GRE Basic
conversion
the act of changing from one use or function or purpose to another
derision
the act of deriding or treating with contempt
detraction
the act of discrediting or detracting from someone's reputation (especially by slander)
ostracism
the act of excluding someone from society by general consent
waver
the act of pausing uncertainly
remuneration
the act of paying for goods or services or to recompense for losses
restitution
the act of restoring something to its original state
pedagogy
the activities of educating or instructing or teaching
ambience
the atmosphere of an environment
brevity
the attribute of being brief or fleeting
introspection
the contemplation of your own thoughts and desires and conduct
incumbent
the official who holds an office; lying or leaning on something else
ingenuity
the power of creative imagination
plasticity
the property of being physically malleable
fidelity
the quality of being faithful
candor
the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech
renaissance
the revival of learning and culture
discretion
the trait of judging wisely and objectively
inherent
existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
irony
incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs
maverick
independent in behavior or thought
tacit
indicated by necessary connotation though not expressed directly
oblique
indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way
intransigent
not capable of being swayed or diverted from a course
opaque
not clearly understood or expressed
imperturbable
not easily perturbed or excited or upset
extraneous
not essential
temperate
not extreme
discordant
not in agreement or harmony
improbable
not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred
precarious
not secure
disingenuous
not straightforward; crafty
serenity
the absence of mental stress or anxiety
reconciliation
the act of agreement after a quarrel, the resolution of a dispute
garner
acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions
vigor
active strength of body or mind
veritable
actual, true, real
veracity
adherence to the truth; truthfulness
impunity
exemption from punishment or loss
intimate
imply as a possibility
implacable
impossible to placate
indomitable
impossible to subdue
impenetrable
impossible to understand
capricious
impulsive and unpredictable
pursuant
in conformance to or agreement with
dilapidated
in deplorable condition
flush
in the same plane
incorrigible
incapable of being reformed or improved
amorous
inclined toward or displaying love
insular
narrowly restricted in outlook or scope
novel
new; original
penultimate
next to the last
static
not active or moving
unfettered
not bound by shackles and chains
salutary
tending to promote physical well-being
sedative
tending to soothe or tranquilize
partisan
adhering or confined to a particular sect or denomination or party
cavalier
carefree, happy; with lordly disdain
vigilant
carefully observant or attentive
rubric
category name
abash
cause to be embarrassed
proliferate
cause to grow or increase rapidly
discomfit
cause to lose one's composure
retard
cause to move more slowly or operate at a slower rate
arrest
cause to stop
metamorphose
change in outward structure or looks
heretical
characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards
ardent
characterized by intense emotion
fervent
characterized by intense emotion
ethereal
characterized by lightness and insubstantiality
resolute
characterized by quickness and firmness
impetuous
characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation
patent
clearly apparent or obvious to the mind or senses
facetious
cleverly amusing in tone
inopportune
coming at a bad time; not appropriate
pragmatic
concerned with practical matters
aesthetic
concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
surreptitious
conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
tact
consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offence
eccentric
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
discrete
constituting a separate entity or part
intemperance
consumption of alcoholic drinks
commensurate
corresponding in size or degree or extent
adulterate
corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
debauchery
corruption; self-indulgence
affable
courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to
perjury
criminal offense of making false statements under oath
sever
cut off from a whole
wane
decrease in phase
poignant
deeply affecting, touching; keen or sharp in taste or smell
distraught
deeply agitated especially from emotion
lethargic
deficient in alertness or activity
abscond
depart secretly and hide
deviation
departure or wandering away from the accepted standard
sap
deplete
relish
derive or receive pleasure from
savor
derive or receive pleasure from
empirical
derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
culpable
deserving blame or censure as being wrong or evil or injurious
estimable
deserving of respect or high regard
eradicate
destroy completely, as if down to the roots
enumerate
determine the number or amount of
whimsical
determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
anomalous
deviating from the general or common order or type
anomaly
deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule
pious
devoutly religious
arduous
difficult to accomplish
amiable
diffusing warmth and friendliness
genial
diffusing warmth and friendliness
indolent
disinclined to work or exertion
slothful
disinclined to work or exertion
consternation
dismay, confusion
amenable
disposed or willing to comply
audacious
disposed to venture or take risks
dispersed
distributed or spread over a considerable extent
schism
division of a group into opposing factions
deign
do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
beneficent
doing or producing good
hegemony
domination over others
plummet
drop sharply
malleable
easily influenced
compliant
easily influenced or imposed on
petulant
easily irritated or annoyed
lucid
easily understood; clear
flamboyant
elaborately or excessively ornamented
ephemeral
enduring a very short time
conspire
engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together
