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GRE Vocab
hit parade
305
Other
Undergraduate 4
05/10/2011

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Term
abberant
Definition
deviating from the norm
Term
alacrity
Definition
eager and enthusiastic willingness
Term
anomaly
Definition
deviation from the normal order, form, or rule, abnormality
Term
approbation
Definition
an expression of approval or praise
Term
assuage
Definition
to ease or lessen; appease or pacify
Term
audacious
Definition
daring and fearless; recklessly bored
Term
capricious
Definition
inclined to change one's mind impusively; erratic; unpredictable
Term
censure
Definition
criticize severely; officially rebuke
Term
chicanery
Definition
trickery or subterfuge
Term
connoisseur
Definition
an informed or astute judge in matters of taste; expert
Term
discordant
Definition
conflicting; harsh in sound
Term
disparate
Definition
fundamentally distinct or dissimilar
Term
eloquent
Definition
well-spoken; expressive; articulate
Term
enervate
Definition
to weaken; reduce in vitality
Term
ennui
Definition
dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or apathy
Term
equivocate
Definition
to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent
Term
exculpate
Definition
exonerate; clear of blame
Term
exigent
Definition
urgent, pressing; requiring immediate action or attention
Term
filibuster
Definition
intentional obstruction, esp. using prolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action
Term
ingenuous
Definition
artless; frank and candid; lacking in sophistication
Term
inured
Definition
accustomed to accepting something undesirable
Term
irascible
Definition
easily angered; prone to tempermental outbursts
Term
laud
Definition
to praise highly
Term
magnaminimity
Definition
quality of being generously noble in mind and heart; esp. in forgiving
Term
martial
Definition
associated with the war and armed forces
Term
mundane
Definition
of the world; typical or concerned with the ordinary
Term
nascent
Definition
coming into being; in early dev. stages
Term
nebulous
Definition
vague; cloudy; lacking clearly defined form
Term
neologism
Definition
a new word, expression or usage; the creation or use of new words or senses
Term
noxious
Definition
harmful; injurious
Term
obtuse
Definition
lacking sharpness of intellect; not clear or precise in thought or expression
Term
obviate
Definition
to anticipate and make unnecessary
Term
onerous
Definition
troubling; burdernsome
Term
parody
Definition
a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect, esp. in literature or art
Term
perennial
Definition
recurrent through the year or many years; happening repeatedly
Term
perfunctory
Definition
cursory; done without care or interest
Term
prattle
Definition
to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner
Term
prescience
Definition
foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to their occuring
Term
prevaricate
Definition
to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead
Term
refute
Definition
to disprove; to successfully argue against
Term
relegate
Definition
to forcibly assign, esp. to a lower place or position
Term
solicitous
Definition
concerned and attentive; eager
Term
static
Definition
not moving, active or in motion; at rest
Term
sporadic
Definition
occurring only occasionally; or in scattered instances
Term
stupefy
Definition
to stun, baffle, or amaze
Term
tortuous
Definition
winding; twisting; excessively complicated
Term
truculent
Definition
fierce and cruel; eager to fight
Term
voracious
Definition
having an appetite for activity or pursuit; ravenous
Term
waver
Definition
to move to and fro; to saw; to be unsettled in opinion
Term
abscond
Definition
to depart secretly; steal off and hide
Term
ameliorate
Definition
make better or more tolerable
Term
arduous
Definition
strenuous; taxing
Term
ascetic
Definition
one who practices rigid self-denial, especially as an act of religious devotion
Term
austere
Definition
bare; severely simple
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, traditional standards
Term
contentious
Definition
argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy
Term
convoluted
Definition
complex or complicated
Term
culpable
Definition
guilty
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 act or state of swinging back and forth with a steady rhythym
Term
paean
Definition
a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving
Term
penurious
Definition
penny-pinching; excessively thrifty
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
Term
precipitate (adj)
Definition
acting with excessive haste or impulse
Term
precipitate (v)
Definition
to cause or happen before anticipated or required
Term
precursor
Definition
one that precedes and indicates or announces 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
quite; 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
Term
squalid
Definition
sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect
Term
squander
Definition
to waste by spending or using irresponsibly
Term
stoic
Definition
unaffected by pleasure or pain; steadfast
