GRE Vocabulary

abiding

(adj.) lasting for a long time; unceasing (syn.) enduring, imperishable, lasting, permanent

antic

(adj.) ludicrously odd (n.) a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement (v.) act as or like a clown

abstemious

(adj.) moderate, sparing (as in eating and drinking); characterized by abstinence and self-discipline (syn.) continent, temperate, self-abnegating, self-denying, ascetic (ant.) voracious, indulgent

apocryphal

(adj.) of questionable authenticity; false

apocalyptic

(adj.) predicting or presaging universal destruction, devastation or ultimate doom

adventitious

(adj.) resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired, not congenital

affluent

(adj.) rich, wealthy

ascendant

(adj.) rising (adj.) dominant, important or influent (n.) position or state of being dominant or in control

abstinent

(adj.) self-restraining; not indulging an appetite (syn.) ascetic, sober, temperate, teetotal (ant.) dissolute, squander, hedonistic, licentious, dissipate, libertine, rakish, reprobate,

abstentious

(adj.) self-restraining; not indulging an appetite (syn.) sober, temperate (ant.) voracious

acrid

(adj.) sharp and harsh or unpleasantly pungent in taste or odor; harsh or corrosive in tone

astute

(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom (syn.) sharp, shrewd, smart

acrimonious

(adj.) stinging, bitter in temper or tone (syn.) acerbic, mordant (n.) acrimony

balky

(adj.) stubbornly refusing to act (adj.) stopping short and refusing to go on

ancillary

(adj.) subordinate or supplementary (ant.) heart

apt

(adj.) suitable, pertinent; tending, likely; quick to learn, smart (syn.) apposite, pertinent, apropos

abeyant

(adj.) temporarily inactive, stopped or suspended

amenable

(adj.) willing to follow advice or authority, tractable, submissive; responsive; liable to be held responsible (syn.) conformable, compliant, tractable, susceptible

apprehension

(n.) a. fearful expectation b. the cognitive condition of someone who understands c. the act of apprehending a criminal (syn.) trepidation (v.) apprehend (adj.) apprehensive

adjunct

(n.) 1. something attached to another in a subordinate position 2. a person who is an assistant or subordinate to another (syn.) associate

aspersion

(n.) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming (syn.) slur (v.) asperse ~ besmirch, caluminate, defame, denigrate, slander, smear, smirch, sully

animus

(n.) a feeling of ill-will that arouses hostility

affinity

(n.) a natural attraction or feeling of kinship; an inherent similarity

aversion

(n.) a particular dislike for something

aspirant

(n.) a person who goes after high goal

alacrity

(n.) a quick and cheerful readiness to do something

acuity

(n.) a quick and penetrating intelligence

aphorism

(n.) a short pithy instructive saying

declamation

(n.) a speech or presentation spoken in a formal or theatrical style

ardor

(n.) a strong feeling of energy or eagerness; a strong feeling of love

iota

(n.) a very small part or quantity

asperity

(n.) harshness of manner or of temper (syn.) rude, sharpness (ant.) bluntness, dullness (n.) rigor, severity

acclaim

(n.) high praise

acumen

(n.) keen insight

continent

(n.) one of the large landmasses of the earth (adj.) restrained, especially abstaining from sexual intercourse (syn.) sober, temperate, abstemious, abstinent, abstentious

awning

(n.) piece of material attached to a caravan or building which provides shelter from the rain or sun

surrogate

(n.) someone who takes the place of another person (syn.) alternate, replacement (n.) a person appointed to represent or act on behalf of others (syn.) deputy

menace

(n.) something that is a source of danger; a threat or the act of threatening (syn.) threat (v.) pose a threat to; present a danger to (syn.) endanger, imperil, peril, jeopardize

analgesic

(n.) something that reduces pain

approbation

(n.) the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval (adj.) approbatory (ant.) disapprobation

bane

(n.) the source or cause of fatal injury, death, destruction, or ruin; death or ruin itself; poison

abstain

(v) hold back, refrain (especially from something bad or unhealthy); decline to vote

disparage

(v) to belittle, say uncomplimentary things; to put down; express a negative opinion of (syn.) slight, belittle (ant.) blandish, flatter

disapprove

(v.) 1. deem wrong or inappropriate 2. consider bad or wrong

depreciate

(v.) 1. lose in value 2. lower the value of something 3. belittle (syn.) deprecate

dismiss

(v.) 1. put away from consideration; reject 2. terminate the employment of (syn.) discount, disregard, ignore, push aside, brush aside (n.) dismissal

abolish

(v.) a. to officially end or stop (something, such as a law) b. to complete do away with (something)

