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GRE Vocabulary
Difficult but common GRE words
175
Language - English
Graduate
10/07/2012

Additional Language - English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
inure
Definition
to cause to accept or become hardened to, to habituate
Term
expostulate
Definition
to attempt to dissuade somebody from doing something
Term
forbear
Definition
to not do something
Term
epigram
Definition
a witty saying
Term
dilettante
Definition
an amateur
Term
foible
Definition
a minor flaw or failing
Term
iconoclast
Definition
somebody who challenges accepted beliefs, customs, and values
Term
inculcate
Definition
to teach by frequent repetition
Term
corroborate
Definition
to support with evidence or authority
Term
ostensible
Definition
represented or appearing in one way, but not necessarily that way in reality
Term
fatuous
Definition
stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way
Term
sylvan
Definition
pertaining to or characteristic of a forest or woodland
Term

flout

 

Definition
to treat with contemptuous disregard
Term
occlude
Definition
to stop up; to cut off the flow
Term
opprobrium
Definition
a state of shame or disgrace; scorn, contempt
Term
mainstay
Definition
n.) somebody or something that plays an important role
Term
progeny
Definition
(n.) descendants, offspring; followers
Term
sepulchre
Definition
a burial chamber
Term
legerdemain
Definition
(n.) a display of cleverness, especially to deceive others
Term
saturnine
Definition
(a.) melancholy, gloomy, morose
Term
inveterate
Definition
firmly established in a habit
Term
captious
Definition
overly critical and complaining
Term
exigent
Definition
critical; requiring immediate action
Term
distaff
Definition
(n.) work or other matters regarded as the concern of women
Term
martinet
Definition
(n.) somebody who demands exact conformity to rules
Term
fleece
Definition
to defraud or swindle
Term
comport
Definition
to behave well or properly
Term
plumb
Definition
to measure the depth of something
Term
occlude
Definition
to stop up; to cut off the flow
Term
taciturn
Definition
reserved and generally quiet
Term
insipid
Definition
dull, lacking flavor
Term
onerous
Definition
burdensome, oppressive
Term
burgeon
Definition
to grow or develop quickly
Term
effervescent
Definition
bubbling, excited
Term
dilatory
Definition
intended to delay
Term
perspicacious
Definition
keen in observation and understanding
Term
recidivism
Definition
(n.) the act of returning to a life of crime
Term
panegyric
Definition
(n.) a formal expression of praise
Term
remuneration
Definition
(n.) a payment; the act of paying
Term
promulgate
Definition
to proclaim or issue officially
Term
eschew
Definition
(v.) to avoid, shun, keep away from
Term
reconnoiter
Definition
(v.) to explore an area and gather information, especially about enemy forces
Term
dissemble
Definition
(v.) to pretend; to hide under a false appearance
Term
impugn
Definition
(v.) to criticize or cast doubt on
Term
excoriate
Definition
(v.) to criticize severely
Term
demur
Definition
(v.; n.) to object; an objection
Term
abrogate
Definition
to formally revoke an agreement or contract
Term
inure
Definition
to cause to accept or become hardened to, to habituate
Term
compunction
Definition
feelings of shame and regret
Term
brook
Definition
(v.) to tolerate something or somebody unpleasant
Term
obviate
Definition
to do away with or make unnecessary; to prevent
Term
temporize
Definition
to stall or act evasively in order to gain time
Term
esoteric
Definition
(a.) known or understood by only a few
Term
propinquity
Definition
(n.) the property of being close together
Term
espouse
Definition
to support or adopt
Term
consanguinity
Definition
a relationship by blood
Term
prevaricate
Definition
to be intentionally ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead
Term
disabuse
Definition
to free from error
Term
perquisite
Definition
(n.) a privilege that goes along with a job
Term
repine
Definition
to express discontent
Term
perfidious
Definition
intending to betray
Term
immure
Definition
to imprison, to incarcerate
Term
consummate
Definition
(v.; a.) to bring to a state of completion or perfection; complete or perfect
Term
inchoate
Definition
just beginning to develop; lacking structure or organization
Term
palliate
Definition
(v.) to treat the symptoms
Term
suppliant
Definition
(n.; a.) one who makes a request humbly and earnestly; asking humbly and earnestly
Term
abeyance
Definition
(n.) suspension of activity
Term

largese

 

Definition
generosity
Term
verdant
Definition
(a.) green with vegetation; green; inexperienced
Term
unwonted
Definition
(a.) not usual or expected; not in character
Term
diffident
Definition
(a.) lacking self-confidence
Term
mercurial
Definition
(a.) tending to change mood or behavior suddenly and unpredictably
Term
indigent
Definition
(a.) needy, impoverished
Term
raillery
Definition
(n.) friendly teasing
Term
winnow
Definition
(v.) to sift through removing what is unwanted and keeping what is desirable
Term
malinger
Definition
(v.) to pretend to be ill in order to avoid a responsibility
Term
augur
Definition
(v.) to indicate by signs; to predict from an omen
Term
hermetic
Definition
(a.) sealed tightly; protected from outside influence
Term
soporific
Definition
causing sleep
Term
effluent
Definition
(n.) liquid waste; a stream
Term
dudgeon
Definition
a fit of anger
Term
gaucherie
Definition

awkwardness

 

