dump.txt

gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
aesthetic
 
(
adjective
): 
concerned with the appreciation of beauty
 
The director, not known for his aesthetic sensibilities, decided not to use costumes at al
l, and put on the 
play in everyday clothing.
 
 
aesthetic
 
(
noun
): 
a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic 
movement.
 
The artist operated according to a peculiar aesthetic, not considering any photograph to be wor
th 
publishing unless it contained a marine mammal.
 
 
amalgam
 
(
noun
): 
a mixture of multiple things
 
The band's music was an amalgam of hip
-
hop, flamenco and jazz, blending the three styles with 
surprising results.
 
 
ambiguous
 
(
adjective
): 
open to more than one
 
interpretation
 
The coach told his team, "Move towards that side of the field"; because he did not point, his directions 
were ambiguous, and the team had no idea to which side he was referring.
 
 
ambivalent
 
(
adjective
): 
mixed or conflicting emotions about s
omething
 
Sam was ambivalent about studying for the exam because doing so ate up a lot of his time, yet he was 
able to improve his analytical skills.
 
 
ameliorate
 
(
verb
): 
make something bad better
 
Three Cups of Tea tells the story of western man who hopes to
 
ameliorate poverty and the lack of 
education in Afghanistan.
 
 
amenable
 
(
adjective
): 
easily persuaded
 
Even though she did not like the outdoors, Shirley was generally amenable and so her brother was able 
to persuade her to go camping.
 
 
amorphous
 
(
adjective
): 
shapeless
 
His study plan for the GRE was at best amorphous; he would do questions from random pages in any one 
of seven test prep books.
 
 
anomalous
 
(
adjective
): 
not normal
 
According to those who do not believe in climate change, the extreme weather over
 
the last five years is 
simply anomalous
--
average temps should return to average, they believe.
 
 
anomaly
 
(
noun
): 
something that is not normal, standard, or expected
 
After finding an anomaly in the data, she knew that she would have to conduct her experimen
t again.
 
 
antipathy
 
(
noun
): 
an intense feeling of dislike or aversion
 
Maria had an antipathy for tour groups, often bolting to the other side of the museum as soon as she 
saw a chaperone leading a group of wide
-
eyed tourists.
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
 
antithetical
 
(
adjective
): 
sha
rply contrasted in character or purpose
 
His deep emotional involvement with these ideas is, in fact, antithetical to the disattachment Buddhism 
preaches.
 
 
apathetic
 
(
adjective
): 
marked by a lack of interest
 
Mr. Thompson was so talented at teaching math tha
t even normally apathetic students took interest.
 
 
apathy
 
(
noun
): 
an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
 
Widespread apathy among voters led to a very small turnout on election day.
 
 
apocryphal
 
(
adjective
): 
being of questionable authenticity
 
The web is notorio
us for sandwiching apocryphal stories between actual news.
 
 
appease
 
(
verb
): 
pacify by acceding to the demands of
 
Neville Chamberlain, the British prime minister during WWII, tried to appease Hitler and in doing so sent 
a clear message: you can walk all 
over us.
 
 
arbitrary
 
(
adjective
): 
based on a random, groundless decision
 
One of the arbitrary decrees in place during the emperor's rule is that all citizens pay him weekly homage 
at his palace.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important
 
one for the GRE
 
arcane
 
(
adjective
): 
requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
 
Most college fraternities are known for arcane rituals that those hoping to the join the fraterntiy must 
learn.
 
 
arduous
 
(
adjective
): 
demanding considerable mental effort and ski
ll; testing powers of endurance
 
In order to deal with the arduous cross
-
country journey, truck drivers often survive on a string of 
caffeinated drinks, staying awake for up to 30 hours at a time.
 
 
artful
 
(
adjective
): 
exhibiting artistic skill
 
Picasso is ge
nerally considered the most artful member of the Cubist movement.
 
 
artful
 
(
adjective
): 
clever in a cunning way
 
Bernie Madoff's artful Ponzi scheme stole billions of dollars from investors and is considered the largest 
financial fraud in U.S. history.
 
