GRE Vocabulary Cartoons: B Words
bygone
(adj, n) past, former (adj); that which is in the past (usually plural noun)
brusque
(adj.) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities
blase
(adj.) indifferent, bored as a result of having enjoyed many pleasures; apathetic
bellicose
(adjective) warlike in manner or temperament; quarrelsome syn: aggressive, combative, belligerent
Battery
(n.) - an assault or an array of similar things intended for use together
behemoth
(n.) a creature of enormous size, power, or appearance
bedlam
(n.) a state or scene of uproar and confusion
bulwark
(n.) a strong defense or protection, a solid wall-like structure for defense; (v.) to provide such defense or protection
baying
(v) to shout or cry out loudly, often in anger
bungle
(v.) to act or work clumsily and awkwardly; to ruin something through clumsiness
bowdlerize
(v.) to remove material considered offensive (from a book, play, film, etc.)
Beneficence
Doing good or causing good to be done; kindly action
bonhomie
Friendliness, open and simple good heartedness
beguile
To deceive; to charm; to enchant
boon
a gift or blessing
bauble
a small, inexpensive trinket
buttress
a support or prop
bilious
bad tempered
beatific
blissfully happy
brevity
briefness; short duration
burdensome
causing difficulty or worry
blithe
cheerful, lighthearted; casual, unconcerned
Bromide
cliche
belied
contradicted
boor
crude person, one lacking manners or taste
bereft
deprived of; made unhappy through a loss
burgeoning
expanding or growing rapidly
bemoan
express discontent or sorrow over something
Byzantine
extremely intricate or complicated in structure.
bravado
false bravery; a boastful display of courage
buoyant
happy and confident
benign
harmless
Base
low; mean
bumptious
offensively self-assertive; excessively and arrogantly self-confident
bucolic
pertaining to the countryside; rural; rustic
brazen
shameless
banal
so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring
bugbear
something causing fear
baleful
threatening harm; menacing
beseech
to beg or plead
bifurcate
to divide into two parts
bludgeon
to hit or attack with heavy impact
becalm
to make calm or still; keep motionless by lack of wind
belittle
to make seem less important
badger
to pester, nag, annoy persistently
beatify
to sanctify; to bless; to ascribe a virtue to
beleaguered
troubled with many problems
bloviated
was wordy/windy when speaking
