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GRE Vocabulary: Hit Parade
Top 300 Words used on the GRE
147
Language - English
Graduate
08/11/2008

Additional Language - English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Alacrity
Definition
eager and enthusiastic willingness
Term
Capricious
Definition
Inclined to change one's mind impulsively
Term
Erudite
Definition
very learned; scholarly
Term
Filibuster
Definition
intentional obstruction esp. by a long speech to delay legislative action
Term
Ingenuous
Definition
artless; frank or candid; lacking sophistication
Term
Inured
Definition
accustomed to accepting something undesirable; habituated; adapted
Term
Irascible
Definition
easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts
Term
Obtuse
Definition
lacking sharpness of intellect; not clear or precise in thought or expression
Term
Onerous
Definition
troubling; burdensome
Term
Perfidy
Definition
intentional breach of faith; treachery
Term
Perfunctory
Definition
cursory; done w/o care of interest (haphazardly)
Term
Perspicacious
Definition
acutely perceptive; having keen discernment
Term
Prevaricate
Definition
to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead
Term
Recant
Definition
to retract a previously held belief
Term
Solicitous
Definition
concerned and attentive; eager
Term
Solicitous
Definition
concerned and attentive; eager
Term
Truculent
Definition
fierce and cruel; eager to fight
Term
Virulent
Definition
harmful or poisonous; bitterly hostile or antagonistic
Term
Burgeon
Definition
to grow rapidly or flourish
Term
Caustic
Definition
causing corrosion; burning or stinging
Term
Chary
Definition
wary; cautious; sparing
Term
Cogent
Definition
appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
Term
Contentious
Definition
argumentative; causing controversy or disagreement; quarrelsome
Term
Contrite
Definition
regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness
Term
Demur
Definition
to question or oppose
Term
Eclectic
Definition
composed of elements from various sources
Term
Emollient
Definition
soothing to the skin
Term
Ephemeral
Definition
brief; fleeting
Term
Esoteric
Definition
intended for or understood by a small, specific group
Term
Furtive
Definition
marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious
Term
Impecunious
Definition
lacking funds; w/o money
Term
Incipient
Definition
beginning to come into being or to become apparent
Term
Inveigle
Definition
to obtain by deception or flattery
Term
Pernicious
Definition
extremely harmful; potentially causing death
Term
Putrefy
Definition
to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor
Term
Quiescence
Definition
stillness; motionless; quality of being at rest
Term
Torpid
Definition
lethargice; sluggish; dormant
Term
Acquiesce
Definition
to give in or permission
Term
Glut
Definition
excessive in supply
Term
Foible
Definition
minor weakness or failing of character; slight flaw or defect; weaker part of a sword or blade
Term
Slave
Definition
to soothe or heal; an analgesic or medicinal ointment
Term
Fester
Definition
to generate pus; to grow worse or hostile
Term
Egalitarian
Definition
affirming; characterized by belief in the equality of all people esp. in political, economic, social, and civil aspects
Term
Acumen
Definition
keen, accurate judgement or insight
Term
Aver
Definition
to state as a fact; to declare or assert
Term
Bolster
Definition
to provide support or reinforcement
Term
Bombastic
Definition
pompous; grandiloquent
Term
Diatribe
Definition
a harsh denunciation; a bitter criticism
Term
Dissemble
Definition
to disguise or conceal; to mislead
Term
Endemic
Definition
natural or characteristic of a people or place; belonging exclusively or confined to a specific place
Term
Evanescent
Definition
vanishing; tending to disappear like vapor
Term
Germane
Definition
relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in subject matter
Term
Grandiloquence
Definition
pompous speech or expression
Term
Halcyon
Definition
calm and peaceful
Term
Hedonism
Definition
devotion to pleasurable pursuits esp. to the senses
Term
Hegemony
Definition
the consistent dominance of one state or ideology over others
Term
Iconoclast
Definition
one who attacks or undermines traditional convention or institutions
Term
Idolatrous
Definition
given to intense or excessive devotion to something
Term
Impassive
Definition
revealing no emotion
Term
Impunity
Definition
immunity from punishment or penalty
Term
Inchoate
Definition
an initial stage; not fully formed
Term
Infelicitous
Definition
unfortunate; inappropriate
Term
Insipid
Definition
w/o taste or flavor; lacking in spirit; bland
Term
Malevolent
Definition
having or showing often vicious ill will, spite or hatred
Term
Malleable
Definition
capable of being shaped or formed; tractable; pliable
Term
Mendacity
Definition
the condition of being untruthful; dishonesty
Term
Misanthrope
Definition
one who hates all other humans
Term
Mitigate
Definition
to make or become less severe or intense; to moderate
Term
Obdurate
