GRE for Dummies 2023 Reccomended Vocab

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frugal

(adj.) economical, avoiding waste and luxury; scanty, poor, meager

germane

(adj.) relevant, appropriate, apropos, fitting

inane

(adj.) silly, empty of meaning or value

pejorative

(adj.) tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling

repose

(n.) The state of being at rest or relaxing; (v.) To rest or relax

reprobate

(n.) a depraved, vicious, or unprincipled person, scoundrel; (adj.) wicked, corrupt, or unprincipled; (v.) to disapprove of, condemn

hedge

A barrier or boundary; an act of preventing complete loss of a bet or investment by betting on both sides

dissolution

A breaking up into separate parts; disintegration

virtuosity

A condition of having expert skill or ability

cacophony

A disagreeable, harsh, or discordant sound or tone

slander

A false spoken statement that is damaging to someone's reputation

complacency

A feeling of quiet security and satisfaction

presentiment

A feeling or impression that something is about to happen

admonition

A gentle reproof or scolding

panache

A grand or flamboyant manner or style

archipelago

A large group of islands

mausoleum

A large tomb or memorial

qualm

A misgiving or feeling of uneasiness

harbinger

A person or event that foreruns and announces the coming of another person or event

counterpart

A person or thing resembling or complementing another

poseur

A person who attempts to impress others by assuming a manner other than their true one

killjoy

A person who spoils the joy or pleasure of others

stint

A person's fixed or allotted period of work or service (noun); To give a miserly, inadequate amount (verb)

prodigy

A person, usually a child, having extraordinary talent

elegy

A poem lamenting the dead

strut

A pompous walk (noun); To walk pompously (verb)

ostentation

A pretentious display, as of knowledge or wealth

silhouette

A profile portrait; a figure outline, often reversed against a background

pathos

A quality that evokes pity or sadness

churl

A rude, boorish, or surly person

parable

A short story designed to illustrate a lesson

anecdote

A short, entertaining account of an event

modicum

A small amount

gaffe

A social blunder; faux pas

whorl

A spiral pattern; a series of concentric circles

doldrums

A state of inactivity or low spirits

spate

A sudden, almost overwhelming, outpouring

inconstancy

A tendency to change suddenly and without explanation; fickleness

boon

A timely benefit

harangue

A tirade

stigma

A token of disgrace

quisling

A traitor

diesel

A type of engine that burns fuel oil

palpable

Able to be sensed by feeling or touch; easily perceptible

aberrant

Abnormal; different from the accepted norm

acquiescent

Agreeing without protest

desultory

Aimless; haphazard

equivocal

Ambiguous, uncertain

aggregate

Amounting to a whole

refutation

An act of disproving a statement or charge

dearth

An inadequate supply; scarcity; lack

intimation

An indirect suggestion about something; a hint

maverick

An individualist, an unconventional person

paucity

An insufficient amount or number

congruous

Appropriate or fitting

fervor

Ardor or intensity of feeling

rhetoric

Art of effective communication, especially persuasive discourse.

burgeon

Begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish

mordant

Biting; sarcastic

acrimonious

Bitter in temper, manner, and speech

diatribe

Bitter or malicious criticism, tirade

insipid

Bland, lifeless, dull

laconic

Brief and to the point

imperturbable

Calm

halcyon

Calm, idyllically happy (usually in reference to an earlier time)

equable

Calm; even tempered

dilatory

Causing delay

prudence

Caution

metamorphosis

Change in form; transformation

protean

Changeable in shape or form

haphazard

Characterized by a lack of order or planning

sanguine

Cheerfully confident; optimistic; a blood-red color

prosaic

Commonplace or dull

coda

Concluding section of a musical or literary piece; something that summarizes

ingratiating

Consciously trying to gain the good graces or favor of another

elitism

Consciousness or pride in belonging to a select group

prophetic

Correctly predicting a future event

valorous

Courageous

craven

Cowardly

precarious

Dangerous; risky; lacking in security or stability

profound

Deep; intensely felt

delineate

Describe or portray precisely

opprobrium

Disgrace or infamy based on shameful conduct

consternation

Dismay; anxiety; bewilderment

unruly

Disobedient, untidy

torpid

Dull; sluggish; inactive

gullible

Easily deceived

transparent

Easily seen through

lucid

Easily understood; clear

fallacious

Erroneous; deceptive

equanimity

Evenness of mind or temper

hyperbole

Exaggeration or overstatement

plethora

Excess; superabundance

vainglory

Excessive boastfulness and vanity

temerity

Excessive confidence or boldness, audacity, effrontery, impudence

penurious

Excessively frugal; impoverished

egress

Exits or a way out.

