Term
Waver
GRE Flashcards B198 |
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Definition
Waver: to fluctuate between choices
"If you waver too long before making a decision about which testing site to register for, you may not get your first choice."
Words with Similar Meanings
dither falter fluctuate
irresolute oscillate vacillate |
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Term
Volatile
GRE Flashcards B197 |
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Definition
Volatile: easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive
"His volatile personality made it difficult to predict his reaction to anything."
Related Words
Volcanic: extremely explosive
Words with Similar Meanings
capricious erratic fickle
inconsistent inconstant mercurial
temperamental |
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Term
Efficacy
GRE Flashcards B76 |
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Definition
Efficacy: effectiveness
"The efficacy of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced, completely eliminating almost all bacterial infections."
Related Words
Efficacious: effective, productive
Words with Similar Meanings
dynamism effectiveness efficiency
force power productiveness
proficiency strength vigor |
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Term
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Definition
Equivocate: to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
"When faced with criticism of his policies, the politician equivocated and left all parties thinking he agreed with them."
Related Words
Equivocal: undecided, trying to deceive
Equivocation: the act or state or equivocating
Words with Similar Meanings
ambiguous evasive waffling |
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Term
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Definition
Emulate: to copy; to try to equal or excel
"The graduate student sought to emulate his professor in every way, copying not only how she taught, but also how she conducted herself outside of class."
Words with Similar Meanings
ape imitate simulate |
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Term
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Definition
Euphemism: use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
"The funeral director preferred to use the euphemism 'sleeping' instead of the word 'dead'." |
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Term
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Definition
Dissonance: a harsh and disagreeable combination, especially of sounds
"Cognitive dissonance is the inner conflict produced when long-standing beliefs are contradicted by new evidence."
Words with Similar Meanings
clash contention discord
dissension dissent dissidence
friction strife variance |
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Term
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Definition
Dogmatic: dictatorial in one's opinions
"The dictator was dogmatic; claiming he, and only he, was right."
Words with Similar Meanings
authoritarian bossy dictatorial
doctrinaire domineering imperious
magisterial masterful overbearing
peremptory |
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Definition
Exonorate: to clear of blame
"The fugitive was exonorated when another criminal confessed to committing the crime."
Words with Similar Meanings
absolve acquit clear
exculpate vindicate |
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Definition
Discern: to perceive or recognize
"It is easy to discern the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping."
Related Words
Discernment: taste and cultivation
Words with Similar Meanings
catch descry detect
differentiate discriminate distinguish
espy glimpse know
separate spot spy tell |
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Term
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Definition
Iconoclast: one who opposes established beliefs, customs and institutions
"His lack of regard for traditional beliefs soon established him as an iconoclast."
Words with Similar Meanings
maverick nonconformist
rebel revolutionary |
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Definition
Homogenous: of a similar kind
"The class was fairly homogenous since almost all of the students were journalism majors."
Related Words
Homogenized: thoroughly mixed together
Words with Similar Meanings
consistent standardized
uniform unvarying |
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Definition
Florid: excessively decorated or embellished
"The palace had been decorated in an excessively florid style; every surface had been carved and gilded."
Words with Similar Meanings
Baroque elaborate flamboyant
ornate ostentatious Rococo |
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Term
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Definition
Enervate: to reduce in strength
"The guerillas hoped that a series of surprise attacks would enervate the regular army."
Related Words
Unnerve: to deprive of strength or courage
Words with Similar Meanings
debilitate enfeeble sap
weaken |
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Term
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Definition
Dirge: a funeral hymn or mournful speech.
"Melville wrote a poem A Dirge for James McPherson for the funeral of a Union general who was killed in 1864."
Words with Similar Meanings
elegy lament |
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Term
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Definition
Dupe: to deceive or a person who is easily deceived
"Bugs Bunny was able to dupe Elmer Fudd by dressing up as a lady rabbit."
Words with Similar Meanings
beguile betray bluff cozen
deceive delude fool hoodwink
humbug mislead take in trick
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Term
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Definition
Dilettante: someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
"Jerry's friends were such dilettantes they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week."
Words with Similar Meanings
amateur dabbler superficial tyro |
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Term
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Definition
Decorum: appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
"The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the decorum appropriate for a visit to the palace."
Words with Similar Meanings
correctness decency etiquette manners
mores propriety seemliness |
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Term
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Definition
Elegy: a sorrowful poem or speech
"Though Thomas Gray's Elegy is about death and loss, it urges its readers to endure this life, and to trust in spirituality."
Related Words
Elegiac: like an elegy-mournful
Words with Similar Meanings
dirge lament |
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Term
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Definition
Disparate: fundamentally different; entirely unlike
"Although the twins are physically identical, their personalities are disparate."
Words with Similar Meanings
different dissimilar divergent
diverse variant various |
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Definition
Eloquent: persuasive and moving, especially in speech
"The Gettysburg Address is moving not only because of its lofty sentiments but because of its eloquent words."