augment
enlarge or increase
trivial
(informal terms) small and of little importance
buttress
(v.) to support, prop up, strengthen; (n.) a supporting structure
debacle
A complete failure; a total collapse
corroborate
establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
cower
To crouch or shrink away from in fear or shame
soliloquy
a (usually long) dramatic speech intended to give the illusion of unspoken reflections
diatribe
a bitter and prolonged verbal attack
platitude
a boring or unoriginal remark
anthology
a collection of selected literary passages
travesty
a comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations
curmudgeon
a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas
forbearance
a delay in enforcing rights or claims or privileges
discrepancy
a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions
complaisance
a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others
deference
a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others
dichotomy
a division into two parts
dogma
a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
anesthetic
a drug that causes temporary loss of bodily sensations
trepidation
a feeling of alarm or dread
animosity
a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
antipathy
a feeling of intense dislike
aversion
a feeling of intense dislike
indignation
a feeling of righteous anger
gratitude
a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
stanza
a fixed number of lines of verse forming a unit of a poem
eulogy
a formal expression of praise
shard
a fragment
myriad
a large indefinite number
tirade
a long, angry speech, usually very critical
din
a loud harsh or strident noise
sanction
a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society's standards
reproach
a mild rebuke or criticism
fallacy
a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning
proclivity
a natural inclination
propensity
a natural inclination
respite
a pause from doing something (as work)
chauvinist
a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind
miscreant
a person without moral scruples
antecedent
a preceding occurrence or cause or event
alchemy
a pseudoscientific forerunner of chemistry in medieval times
bent
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
paradox
a self-contradiction
epitome
a standard or typical example
paradigm
a standard or typical example, the generally accepted perspective of a particular discipline at a given time
corrosion
a state of deterioration in metals caused by oxidation or chemical action
bedlam
a state of extreme confusion and disorder
penury
a state of extreme poverty or destitution
anarchy
a state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government)
adversity
a state of misfortune or affliction
deviance
a state or condition markedly different from the norm
penchant
a strong liking
filibuster
a tactic for delaying or obstructing legislation by making long speeches
membrane
a thin pliable sheet of material
torque
a twisting force
magnate
a very wealthy or powerful businessman
subpoena
a writ issued by court authority to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding
hankering
a yearning for something or to do something
imminent
about to happen
antithesis
exact opposite
peruse
examine or consider with attention and in detail
presumptuous
excessively forward
voracious
excessively greedy and grasping
condone
excuse, overlook, or make allowances for
tout
advertize in strongly positive terms
demure
affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way
centrifuge
an apparatus that uses centrifugal force to separate particles from a suspension
forte
an asset of special worth or utility
presumption
an assumption that is taken for granted
vitality
an energetic style
connoisseur
an expert able to appreciate a field
condolence
an expression of sympathy with another's grief
precursor
an indication of the approach of something or someone
euphemism
an inoffensive expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive
dearth
an insufficient quantity or number
idiosyncracy
an odd, unusual, or peculiar behavior
archetype
an original model on which something is patterned
beleaguer
annoy persistently
impediment
any structure that makes progress difficult
salve
anything that remedies or heals or soothes
conciliatory
appeasing; soothing; showing willingness to reconcile
remonstrate
argue in protest or opposition
relegate
assign to a lower position
obsequious
attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
sparing
avoiding waste
cognizant
aware; having knowledge of something
arbitrary
based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice
equivocate
be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information
subtle
be difficult to detect or grasp by the mind
waft
be driven or carried along, as by the air
vacillate
be undecided about something
abate
become less in amount or intensity
flag
become less intense
assimilate
become similar to one's environment
flounder
behave awkwardly
nominal
being such in name only
cynical
believing the worst of human nature and motives
subliminal
below the threshold of conscious perception
idolatrous
blindly or excessively devoted or adoring
succinct
brief and to the point
terse
brief and to the point
precipitate
bring about abruptly
broach
bring up a topic for discussion
viable
capable of life or normal growth and development
solvent
capable of meeting financial obligations
milk
exploit as much as possible
reconnaissance
exploration to gain knowledge or information
disparage
express a negative opinion of
condemn
express strong disapproval of
articulate
expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language
eloquent
expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
discourse
extended verbal expression in speech or writing
hyperbole
extravagant exaggeration
diabolic
extremely evil or cruel
weather
face or endure with courage
contemptuous
feeling hatred; scornful
reverent
feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
contrite
feeling regret for a fault or offence
ardor
feelings of great warmth and intensity
inundate
fill or cover completely, usually with water
nonplused