Term
stymie
Definition
to block; thwart
Term
supplant
Definition
to take the place of; supersede
Term
synthesis
Definition
the combination of parts to make a whole
Term
torpid
Definition
sluggish; lethargic; dormant
Term
torque
Definition
a force that causes rotation
Term
ubiquitous
Definition
existing everywhere and at the same time; constantly encountered; widespread
Term
veracity
Definition
truthfulness; honesty
Term
vilify
Definition
to defame; characterize harshly
Term
virulent
Definition
extremely harmful or poisonous; bitterly hostile or antagonistic
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 art or the beautiful
Term
avarice
Definition
greed, especially for wealth
Term
burgeon
Definition
to grow rapidly or flourish
Term
cacophony
Definition
harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance
Term
canon
Definition
established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature
Term
castigation
Definition
severe criticism or punishment
Term
catalyst(1)
Definition
substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction without itself changing
Term
catalyst(2)
Definition
a person or thing that causes change
Term
caustic
Definition
burning or stinging; causing corrosion
Term
chary
Definition
wary, cautious; sparing
Term
cogent
Definition
appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
Term
complaisance
Definition
willingness to comply with the wishes of others
Term
contrite
Definition
regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness
Term
dearth
Definition
smallness of quantity or number; scarcity
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 and feelings
Term
elegy
Definition
mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead
Term
emollient
Definition
soothing, especially to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying
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
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 others
Term
harangue
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
examine with great care
Term
preen
Definition
to dress up; primp; 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 order
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
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
bombast
Definition
self-important or pompous writing or speech
Term
bombastic
Definition
pompous; gradiloquent
Term
credulous
Definition
tending to believe too readily; gullible
Term
diatribe
Definition
a harsh denunciation
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
relevant to the subject at hand
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
implacable
Definition
not capable of being appeased
Term
indifferent
Definition
having no interest or concern; showing no bias
Term
intrepid
Definition
steadfast and courageous
Term
laconic
Definition
using few words, terse
Term
malleable
Definition
capable 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 untruthful; dishonesty
Term
mercurial
Definition
characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
Term
meticulous
Definition
characterized by extreme care or precision; tedious
Term
mollify
Definition
calm or soothe; 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
Term
opprobrium
Definition
disgrace; contempt; scorn
Term
ostentatious
Definition
characterized by or given to pretentiousness
Term
pedantic
Definition
the parading of learning; excessively showy; excessive attention to minutiae and rules
Term
pervade
Definition
to permeate throughout
Term
pervasive
Definition
having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout
Term
phlegmatic
Definition
calm; sluggish; unemotional
Term
pirate
Definition
to illegally use or reproduce
Term
plethora
Definition
overabundance; surplus
Term
polemical
Definition
controversial; argumentative
Term
pragmatic
Definition
practical
Term
rancorous
Definition
characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment
Term
rhetoric
Definition
the art or study of effective use of language for communication and persuasion
Term
salubrious
Definition
promoting health or well-being
Term
sedulous
Definition
diligent; persistent; hard-working
Term
solvent
Definition
able to meet financial obligations; able to dissolve another substance
Term
soporific
Definition
causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
Term
aggrandize
Definition
increase in intensity, power, or prestige
Term
alchemy
Definition
medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals, especially base medals 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
generally agreed-upon practice or attitude
Term
cynicism
Definition
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
Term
dilettante
Definition
one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
Term
diparage
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
Term
neophyte
Definition
a recent convert; a beginner; novice
Term
presumptuous
Definition
overstepping due bounds; taking liberties
Term
pristine
Definition
pure; uncorrupted; clean
Term
probity
Definition
adherence to the highest principles; uprightness
Term
proclivity