Term
effigy
Definition
(n.) a crude image of a despised person
Term
rampart
Definition
(n.) a fortification
Term
imprecate
Definition
(v.) to pray for evil; to invoke a curse
Term
pillory
Definition
(v.; n.) to punish in public; a device for public punishment
Term
proscribe
Definition
(v.) to outlaw
Term
scion
Definition
(n.) a young descendant or heir
Term
plenary
Definition
attended by all members; complete in all aspects
Term
kismet
Definition
fate
Term
riposte
Definition
(n.) a quick and witty reply
Term
fealty
Definition
(n.) allegiance or loyalty
Term
profligate
Definition
(a.) recklessly wasteful; having low morals
Term
refulgent
Definition
(a.) shining, radiant
Term
descry
Definition
(v.) to catch sight of
Term
hector
Definition
to bully
Term
peripatetic
Definition
(n.; a.) a worker who travels around; traveling, especially for work
Term
accrete
Definition
to grow together
Term
indolent
Definition
lazy
Term
nostrum
Definition
(n.) a hypothetical cure-all that may have no true efficacy
Term
bucolic
Definition
(a.) of the countryside or country life
Term
forfend
Definition
(v.) to prevent something from happening
Term
itinerant
Definition
(a.; n.) moving around to find work; a person who travels from place to place
Term
rebuff
Definition
(v.) to snub, drive away, reject
Term
repine
Definition
(v.) to express discontent
Term
perjure
Definition
(v.) to tell a lie in a court of law
Term
proselytize
Definition
to attempt to convert someone
Term
chary
Definition
(a.) extremely cautious or hesitant
Term
sedulous
Definition
(a.) working diligently and carefully
Term
restive
Definition
hard to manage
Term
raconteur
Definition
a skilled story-teller
Term
felicitous
Definition
appropriate; happy
Term
prodigious
Definition
(a.) enormous; exceptional
Term
simper
Definition
(v.) to smile artificially
Term
galvanize
Definition
(v.) to stimulate as if by electric shock; to excite
Term

adulate

 

 

Definition
to praise too greatly
Term
halcyon
Definition
(a.) calm, peaceful; prosperous
Term
apotheosis
Definition
(n.) a paragon; elevation to divine status
Term
ersatz
Definition
(a.) artificial and inferior
Term
sententious
Definition
(a.) overly moralizing
Term
nadir
Definition
(n.) the lowest point
Term
countenance
Definition
(n.; v.) facial expression; composure; to tolerate or support
Term
apothegm
Definition
(n.) a short instructive saying
Term
coda
Definition
(n.) the closing section of a musical composition
Term
efface
Definition
(v.) to remove; to be inconspicuous
Term
rarefy
Definition
(v.) to make something less dense; to refine
Term
pusillanimous
Definition
(a.) contemptibly cowardly
Term
meretricious
Definition
a.) attractive in a superficial manner but without real value
Term
diurnal
Definition
(a.) active during the daytime
Term
quotidian
Definition
(a.) ordinary, mundane
Term
redolent
Definition
(a.) suggestive or reminiscent of something; having an aroma
Term
rebarbative
Definition
(a.) serving or tending to repel
Term
decamp
Definition
(v.) to leave suddenly or secretly
Term
defenestrate
Definition
(v.) to throw out of a window
Term
pedant
Definition
(n.) somebody too concerned with rules and details
Term
welter
Definition
(n.) a confused multitude of things
Term
cynosure
Definition
(n.) the center of attraction; something that serves to guide or direct
Term
shibboleth
Definition
(n.) a slogan
Term
fracas
Definition
(n.) a noisy quarrel
Term
trenchant
Definition
(a.) sharp, incisive; forceful, effective
Term
recumbant
Definition
lying down
Term
gambit
Definition
(n.) a maneuver in a game or conversation used to secure an advantage
Term
jejune
Definition
(a.) lacking in nutritive value; uninteresting; juvenile
Term
canard
Definition
(n.) a false rumor
Term
cabal
Definition
(n.) a group of people with secret purposes and meetings
Term
effrontery
Definition
(n.) an arrogant attitude or behavior that is insulting to others
Term
urbane
Definition
(a.) sophisticated and refined
Term
animus
Definition
(n.) a feeling of hostility; motivation
Term
homily
Definition
(n.) a sermon
Term
travesty
Definition
(n.) a distorted representation of something
Term
equivocate
Definition
(v.) to be deliberately unclear or ambiguous
Term
arrogate
Definition
(v.) to claim or take without right
Term
importune
Definition
(v.) to trouble with demands; to beg for insistently
Term
philistine
Definition
(n.) someone who is uncultured and indifferent to intellectual matters
Term
engender
Definition
(v.) to create; to arise or come into existence
Term
calumniate
Definition
(v.) to slander
Term
slough
Definition
(v.; n.) to discard; to ignore; a swamp
Term
cavil
Definition
(v.) to raise trivial objections; to bicker
Term
rapprochement
Definition
reconciliation
Term
indemnify
Definition
(v.) to insure against or pay for loss or damage
Term
maudlin
Definition
(a.) silly and overly sentimental
Term
anterior
Definition
(a.) near the front or head of the body
Term
inexorable
Definition
(a.) impossible to stop
Term
esurient
Definition
(a.) very hungry or greedy
Term
moot
Definition
(a.) open to argument; irrelevant
Term
convalesce
Definition
(v.) to recover from an illness
Term
proletariat
Definition
(n.) the working class
Term
prurient
Definition
(a.) characterized by lust
Term
peremptory
Definition
(a.) dictatorial
Term
sequester
Definition
(v.) to separate or segregate
Term
bowlderize
Definition
(v.) to modify by removing inappropriate sections from a text
Term
gainsay
Definition
(v.) to oppose; to claim that something is false
Term
venal
Definition
(a.) capable of being bribed; corrupt
Term
officious
Definition
(a.) annoyingly eager to help
Term
specious
Definition
(a.) plausible but false
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