Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Eliot's Frequently Used GRE Words
Received from Eliot in email
336
English
Graduate
03/29/2011

Additional English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

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