Definition
a natural predisposition or inclination
Term
profligate
Definition
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
Term
propensity
Definition
a natural inclination or tendency, penchant
Term
prosaic
Definition
dull; unimaginative
Term
pungent
Definition
characterized by a sharp smell or taste
Term
quixotic
Definition
foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals
Term
quotidian
Definition
occurring or recurring daily; commonplace
Term
rarefy
Definition
to make or become 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
arranged at widely spaced intervals
Term
spendthrift
Definition
one who spends money wastefully
Term
subtle
Definition
not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern
Term
tacit
Definition
implied; not explicitly stated
Term
terse
Definition
brief and concise in wording
Term
tout
Definition
to publicly praise or promote
Term
trenchant
Definition
sharply perceptive; 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; waver
Term
variegated
Definition
multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of diff. color
Term
vexation
Definition
annoyance; irritation
Term
vigilant
Definition
alertly watchful
Term
vituperate
Definition
to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively
Term
volatile
Definition
readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle; explosive
Term
acumen
Definition
quick, keen or accurate knowledge or insight
Term
adulterate
Definition
to reduce purity by combining with inferior ingredients
Term
archaic
Definition
outdated; associated with an earlier; perhaps more primitive time
Term
aver
Definition
to state as fact; to confirm or support
Term
dissemble
Definition
to disguise or conceal; to mislead
Term
eccentric
Definition
departing from norms or conventions
Term
endemic
Definition
characteristic of or often found in a particular locality, region or people
Term
evanescent
Definition
tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing
Term
exacerbate
Definition
to worsen or make more severe
Term
grandiloquence
Definition
pompous speech or expression
Term
hackneyed
Definition
rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage
Term
hedonism
Definition
devotion to pleasureable pursuits, especially to the pleasures of the senses
Term
hegemony
Definition
the consistent dominance of one state or ideology over others
Term
iconoclast
Definition
one who attacks or undermines traditional conventions or institutions
Term
impassive
Definition
revealing no emotion
Term
impunity
Definition
immunity from punishment or penalty
Term
inchoate
Definition
in an initial stage; not fully formed
Term
infelicitous
Definition
unfortunate; inappropriate
Term
insipid
Definition
without taste or flavor; lacking in spirit; bland
Term
loquacious
Definition
extremely talkative
Term
luminous
Definition
characterized by brightness and the emission of light
Term
malevolent
Definition
having or showing often vicious ill will, spite or hatred
Term
misanthrope
Definition
one who hates all other humans
Term
mitigate
Definition
to make or become less severe or intense; to moderate
Term
occlude
Definition
to obstruct or block
Term
pedagogy
Definition
the art or profession of training, teaching, or instructing
Term
penury
Definition
poverty; destitution
Term
pine
Definition
to yearn intensely; to languish; to lose vigor
Term
pith
Definition
the essential or central part
Term
pithy
Definition
precise and brief
Term
placate
Definition
to appease; to calm by making concessions
Term
platitude
Definition
a superficial remark, especially one offered as meaningful
Term
plummet
Definition
to plunge or drop straight down
Term
prodigal
Definition
recklessly wasteful; extravagant; lavish
Term
profuse
Definition
given or coming forth abundantly; extravagant
Term
proliferate
Definition
to grow or increase swiftly and abundantly
Term
queries
Definition
questions; inquiries; doubts in the mind
Term
querulous
Definition
prone to complaining or grumbling; quarrelsome
Term
recalcitrant
Definition
obstinately defiant of authority; difficult to manage
Term
repudiate
Definition
to refuse to have anything to do with; disown
Term
rescind
Definition
to repeal or retract
Term
reverent
Definition
marked by, feeling or expressing a feeling of profound awe and respect
Term
specious
Definition
seeming true, but actually being fallacious; misleadingly attractive
Term
spurious
Definition
lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit
Term
subpoena
Definition
a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony
Term
succinct
Definition
brief; concise
Term
superfluous
Definition
exceeding what is sufficient or necessary
Term
surfeit
Definition
excess; overindulgence
Term
tenacity
Definition
the quality of adherence or persistence to something valued
Term
tenuous
Definition
having little substance or strength; flimsy; weak
Term
tirade
Definition
a long and extremely critical speech; a harsh denunciation
Term
transient
Definition
fleeting; passing quickly; brief
Term
zealous
Definition
fervent; ardent; impassioned
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