 
asce
tic
 
(
adjective
): 
practicing self
-
denial
 
His ascetic life is the main reason he inspired so many followers, especially since he gave up wealth and 
power to live in poverty.
 
 
ascetic
 
(
noun
): 
one who practices great self
-
denial
 
Historically, ascetics like Gha
ndi are often considered wise men partially because of their restraint.
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
 
askance
 
(
adverb
): 
with a look of suspicion or disapproval
 
The old couple looked askance on the teenagers seated next to them, whispering to each other, "They've 
got rings through thei
r noses and purple hair!"
 
 
audacious
 
(
adjective
): 
willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks
 
As all of the other campers cowered in their tents, Bill, armed only with a flashlight, audaciously tracked 
down the bear that had raided their food.
 
 
audacity
 
(
noun
): 
aggressive boldness in social situations
 
She surprised her colleagues by having the audacity to publically criticize the findings of an distinguished 
scientist.
 
 
auspicious
 
(
adjective
): 
favorable, the opposite of sinister
 
Despite an ausp
icious beginning, Mike's road trip became a series of mishaps, and he was soon stranded 
and penniless, leaning against his wrecked automobile.
 
 
austere
 
(
adjective
): 
practicing self
-
denial
 
His lifestyle of revelry and luxurious excess could hardly be called
 
austere.
 
 
austere
 
(
adjective
): 
unadorned in style or appearance
 
Late Soviet architecture, although remaining largely austere, moved into experimental territory that 
employed previously unused shapes and structures.
 
 
austere
 
(
adjective
): 
harsh in manner of
 
temperament
 
The principal of my elementary school was a cold, austere woman; I could never understand why she 
chose to work with children.
 
 
avaricious
 
(
adjective
): 
excessively greedy
 
Since avaricious desire is similar to gluttony or lust
--
sins of excess
--
it was listed as one of the seven 
deadly sins by the Catholic church.
 
 
banal
 
(
adjective
): 
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
 
The professor used such banal expression that many students in the class either fell asleep from bordeom 
or stayed aw
ake to complete his sentences and humor friends.
 
 
banality
 
(
noun
): 
a trite or obvious remark
 
Herbert regarded the minister's remark as a mere banality until Sharon pointed out profound 
implications to the seemingly obvious words.
 
 
belie
 
(
verb
): 
to give a f
alse representation to; misrepresent
 
The smile on her face belies the pain she must feel after the death of her husband.
 
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
belligerent
 
(
adjective
): 
characteristic of one eager to fight
 
Tom said that he was arguing the matter purely for philosophical 
reasons, but his belligerent tone 
indicated an underlying anger about the issue.
 
 
betray
 
(
verb
): 
to reveal or make known something, usually unintentionally
 
With the gold medal at stake, the gymnast awaited his turn, his quivering lip betraying his intense 
emotions.
 
 
blatant
 
(
adjective
): 
without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
 
Allen was often punished in school for blatantly disrespecting teachers.
 
 
bolster
 
(
verb
): 
support and strengthen
 
The case for the suspect's innocence was bolstered consi
derably by the fact that neither fingerprints nor 
DNA were found at the scene.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
brazen
 
(
adjective
): 
unrestrained by convention or propriety
 
Their large "donations" to the local p
olice department gave the drug cartel the brazen confidence to do 
their business out in the open.
 
 
bucolic
 
(
adjective
): 
relating to the pleasant aspects of the country
 
The noble families of England once owned vast expanses of beautiful, bucolic land.
 
 
bumb
ling
 
(
adjective
): 
lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands
 
Within a week of starting, the bumbling new waiter was unceremoniously fired.
 
 
burgeon
 
(
verb
): 
grow and flourish
 
China's housing market is burgeoning, but some predict that the g
rowth is merely a bubble and will burst 
much like the U.S. real estate bubble of 2008.
 
