productive
Term
qualms
Definition
misgivings; reservations; causes for hesitancy
Term
quiescence
Definition
stillness; motionlessness; quality of being at rest
Term
recant
Definition
to retract, especially a previously held belief
Term
redoubtable
Definition
awe-inspiring; worthy of honor
Term
reticent
Definition
quiet; reserved; reluctant to express thoughts and feelings
Term
satire
Definition
a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision
Term
sordid
Definition
characterized by filth, grime, or squalor; foul
Term
squalid
Definition
sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect
Term
squander
Definition
to waste by spending or using irresponsibly
Term
stoic
Definition
indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; steadfast
Term
stymie
Definition
to block; thrwart
Term
supplant
Definition
to take the place of; supersede
Term
synthesis
Definition
the combination of parts to make a whole
Term
torpid
Definition
lethargic; sluggish; dormant
Term
torque
Definition
a force that causes rotation
Term
ubiquitous
Definition
existing everywhere at the same time; constantly encountered; widespread
Term
veracity
Definition
truthfulness, honesty
Term
vilify
Definition
to defame; to characterize harshly
Term
virulent
Definition
extremely harmful or poisonous; bitterly hostile or antagonistic
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