verbiage

Expression of a thought using more words than necessary; wordiness

draconian

Extremely harsh and severe

stentorian

Extremely loud, powerful, authoritative

nefarious

Extremely wicked

propitious

Favorable; indicative of success

nepotism

Favoritism on the basis of family relationship or friendship

intrepid

Fearless and bold

audacious

Fearless, bold

facetious

Flippant; trying to be witty, but at an inappropriate time

fatuous

Foolish, silly; complacently stupid

base

Foundation; main part; basis; Simple; boring; Immoral (adj.)

shard

Fragment

shrapnel

Fragments thrown out by a shell or a bomb

porous

Full of holes or tiny openings

magnanimity

Generosity

esoteric

Hard to understand; known only by a few

pernicious

Harmful or destructive over time

innocuous

Harmless

cursory

Hasty or superficial, as of a review

odious

Hateful; offensive, disgusting

acrid

Having an irritatingly strong and unpleasant taste or smell; pungent

vapid

Having lost quality and flavor; dull; lifeless

salacious

Having or expressing undue or indecent interest in sexual matters

titular

Having title but not necessarily any true authority; Holding a position in name (title) only without the power or responsibility that usually comes with that position

salubrious

Healthful

tenacious

Holding fast; persevering; persistent; resolute

quixotic

Idealistic; romantic to a ridiculous degree

restive

Impatient, restless, uneasy, stubborn

impervious

Impenetrable

implicit

Implied

inert

Inactive; lacking power to move

recondite

Incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding; profound

abstemious

Indicative of self-denial, particularly with food or drink

callous

Insensitive; indifferent

imperious

Insisting on obedience, arrogant

affront

Insult, offense, indignity (noun); to offend (verb)

virulence

Intense bitterness; the level of infectiousness (as for a disease)

itinerant

Journeying from place to place, often along the same circuit

astute

Keen; wise

acumen

Keenness; the possession of quick intellectual insight

prescience

Knowledge of events before they happeN

disquiet

Lack of calm, peace, or ease

invidious

Likely to cause resentment, envy, or hatred in others

perennial

Long-lasting; returning again and again

jingoism

Loud, excessive, and aggressive patriotism; Professing one's patriotism loudly and excessively

mendacious

Lying, deceitful

shoddy

Made of inferior material; not genuine; poorly constructed

homogeneous

Made of similar or identical elements or parts

tendentious

Marked by a strong point of view, biased; Having or showing a definite tendency, bias, or purpose

officious

Meddlesome, domineering; asserting authority over trivial matters

quibble

Minor objection or complaint (noun); To argue or raise objections about a trivial matter (verb)

licentious

Morally unrestrained; promiscuous

superfluous

More than what is needed

proclivity

Natural inclination

propensity

Natural inclination

moribund

Near death or extinction

trepidation

Nervous feeling; fear

skittish

Nervous, easily frightened

impenitent

Not feeling regret or remorse about one's actions

stolid

Not showing emotion or sensitivity; impassive

blatant

Obvious; flagrant; glaring

vestigial

Occurring or persisting as a rudimentary or degenerate structure; not developed

umbrage

Offense or resentment

bumptious

Offensively self-assertive; pushy

malingerer

One who feigns illness to escape duty

confidante

One with whom secrets are shared

partisan

One-sided; strongly committed to one party or cause

heresy

Opinion or doctrine that subverts, or undermines, settled or accepted beliefs

decorum

Orderliness and good taste in manners

pompous

Ostentatiously lofty or high-flown, arrogant

permeable

Penetrable; porous

contrite

Penitent

sedulous

Persevering in effort or endeavor; diligent

assiduous

Persistent, diligent, and careful

colloquial

Pertaining to common speech

didactic

Pertaining to teaching, intended to instruct

deleterious

Physically harmful

malleable

Pliant

grandiloquent

Pompous; bombastic; Speaking or expressing oneself in a lofty style

efficacy

Power to produce an intended effect

loquacious

Talkative

voluble

Talkative; given to rapid, abundant speech

garrulous

Talking excessively about trivial things

timidity

The absence of self-assurance or courage

fortification

The act of strengthening or protecting

tutelage

The act of training or being under instruction

nicotine

The addictive stuff in tobacco

extrapolation

The inference of an unknown from something that is known

countenance

The look on one's face; expression

expiation

The means by which atonement or reparation is made

cronyism

The practice of favoring one's friends, especially in political appointments

mediocrity

The quality of being average; ordinary; not very good

cognizant

The quality of being aware and understanding

brevity

The quality of being brief or concise

depravity

The state of being morally bad or evil

recidivism

The tendency toward repeated or habitual relapse into antisocial or criminal behavior

embellish

To add ornamental features (to make a story more interesting or entertaining)

aver

To affirm; to declare to be the truth

titillate

To arouse excitement, especially through sexually suggestive words or images

impugn

To assail with arguments or accusations

shirk

To avoid or neglect one's responsibilities

seethe

To be filled with strong anger

allay

To calm; to put to rest (fear, pain, etc.)