 
calumny
 
(
noun
): 
making of a false statement meant to injure a person"s reputation
 
With the presidential primaries well under way, the air is thick with calumny, and the
 
mud already waist
-
high.
 
 
capricious
 
(
adjective
): 
determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
 
Nearly every month our capricious CEO had a new plan to turn the company around, and none of them 
worked because we never gave them
 
the time they needed to succeed.
 
 
castigate
 
(
verb
): 
to reprimand harshly
 
Drill sergeants are known to castigate new recruits so mercilessly that the latter often break down during 
their first week in training.
 
 
censure
 
(
verb
): 
to express strong disapprova
l
 
After being caught in bed with a mistress, the mayor was quickly censured by the city council.
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
 
chastise
 
(
verb
): 
to reprimand harshly
 
Though chastised for his wanton abuse of the pantry, Lawrence shrugged off his mother's harsh words, 
and continued to pl
ow through jars of cookies and boxes of donuts.
 
 
chortle
 
(
verb
): 
to chuckle, laugh merrily
 
Walking past the bar, I could hear happy, chortling people and the blast of horns from a jazz band.
 
 
circumscribe
 
(
verb
): 
restrict or confine
 
Their tour of South Ame
rica was circumscribed so that they saw only popular destinations and avoided 
the dangerous parts of cities.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
circumvent
 
(
verb
): 
cleverly find a way out of one's duties or obliga
tions
 
One way of circumventing the GRE is to apply to a grad school that does not require GRE scores.
 
 
commensurate
 
(
adjective
): 
to be in proportion or corresponding in degree or amount
 
The convicted felon's life sentence was commensurate to the heinousnes
s of his crime.
 
 
concede
 
(
verb
): 
acknowledge defeat
 
I concede. You win!
 
 
concede
 
(
verb
): 
admit (to a wrongdoing)
 
After a long, stern lecture from her father, Olivia conceded to having broken the window.
 
 
concede
 
(
verb
): 
give over; surrender or relinquish 
to the physical control of another
 
The Spanish were forced to concede much of the territory they had previously conquered.
 
 
confound
 
(
verb
): 
be confusing or perplexing to
 
Though Harry loved numbers, he found calculus confounding.
 
 
confound
 
(
verb
): 
mistake 
one thing for another
 
Americans often confound sweet potatoes with yams, and refer to both vegetables by the same name.
 
 
conspicuous
 
(
adjective
): 
without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
 
American basketball players are always conspicuous when
 
they go abroad
--
not only are they American, 
but some are over seven feet tall.
 
 
constituent
 
(
noun
): 
a citizen who is represented in a government by officials for whom he or she votes
 
The mayor's constituents are no longer happy with her performance and pl
an to vote for another 
candidate in the upcoming election.
 
 
constituent
 
(
noun
): 
an abstract part of something
 
The constituents of the metal alloy are nickle, copper, and tin.
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
 
construe
 
(
verb
): 
interpreted in a particular way
 
The author's inability to take 
a side on the issue was construed by both his opponents and supporters as 
a sign of weakness.
 
 
contingent
 
(
noun
): 
a gathering of persons representative of some larger group
 
A small contingent of those loyal to the king have gathered around the castle to de
fend it.
 
 
contingent
 
(
adjective
): 
possible but not certain to occur
 
Whether the former world champions can win again this year is contingent upon none of its star players 
getting injured.
 
 
contrition
 
(
noun
): 
the feeling of remorse or guilt that comes from 
doing something bad
 
Those who show contrition during their prison terms
--
especially when under review by a parole board
--
often get shortened sentences.
 
 
contrive
 
(
verb
): 
to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery
 
Despite a low GPA, he 
contrived to get into college, going so far as to write his own glowing letters of 
recommendation.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
copious
 
(
adjective
): 
in abundant supply
 
In midsummer, there are copious popisc
le stands at the beach; in the winter, there are none.
 
 
craven
 
(
adjective
): 
pathetically cowardly
 
Though the man could have at least alerted the police, he crouched cravenly in the corner as the old 
woman was mugged.
 