arrest

(v.) a. to stop; b. attract and hold someone's attention; c. seize, capture

exalt

(v.) 1. praise, glorify, or honor 2. raise in rank, character, or status (syn.) extol, glorify, laud, proclaim (n.) exaltation = encomium

deprecate

(v.) 1. to express strong disapproval; (syn.) deplore 2. to belittle (syn.) depreciate (adj.) deprecatory

belittle

(v.) 1.cause to seem less serious; play down 2. lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of 3. express a negative opinion of

applaud

(v.) To show approval, especially by clapping hands

reclaim

(v.) bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one (syn.) rectify, reform, regenerate (v.) overcome the wildness of; make docile and tractable (syn.) domesticate, tame, (v.) claim back (syn.) repossess (v.) make useful again; transform from a useless or uncultivated state

abase

(v.) cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of

derogate

(v.) cause to seem less serious; play down

assess

(v.) charge (a person or a property) with a payment, such as tax of fine (v.) evaluate or estimate the nature, quality, ability, extent, or significance of

proclaim

(v.) declare formally; state or announce (syn.) exclaim, promulgate (v.) praise, glorify, or honor (syn.) exalt, extol, laud

abnegate

(v.) deny, renounce ,or surrender

adumbrate

(v.) describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of; to sketch out in a vague way

exult

(v.) feel extreme happiness or elation

advert

(v.) give heed to (n.) a public promotion of some product or service (adj.) advertent

slight

(v.) pay no attention, disrespect (syn.) cold-shoulder, dismiss, disregard, ignore, brush aside

blandish

(v.) praise somewhat dishonestly (syn.) flatter (ant.) belittle, dismiss, disparage

trumpet

(v.) proclaim on, or as if on, a trumpet (syn.) exclaim, proclaim, promulgate

declaim

(v.) recite in elocution (syn.) recite (v.) speak against in an impassioned manner (syn.) inveigh

arrogate

(v.) seize and take control without authority and possibly with force (syn.) assume, seize, takeover, usurp (ant.) forfeit, forgo, give up, waive

appropriate

(v.) take possession of by force, as after an invasion (syn.) borrow (adj.) suitable for a particular person, place, condition, etc. (n.) appropriation

abrogate

(v.) to abolish, usually by authority

acclimate

(v.) to adapt to a new climate, environment, or situation

accede

(v.) to agree to a request or demand; to assume an office or dignity (syn.) assent, acquiescent

accost

(v.) to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way

appraise

(v.) to assess the worth or value of

denigrate

(v.) to belittle, diminish the opinion of (adj.) denigrating (syn.) defame, calumniate, slander, libel

amalgamate

(v.) to bring or combine together or with something else (syn.) mingle, mix, unify (adj.) amalgamated (syn.) coalesced, consolidated, fused, united

admonish

(v.) to caution or advise against something; to scold mildly; to remind of a duty

denounce

(v.) to condemn openly; to accuse formally (syn.) fulminate, rail,

decry

(v.) to condemn, express strong disapproval; to officially depreciate

abet

(v.) to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy)

apprise

(v.) to give notice to; to inform

accrete

(v.) to grow or increase gradually, as by addition

attenuate

(v.) to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value (n.) attenuation

bait

(v.) to persecute or exasperate with unjust, malicious, or persistent attack

adhere

(v.) to stick to, remain attached; to be devoted or loyal as a follower or supporter

adjourn

(v.) to stop proceedings temporarily, to break from a meeting or gathering; move to another place

balk

(v.) to stop, block abruptly (v.) to stop short and refuse to go on; to refuse abruptly; to prevent from happening;

exclaim

(v.) utter loud (syn.) cry out (v.) state or announce (syn.) proclaim, promulgate, declare, trumpet

acute

1. (adj.) sharp, severe 2. (adj.) having keen insight (syn.) severe

alibi

1. (law) a defense by an accused person purporting to show that he or she could not have committed the crime in question 2. excuse

anterior

Coming before in position or time Located towards the front of the body

apoplectic

(adj. n.) Extremely angry or furious

abject

(adj.) a. of the most miserable or contemptible kind b. showing utter resignation or hopelessness c. showing humiliation or submissiveness

aseptic

(adj.) Free from germs (adj.) lacking vitality, emotion

pungent

(adj.) causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting

awash

(adj.) covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water

opprobrious

(adj.) damning; extremely critical; disgraceful (syn.) abusive, scurrilous, offensive (n.) opprobrium = obloquy

bale

(adj.) deadly or sinister (adj.) threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments (n.) woe, sorrow

apropos

(adj.) fitting the occasion; suitable or appropriate

anemic

(adj.) lacking in color, spirit, or vitality.

baleful

deadly; having a malign influence; ominous (adj.) harmful, threatening or deadly

aloft

upward; high up in the air