rescind

To cancel or revoke

negate

To cancel out; to nullify

masticate

To chew or reduce to a pulp

grandstand

To conduct oneself or perform showily in an attempt to impress onlookers

writhe

To contort the body by twisting and turning

gainsay

To contradict; to deny

obfuscate

To darken; to make unclear, muddle

eradicate

To destroy completely

dissemble

To disguise or pretend

disconcert

To disturb the composure of

elicit

To draw out with skill or difficulty

recant

To formally withdraw one's beliefs or statements

exculpate

To free from blame

importune

To harass with persistent demands

inure

To harden or toughen by use, exercise, or exposure

thwart

To hinder or obstruct; to frustrate

impede

To hinder; to block

proliferate

To increase rapidly

foment

To instigate or incite (violence, trouble, etc.)

browbeat

To intimidate in an overbearing manner

eschew

To keep clear of; abstain from

mitigate

To lessen in intensity; to moderate

venerate

To look upon with deep respect

ameliorate

To make better, to improve

calumniate

To make false and malicious statements about

corroborate

To make more certain or to confirm

exacerbate

To make more sharp or severe; to make worse

obviate

To make unnecessary

plumb

To measure, especially by determining vertical depth

amalgamate

To mix or blend together in a homogeneous body

sanction

To officially approve; to authorize

bowdlerize

To omit strong words or phrases from something written, thus reducing its effectiveness

bungle

To perform clumsily or inadequately; botch

forestall

To prevent by taking action in advance

aggrandize

To raise the wealth or power of; to heighten the reputation of

repudiate

To refuse to have anything to do with, to reject

liken

To represent as similar to someone or something

deride

To ridicule; to make fun of

extirpate

To root out; to eradicate

satiate

To satisfy or fulfill the appetite or desire of

supersede

To set aside (as obsolete or inferior) and replace with someone or something else

redress

To set right by compensation or punishment

mollify

To soothe

placate

To soothe; to bring from a hostile state to a calm one

expatiate

To speak or write at some length

divest

To strip; to deprive

insinuate

To suggest or hint slyly

bolster

To support; to reinforce

beset

To surround, as in to attack

savor

To taste and enjoy fully

divulge

To tell or make known, generally of something secret or private

goad

To urge on in an annoying manner; to provoke

prevaricate

To use ambiguous language intended to deceive

equivocate

To use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or to mislead

oscillate

To waver

undermine

To weaken; to sap, to lessen the power of gradually or insidiously

perfidy

Treachery

artifice

Trickery; deceit

platitude

Trite or commonplace statement, spoken as if new or of great significance

banal

Trite; commonplace

austere

Unadorned; severely simple

insouciant

Unconcerned, indifferent

inadvertently

Unintentionally

pragmatic

Uninterested in theory or speculation; practical

inexorable

Unrelenting

ineffable

Unutterably extreme or awesome; inexpressible

chicanery

Use of trickery to deceive; Trickery, deception, especially through the use of questionable logic

bombastic

Using inflated language; pompous

discretion

Using one's own judgment; being discreet

erudite

Very learned

credulity

Willingness to trust too readily

guileless

Without deceit, innocent, naïve

unerringly

Without fail

onus

a burden; a responsibility

vicissitude

a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant

sybarite

a person devoted to luxury and pleasure

vantage

a place or position affording a good view of something; Position, viewpoint

sycophant

a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite

unison

a sounding together; agreement or accord; Complete accord

penchant

a strong attraction or inclination

unequivocal

absolute; certain; Plain, clear, unambiguous

truculence

aggressiveness, ferocity

subterfuge

an excuse or trick for escaping or hiding something; Evasion

winsome

attractive, charming

neophyte

beginner; novice

tyro

beginner; novice

ennui

boredom; a weariness resulting from a lack of interest

fulminate

cause to explode violently and with loud noise

soporific

causing sleep or lethargy

rueful

causing sorrow or pity; regret

parsimonious

cheap; stingy

puerile

childish; immature

ungainly

clumsy, awkward; unwieldy

mundane

commonplace; ordinary

pusillanimous

cowardly; fainthearted

sinuous

curving in and out; winding

tangential

digressing, diverting; not directly related; peripheral

latent

dormant, inactive, undeveloped

dubious

doubtful; of unlikely authenticity

irascible

easily angered, irritable

tractable

easily managed or controlled; Docile; easily influenced

tantamount

equivalent, having the same meaning, value, or effect

narcissism

excessive fascination with oneself

zealot

fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal

whimsical

fanciful, unpredictable

portend

foretell, foreshadow

transience

forgetting what occurs with the passage of time; A state of impermanence or change; Docile; easily controlled or shaped