 
cryptic
 
(
adjective
): 
mysterious or vag
ue, usually intentionally
 
Since Sarah did not want her husband to guess the Christmas present she had bought him, she only 
answered cryptically when he would ask her questions about it.
 
 
culminate
 
(
verb
): 
reach the highest or most decisive point
 
Beethoven'
s musical genius culminated in the 9th Symphony, which many consider his greatest work.
 
 
culpability
 
(
noun
): 
a state of guilt
 
Since John had left his banana peel at the top of the stairwell, he accepted culpability for Martha's 
broken leg.
 
 
decorous
 
(
adjec
tive
): 
characterized by good taste in manners and conduct
 
Sally's parties are decorous affairs, and instead of the usual beer and music, there is tea and intellectual 
conversation.
 
 
decorum
 
(
noun
): 
propriety in manners and conduct
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
You will obey the rules o
f decorum for this courtroom or spend the night in a jail cell, said the judge to 
the prosecutor.
 
 
deferential
 
(
adjective
): 
showing respect
 
If you ever have the chance to meet the president, stand up straight and be deferential.
 
 
deleterious
 
(
adjective
): 
harmful to living things
 
The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was deleterious to the fishing industry in the southern states.
 
 
delineate
 
(
verb
): 
describe in detail
 
After a brief summary of proper swimming technique, the coach delineated the specifics of 
each stroke, 
spending 30 minutes alone on the backstroke.
 
 
demur
 
(
verb
): 
to object or show reluctance
 
Wallace disliked the cold, so he demurred when his friends suggested they going skiing in the Alps.
 
 
denigrate
 
(
verb
): 
charge falsely or with malicious in
tent; attack the good name and reputation of 
someone
 
Count Rumford denigrated the new theory of heat, demonstrating that it was wholly inadequate to 
explain the observations.
 
 
denote
 
(
verb
): 
be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning
 
Even if the text is
 
not visible, the red octagon denotes "stop" to all motorists in America.
 
 
derivative
 
(
adjective
): 
(or a creative product, e.g. music, writing, etc.) not original but drawing on the 
work of another person
 
Because the movies were utterly derivative of other
 
popular movies, they did well at the box office.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
derive
 
(
verb
): 
come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example
 
Many words in the English language are derived f
rom Latin, including the word "derive."
 
 
derive
 
(
verb
): 
reason by deduction; establish by deduction
 
From the multiple set of footprints in the living room, the investigator derived an important clue: Sheila 
was not alone in the room at the time of the murd
er.
 
 
dictatorial
 
(
adjective
): 
expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler
 
The coach was dictatorial in his approach: no players could ever argue or question his approach.
 
 
didactic
 
(
adjective
): 
instructive (especially 
excessively)
 
Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Illyich is a didactic novel, instructing the reader on how to live a good life.
 
 
diffident
 
(
adjective
): 
showing modest reserve; lacking self
-
confidence
 
As a young girl she was diffident and reserved, but now as an a
dult, she is confident and assertive.
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
 
dilatory
 
(
adjective
): 
wasting time
 
Lawyers use dilatory tactics so that it takes years before the case is actually decided.
 
 
dilettante
 
(
noun
): 
an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who 
pretends 
to have knowledge
 
Fred has no formal medical training; while he likes to claim authority on medical issues, he is little more 
than a dilettante
 
 
disaffected
 
(
adjective
): 
discontented as toward authority
 
After watching his superior take rations fro
m the soliders, he quickly became disaffected and rebeled.
 
 
discrete
 
(
adjective
): 
constituting a separate entity or part
 
What was once known as Czechoslovakia has since split into two discrete, independent nations.
 
 
disinterested
 
(
adjective
): 
unbiased; neu
tral
 
The potential juror knew the defendant, and therefore could not serve on the jury, which must consist 
only of disinterested members.
 
 
dispassionate
 
(
adjective
): 
unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice
 
A good scientist should be dispassionate, focusi
ng purely on what the evidence says, without personal 
attachment.
 