filled with bewilderment
staunch
firm and dependable especially in loyalty
prime
first in rank, excellence, quality, importance, or time
expel
force to leave or move out
queue
form a queue, form a line, stand in line
forswear
formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
squalid
foul and run-down and repulsive
tranquil
free from disturbance
porous
full of pores or vessels or holes
disparate
fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
coalesce
fuse or cause to grow together
aggregate
gather in a mass, sum, or whole
inept
generally incompetent and ineffectual
secrete
generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids
dynamo
generator for producing electricity; energetic person
sanction
give authority or permission to
belligerent
given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive; one at war, one engaged in war
somber
grave or even gloomy in character
burgeon
grow and flourish
credulous
gullible
taciturn
habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little
deleterious
harmful, injurious
censure
harsh criticism or disapproval
acrid
harsh in taste or odor; sharp in manner or temper
caustic
harsh or corrosive in tone
cursory
hasty and without attention to detail
pine
have a desire for something or someone who is not present
fancy
have a particular liking or desire for
ornery
having a difficult and contrary disposition
viscous
having a gelatinous or gluey quality, lacking in easy movement or fluidity
prone
having a tendency (to)
androgynous
having both male and female characteristics
tenuous
having little substance or significance
multifaceted
having many aspects
ambiguous
having more than one possible meaning
amorphous
having no definite form or distinct shape
impassive
having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
bellicose
having or showing a ready disposition to fight
pertinent
having precise or logical relevance to the matter at hand
circumspect
heedful of potential consequences
dissemble
hide under a false appearance
aghast
horrified
parody
humorous or satirical mimicry
pristine
immaculately clean and unused
saturate
infuse or fill completely
contentious
involving or likely to cause controversy
intrepid
invulnerable to fear or intimidation
warranted
justified; authorized
forestall
keep from happening or arising
decimate
kill in large numbers
disinterest
lack of bias or involvement; impartiality; (ed) uninvolved; free from self-interest
lackluster
lacking brilliance or vitality
insipid
lacking interest or significance
provincial
lacking sophistication, narrow-minded
copious
large in number or quantity (especially of discourse)
perennial
lasting an indefinitely long time
damp
lessen in force or effect
mitigate
lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
volatile
liable to lead to sudden change or violence
authoritarian
likened to a dictator in severity
inured
made tough by habitual exposure
eclectic
made up of a variety of sources or styles
incubation
maintaining something at the most favorable temperature for its development
apprise
make aware of
facilitate
make easier
elucidate
make free from confusion or ambiguity
divulge
make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
qualify
make more specific
mollify
make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else
temper
make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else
rectify
make right or correct
aggravate
make worse
exacerbate
make worse
inerrancy
making no mistakes or errors
pedantic
marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
avid
marked by active interest and enthusiasm
zealous
marked by active interest and enthusiasm
flip
marked by casual disrespect
impudent
marked by casual disrespect
meticulous
marked by extreme care in treatment of details
glib
marked by lack of intellectual depth
astute
marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
discreet
marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
furtive
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
cultured
marked by refinement in taste and manners
cunning
marked by skill in deception
judicious
marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters
aberrant
markedly different from an accepted norm
sparse
meager, scant; scattered
illusory
misleading, deceptive; lacking in or not based on reality
color
modify or bias
superfluous
more than is needed, desired, or required
abject
most unfortunate or miserable
converge
move or draw together at a certain location
enigmatic
mysterious, inexplicable, puzzling
quintessential
representing the perfect example of a class or quality
conspicuous
obvious to the eye or mind
fortuitous
occurring by happy chance
episodic
occurring or appearing at usually irregular intervals
ostentatious
of a display that is tawdry or vulgar
austere
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
marginal
of something or someone close to a lower limit or lower class
tangential
of superficial relevance if any
tender
offer or present for acceptance
approbation
official recognition or approval
peripheral
on or near an edge or constituting an outer boundary
recluse
one who lives in solitude
incipient
only partly in existence
equivocal
open to two or more interpretations
plethora
overabundance; excess
pompous
overly self-important in speech and manner; excessively stately or ceremonious
allusion
passing reference or indirect mention
waffle
pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
slight
pay no attention to, disrespect
obstinate
persist stubbornly
tenacity
persistent determination
spurious
plausible but false
benign
pleasant and beneficial in nature or influence
personable
pleasing in appearance or personality, attractive
buff
polish and make shiny
bombast
pompous or pretentious talk or writing
query
pose a question
latent
potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
cogent
powerfully persuasive
obviate
prevent the occurrence of
profuse
produced or growing in extreme abundance
salient
prominent; of notable significance
exculpate
pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
exonerate
pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
refute
prove to be false or incorrect