yore

former days, an era long past

impecunious

having no money; broke

secrete

hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism

vagabond

homeless wanderer, a beggar

veracious

honest; truthful

morose

ill-humored; sullen; melancholy

prodigious

immense; extraordinary in bulk, size, or degree

impetuous

impulsive; extremely impatient

untenable

indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable

turgid

inflated, overblown, or pompous; bombastic

seminal

influencing future developments

respite

interval of rest or relief

warranted

justified; authorized

prodigal

lavish; wasteful

indolence

laziness; lack of interest

vociferous

loud and noisy; compelling attention

tepid

lukewarm; unenthusiastic, marked by an absence of interest

supine

lying on the back, face up

stipulate

make express conditions, specify

striated

marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved

precocious

mature at a young age

paragon

model of perfection

rout

n. a disorganized retreat from an attack; a total defeat v. to defeat completely

tortuous

not direct or straightforward, Abounding in irregular bends or turns; unpleasantly complicated

spurious

not genuine; false

misanthrope

one who hates humankind

laudable

praiseworthy; commendable

ubiquitous

present or existing everywhere

supercilious

proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority

pugnacious

quarrelsome, fond of fighting

urbanity

refined courtesy or politeness; suave or civil

sonorous

resonant, producing a full and rich sound

reverent

respectful; worshipful

derision

ridicule; mockery

specious

seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)

ignominious

shameful

whet

sharpen, stimulate, heighten

vehement

showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense

tawdry

showy but cheap and of poor quality; cheap; gaudy

taciturn

silent, uncommunicative

ponderous

slow and clumsy because of great weight, Massive, awkward, unwieldy

tempestuous

stormy; impassioned; violent

obdurate

stubborn; unyielding

zeitgeist

the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time

tenuous

thin; flimsy

vituperate

to abuse verbally; berate; To scold or criticize using abusive language

upbraid

to blame, scold, find fault with; To reproach; to bitterly rebuke

transmute

to change from one nature, substance, or form to another

polarize

to divide into sharply opposing factions

fumble

to feel or grope about clumsily

stratify

to form or place in layers; develop different social levels, classes, or castes

transpire

to happen, to be revealed

emulate

to imitate; copy

wreak

to inflict; to cause (something bad)

ruminate

to meditate, think about at length; to chew over

engender

to produce, cause, or bring about

vacillate

to waver; to sway indecisively; to fluctuate

enervate

to weaken

welter

turmoil; bewildering jumble

tacit

understood or implied without being stated

unassuaged

unsatisfied; not soothed

exigency

urgent situation; pressing needs or demands; state of requiring immediate attention

wary

very cautious; watchful

transgression

violation of law; Violation; sin

volition

will; conscious choice; A choice or decision made by the will

sagacious

wise; having keen perception and sound judgement

verbose

wordy, very talkative

solicitous

worried, concerned

abeyance

State of suspension; temporary inaction

viscous

Sticky; similar in texture to glue; thick

pungent

Stinging; sharp in taste or smell

sublime

Supreme or outstanding; elevated

preeminent

Surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way; superior

contentious

Quarrelsome

volatile

Quick to evaporate; unstable; capricious

precipitate

Rash; premature (adj) To bring about; trigger; cause; provoke (verb)

maverick

Rebel; nonconformist

contumacious

Rebellious or stubborn

inchoate

Recently begun, not fully formed, rudimentary

fledgling

Recently formed; still developing

ascetic

Representative of severe self-denial

reticent

Reserved; inclined to silence

uncouth

Rude, uncultured, boorish

obsequious

Servile; ready to serve to an excessive degree; fawning; slavish

effrontery

Shameless boldness; impudence

candor

Sharp honesty, fairness in expressing one's views

ephemeral

Short-lived; fleeting

myopic

Shortsighted; unable to predict what will happen

variegated

Showing different colors, often as streaks or patches

meticulous

Showing great attention to details; careful, precise

ebullient

Showing great enthusiasm or exhilaration

pious

Showing religious devotion or zeal

thrall

Slave; state of bondage

phlegmatic

Slow moving; not easily roused to feeling or emotion

slothful

Slow-moving, lazy

gregarious

Sociable; outgoing

iconoclast

Someone who advocates destroying religious imagery, or who attacks or criticizes accepted beliefs or institutions

spendthrift

Someone who wastes money

derivative

Something obtained from another source or sources; Imitative of the work of another person (adj.)

pervasive

Spread throughout

quiescence

State of being quiet or still; inactivity


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