 
disseminate
 
(
verb
): 
cause to become widely known
 
Before the effects of anaethesia were disseminated, patients had to experience the full pain of a surgery.
 
 
dogmatic
 
(
adjective
): 
highly 
opinionated, not accepting that your belief may not be correct
 
Bryan is dogmatic in his belief that the earth is flat, claiming that all pictures of a spherical earth are 
computer generated.
 
 
duress
 
(
noun
): 
compulsory force or threat
 
The witness said he si
gned the contract under duress and argued that the court should cancel the 
agreement.
 
 
eclectic
 
(
adjective
): 
comprised of a variety of styles
 
Joey was known for his eclectic tastes in music, one moment dancing to disco the next "air conducting" 
along to Be
ethoven's 9th symphony.
 
 
economical
 
(
adjective
): 
avoiding waste, efficient
 
Journalists favor an economical style of writing, in which no unnecessary words are used and every 
sentence is as short as possible.
 
 
edifying
 
(
adjective
): 
enlightening or uplifting
 
so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
I recently read an article in the Times about whether good literature is edifying or not; specifically, does 
reading more make a person more moral.
 
 
efficacious
 
(
adjective
): 
producing the intended resul
t
 
Since Maggie's cough syrup, which had expired five years back, was no longer efficacious, she coughed 
through the night.
 
 
egregious
 
(
adjective
): 
standing out in negative way; shockingly bad
 
The dictator's abuse of human rights was so egregious that many 
world leaders asked that he be tried in 
an international court for genocide.
 
 
elicit
 
(
verb
): 
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
 
Just smiling
--
even if you are depressed
--
can elicit feelings of pleasure and happiness.
 
 
elucidate
 
(
verb
): 
make clea
rer and easier to understand
 
Youtube is great place to learn just about anything
--
an expert elucidates finer points so that even a 
complete novice can learn.
 
 
eminent
 
(
adjective
): 
standing above others in quality or position
 
Shakespeare is an eminent 
author in the English language, but I find his writing uninteresting and 
melodramatic.
 
 
enervate
 
(
verb
): 
to sap energy from
 
John preferred to avoid equatorial countries; the intense sun would always leave him enervated after 
he'd spent the day sightseeing.
 
 
engender
 
(
verb
): 
give rise to
 
The restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles were so severe that they engendered deep hatred and 
resentment in the German people.
 
 
entrenched
 
(
adjective
): 
fixed firmly or securely
 
By the time we reach 60
-
years old, most of o
ur habits are so entrenched that it is difficult for us to 
change.
 
 
ephemeral
 
(
adjective
): 
lasting a very short time
 
The lifespan of a mayfly is ephemeral, lasting from a few hours to a couple of days.
 
 
equivocal
 
(
adjective
): 
confusing or ambiguous
 
The fin
dings of the study were equivocal
--
the two researchers had different opinions on what the results 
signified.
 
 
eradicate
 
(
verb
): 
to completely destroy
 
I tried eradicating the mosquitos in my apartment with a rolled up newspaper, but there were too many 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
of t
hem.
 
 
erudite
 
(
adjective
): 
having or showing profound knowledge
 
Before the Internet, the library was typically were you would find erudite readers.
 
 
eschew
 
(
verb
): 
avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
 
Politicians are the masters of eschewin
g morals; academics are the masters of eschewing clarity.
 
 
esoteric
 
(
adjective
): 
confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle
 
Map collecting is an esoteric hobby to most, but to geography geeks it is a highly enjoyable pasttime.
 
 
espouse
 
(
verb
): 
to adopt or support an idea or cause
 
As a college student, Charlie espoused Marxism, growing his beard out and railing against the evils of the 
free
-
market.
 
 
exacerbate
 
(
verb
): 
make worse
 
Her sleeplessness exacerbated her cold
--
when she wok
e up the next day, her sinuses were completely 
blocked.
 