frugality
prudence in avoiding waste
castigation
punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
irascible
quickly aroused to anger
prodigal
recklessly wasteful
sporadic
recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances
divest
reduce or dispose of
lament
regret strongly
repudiate
reject as untrue, unfounded, or unjust
distill
remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation
arcane
requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
resurrect
restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state
manifest
reveal its presence or make an appearance
debased
ruined in character or quality
rue
sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment
covert
secret or hidden
dissolution
separation into component parts, the termination of a relationship
cardinal
serving as an essential component
coercive
serving or intended to compel by force or authority
abrasive
sharply disagreeable
morose
showing a brooding ill humor
inquisitive
showing curiosity
indifferent
showing no care or concern in attitude or action
indefatigable
showing sustained enthusiastic action with unflagging vitality
obdurate
showing unfeeling resistance to tender feelings
inert
slow and apathetic
obtuse
slow to learn or understand
archaic
so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
luminous
softly bright or radiant
adherent
someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another
misanthrope
someone who dislikes people in general
spendthrift
someone who spends money prodigally
complement
something added to complete or make perfect
makeshift
something contrived to meet an urgent need or emergency; done or made using whatever is available
fraud
something intended to deceive
vexation
something or someone that causes anxiety
convention
something regarded as a normative example
catalyst
something that causes an important event to happen
exemplar
something to be imitated
placebo
something which has a positive mental effect, but no physical effect
extend
span an interval of distance, space or time
advocate
speak, plead, or argue in favour of
diffuse
spread out
pervasive
spreading throughout
miserly
stingy; mean
emulate
strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
recalcitrant
stubbornly disobedient, resisting authority
founder
stumble and nearly fall, fail utterly
defer
submit or yield to another's wish or opinion
ancillary
subordinate or supplementary
martial
suggesting war or military life
stint
supply sparingly and with restricted quantities
bolster
support and strengthen
supplant
take the place or move into the position of
espouse
take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own
monotonous
tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
reticent
temperamentally disinclined to talk, reluctant to draw attention to yourself
remedial
tending or intended to rectify or improve
synergy
the working together of two things (muscles or drugs for example) to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects
ominous
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
denounce
to accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful
acquiesce
to agree or express agreement
placate
to appease, soothe, pacify
allege
to assert without proof or confirmation
denigrate
to attack the reputation of; to speak ill of
amalgamate
to bring or combine together or with something else
engender
to cause, to produce, to create
admonish
to caution or advise against something; to scold mildly; to remind of a duty
abstain
to choose not to do something
belie
to contradict, to give a false impression
aver
to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
avow
to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
amortize
to diminish by installment payments
goad
to drive or urge on
renege
to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise
disabuse
to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking
misconstrue
to interpret wrongly, mistake the meaning of
ameliorate
to make better
bereave
to make desolate with loneliness and grief.
assuage
to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench
rarefy
to make or become thin, less dense; to refine
vilify
to malign, to defame, to utter abusive statements against
misappropriate
to misuse
daunt
to overcome with fear, intimidate; to dishearten, discourage
burnish
to polish
rescind
to repeal, cancel
preempt
to supersede; appropiate for oneself
tantalize
to tease, torment by teasing
belabor
to work on excessively; to thrash soundly
propagate
transmit or cause to broaden or spread
itinerate
travel from place to place, as for work
itinerant
traveling from place to place to work
deride
treat or speak of with contempt
flout
treat with contemptuous disregard
onerous
troubling; burdensome
fawn
try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
tentative
under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon
qualm
uneasiness about the fitness of an action
odious
unequivocally detestable
sordid
unethical or dishonest
unremitting
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
decibel
unit of measurement for the loudness of sounds
innocuous
unlikely to harm or disturb anyone
affectation
unnatural or artificial behavior, usually intended to impress
derivative
unoriginal; derived from another source
raucous
unpleasantly loud and harsh
singular
unusual or striking
tautology
useless repetition
rhetoric
using language effectively to please or persuade
evanescent
vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy
sundry
various; miscellaneous
contiguous
very close or connected in space or time
abysmal
very great
boisterous
violently agitated and turbulent
plod
walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
digress
wander from a direct or straight course
enervate
weaken mentally or morally
prune
weed out unwanted or unnecessary things
prudent
wise, careful, cautious
covet
wish, long, or crave for (something, especially the property of another person)
malevolent
wishing or appearing to wish evil to others
extemporaneous
with little or no preparation or forethought
gratis
without payment
satire
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