Definition
unyielding; hardhearted; intractable
Term
Obsequious
Definition
exhibiting a fawning attentiveness
Term
Opprobrium
Definition
disgrace; contempt; scorn
Term
Pedagogy
Definition
the profession or principles of teaching or instructing
Term
Pedantic
Definition
the parading of learning; excessive attention to minutiae and formal rules
Term
Penury
Definition
poverty; destitution
Term
Minutiae
Definition
precise details; small trifling matters
Term
Pith
Definition
the essential or central part
Term
Pithy
Definition
precise and brief
Term
Platitude
Definition
a superficial remark esp. one offered as meaningful
Term
Polemical
Definition
controversial; argumentative
Term
Prodigal
Definition
recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish
Term
Querulous
Definition
prone to complaining or grumbling; peevish
Term
Pirate
Definition
to illegally use or reproduce
Term
Placate
Definition
to appease; to calm by making concessions
Term
Rancorous
Definition
characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment
Term
Recalcitrant
Definition
obstinately defiant of authority; difficult to manage
Term
Rescind
Definition
to invalidate; to repeal; to retract
Term
Salubrious
Definition
promoting health or well-being
Term
Solvent
Definition
albe to meet financial obligations; dissovle another substance
Term
Specious
Definition
seemingly true, but actually being fallacious; plausible bu false; misleadingly attractive
Term
Spurious
Definition
lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit
Term
Surfeit
Definition
an overabundant supply; excess; to feed or supply to excess
Term
Tenacity
Definition
the quality of adherence or persistence to something valued; persistent determination
Term
Tenuous
Definition
having little substance or strength; flimsly; weak
Term
Tirade
Definition
a long and extremely critical speech; harsh denunciation
Term
Zealot
Definition
devoted to a cause; ardent; impassioned; fervent
Term
Acerbic
Definition
having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting
Term
Aggrandize
Definition
to increase in intensity, power, influence or prestige
Term
Amenable
Definition
agreeable; responsive to suggestion
Term
Astringent
Definition
having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe
Term
Bombast
Definition
self-important or pompous writing or speech
Term
Credulous
Definition
tending to believe to readily; gullible
Term
Cynicism
Definition
attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness
Term
Derision
Definition
scorn; ridicule; contemptuous treatment
Term
Desiccate
Definition
to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull
Term
Dilettante
Definition
one w/ amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or branch of knowledge
Term
Disparage
Definition
to slight or belittle
Term
Fawn
Definition
to flatter or praise excessively
Term
Flout
Definition
to show contempt for, as in rule or convention
Term
Garrulous
Definition
pointlessly talkative; talking too much
Term
Glib
Definition
marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial
Term
Hubris
Definition
overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance
Term
Immutable
Definition
incapable of change
Term
Impetuous
Definition
hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
Term
Inimical
Definition
damaging; harmful; injurious
Term
Intractable
Definition
not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate
Term
Intrepid
Definition
steadfast and courageous
Term
Laconic
Definition
using few words; terse
Term
Maverick
Definition
an independent individual who doesn't go along w/ a group or party
Term
Mercurial
Definition
marked by rapid and unpredictable changed in mood
Term
Neophyte
Definition
a recent convert; a beginner; a novice
Term
Obfuscate
Definition
to deliberately obscure; to make confusing
Term
Ostentatious
Definition
characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy
Term
Pervade
Definition
to permeate throughout
Term
Phlegmatic
Definition
calm; sluggish; unemotional
Term
Pragmatic
Definition
practical rather than idealistic
Term
Presumptuous
Definition
overstepping due bounds as of propriety or courtesy; taking liberties
Term
Probity
Definition
adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; 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; lacking in spirit or imagination
Term
Quotidian
Definition
occurring or recurring daily; commonplace
Term
Rarefy
Definition
to make or become thing; 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
Sedulous
Definition
diligent; persistent; hard working
Term
Soporific
Definition
causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
Term
Tacit
Definition
implied; not explicitly stated
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 b/w one course of action or opinion and another; waver
Term
Variegated
Definition
varying in color; multicolored
Term
Vigilant
Definition
alertly watchful
Term
Vituperate
Definition
to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; berate
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