Words with Similar Meanings
articulate expressive fluent
meaningful significant smooth-spoken |
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Definition
Dissemble: to present a false appearance, to disguise one's real intentions or character
"The villain could dissemble to the police no longer-he admitted the deed and tore up the floor to reveal the body of the old man."
Words with Similar Meanings
act affect assume camouflage cloak put on
counterfeit cover up disguise dissimulate sham
fake feign mask masquerade pose pretend simulate |
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Term
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Definition
Erudite: learned, scholarly, bookish
"The annual meeting of philosophy professors was a gathering of the most erudite, well-published individuals in the field."
Related Words
Erudition: extensive knowledge or learning
Words with Similar Meanings
scholastic learned wise |
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Term
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Definition
Estimable: admirable
"Most people consider it estimable that Mother Teresa spent her life helping the poor in India."
Related Words
Esteem: high regard
Words with Similar Meanings
admirable commendable creditable
honorable laudable meritorious
praiseworthy respectable venerable worthy |
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Definition
Torpor: extreme mental and physical sluggishness
"After surgery, the patient experienced torpor until the anesthesia wore off."
Related Words
Torpid: sluggish, lacking movement
Words with Similar Meanings
apathy languor |
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Term
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Definition
Zeal: passion, excitement
"She brought her typical zeal to the project, sparking enthusiasm in the other team members."
Related Words
Zealot: a fanatic
Words with Similar Meanings
ardency fervor fire passion |
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Term
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Definition
Antipathy: extreme dislike
"The antipathy between the French and the English regularly erupted into open warfare."
Words with Similar Meanings
abohorrence animosity animus antagonism
aversion dislike enmity hatred repulsion
hostility loathing repellence repugnance revulsion |
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Definition
Venerate: to respect deeply
"In a traditional Confucian society the young venerate their elders, deferring to the elders' wisdom and experience."
Related Words
Venerable: old, worthy of respect
Words with Similar Words
adore honor idolize revere |
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Term
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Definition
Inundate: to overwhelm, to cover with water
"The tidal wave inundated Atlantis, which was lost beneath the water."
Words with Similar Meanings
deluge drown engulf flood submerge |
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Term
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Definition
Eclectic: selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
"Budapest's architect is an eclectic mix of eastern and western styles."
Words with Similar Meanings
selective catholic broad |
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Definition
Disabuse:set right, free from error
"Galileo's observations disabused scholars of the notion that the Sun revolved around the Earth."
Words with Similar Meanings
correct undeceive |
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Definition
Esoteric: known or understood only by a few
"Only a handful of experts are knowledgeable about the soteric world of particle physics."
Words with Similar Meanings
abstruse arcane obscure |
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Definition
Prodigal: lavish, wasteful
"The Prodigal Son quickly wasted all of his inheritance on a lavish lifestyle devoted to pleasure."
Related Words
Prodigality: excessive or reckless spending
Words with Similar Meanings
extravagant lavish profligate
spendthrift wasteful |
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Definition
Dilatory: intended to delay
"The congressman used dilatory measures to delay the passage of the bill."
Words with Similar Meanings
dragging flagging laggard lagging slow
slow-footed slow-going slow-paced tardy |
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Term
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Definition
Diatribe: an abusive, condemnatory speech
"The trucker bellowed a diatribe at the driver who had cut him off."
Words with Similar Meanings
fulmination harangue invective jeremiad
maledictiton obloquy tirade |
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Term
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Definition
Corroborate: supporting evidence
"Fingerprints provided corroboration for the witness's testimony that he saw the defendant in the victim's apartment."
Words with Similar Meanings
authenticate back bear out buttress
confirm substantiate validate verify |
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Term
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Definition
Diffident: lacking self-confidence
"Steve's diffidence during the job interview stemmed from his nervous nature and lack of experience in the field."
Words with Similar Meanings
backward bashful coy demure modest
retiring self-effacing shy timid |
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Term
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Definition
Repudiate: to reject the validity of
"The old woman's claim that she was Russian royalty was repudiated when DNA tests showed she was of no relation to them."
Words with Similar Meanings
deny disavow disclaim disown renounce |
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Term
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Definition
Credulous: too trusting; gullible
"Although some 4 year-olds believe in the Easter Bunny, only the most credulous 9 year olds also believe in him."
Related Words
Credulity: The quality of being credulous
Words with Similar Meanings
naive susceptible trusting |
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Term
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Definition
Exculpate: to clear from blame, prove innocent
"The legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and exculpate those who are innocent."
Words with Similar Meanings
absolve acquit clear
exonerate vindicate |
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Term
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Definition
Enumerate: to count, list, itemize
"Moses returned from the mountain with tablets on which the commandments were enumerated."
Words with Similar Meanings
catalog index tabulate |
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Term
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Definition
Impetuous: quick to act without thinking
"It is not good for an investment broker to be impetuous since much thought should be given to all the possible options."
Related Words
Impetus: impulse
Words with Similar Meanings
impulsive precipitate rash
reckless spontaneous |
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Definition
Foment: to arouse or incite
"The rebels tried to foment revolution through their attacks on the government."
Words with Similar Meanings
agitate impassion inflame instigate kindle |
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