 
exacting
 
(
adjective
): 
requiring and demanding accuracy
 
Though his childhood piano teacher was so exacting, Max is thankful now, as a professional pianist.
 
 
exalt
 
(
verb
): 
praise or glorify
 
The teenage
rs exalted the rock star, covering their bedrooms with posters of him.
 
 
exonerate
 
(
verb
): 
pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
 
The document clearly indicated that Nick was out of the state at the time of the crime, and so served to 
exonerate him of any
 
charges.
 
 
expound
 
(
verb
): 
add details or explanation; clarify the meaning; state in depth
 
The CEO refused to expound on the decision to merge our department with another one, and so I quit.
 
 
extant
 
(
adjective
): 
the opposite of extinct
 
Despite many booksto
res closing, experts predict that some form of book dealing will still be extant 
generations from now.
 
 
fallacious
 
(
adjective
): 
of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning
 
The widespread belief that Eskimos have forty different words for snow is fallacio
us, based on one false 
report.
 
 
fastidious
 
(
adjective
): 
overly concerned with details; fussy
 
Whitney is fastidious about her shoes, arranging them on a shelf in a specific order, each pair evenly 
spaced.
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
 
flux
 
(
noun
): 
a state of uncertainty about what 
should be done (usually following some important event)
 
Ever since Elvira resigned as the head of marketing, everything about our sales strategy has been in a 
state of flux.
 
 
foment
 
(
verb
): 
try to stir up public opinion
 
After having his pay cut, Phil sprea
d vicious rumors about his boss, hoping to foment a general feeling of 
discontent.
 
 
forlorn
 
(
adjective
): 
marked by or showing hopelessness
 
After her third pet dog died, Marcia was simply forlorn: this time even the possibility of buying a new dog 
no longer
 
held any joy.
 
 
forthcoming
 
(
adjective
): 
available when required or as promised
 
The President announced that the senators were about to reach a compromise, and that he was eager to 
read the forthcoming details of the bill.
 
 
forthcoming
 
(
adjective
): 
at ease
 
in talking to others
 
As a husband, Larry was not forthcoming: if Jill didn't demand to know details, Larry would never share 
them with her.
 
 
fortuitous
 
(
adjective
): 
occurring by happy chance; having no cause or apparent cause
 
While the real objects are va
stly different sizes in space, the sun and the moon seem to have the same 
fortuitous size in the sky.
 
 
frivolous
 
(
adjective
): 
not serious in content or attitude or behavior
 
Compared to Juliet's passionate concern for human rights, Jake's non
-
stop concern a
bout football seems 
somewhat frivolous.
 
 
frugal
 
(
adjective
): 
not spending much money (but spending wisely)
 
Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned.
 
 
frustrate
 
(
verb
): 
hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or de
sires) of
 
I thought I would finish writing the paper by lunchtime, but a number of urgent interruptions served to 
frustrate my plan.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
furtive
 
(
adjective
): 
marked by quiet and 
caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
 
While at work, George and his boss Regina felt the need to be as furtive as possible about their romantic 
relationship.
 
 
gainsay
 
(
verb
): 
deny or contradict; speak against or oppose
 
I can't gainsay a
 
single piece of evidence James has presented, but I still don't trust his conclusion.
 
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
gall
 
(
noun
): 
the trait of being rude and impertinent
 
Even though Carly was only recently hired, she had the gall to question her boss's judgment in front of 
the office.
 
 
gall
 
(
noun
): 
feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill
-
will
 
In an act of gall, Leah sent compromising photos of her ex
-
boyfriend to all his co
-
workers and 
professional contacts.
 
 
galvanize
 
(
verb
): 
to excite or inspire (someone) to action
 
At mile 23 of his
 
first marathon, Kyle had all but given up, until he noticed his friends and family holding 
a banner that read, "Go Kyle"; galvanized, he broke into a gallop, finishing the last three miles in less 
than 20 minutes.
 
 
garrulous
 
(
adjective
): 
full of trivial c
onversation
 
Lynne was garrulous: once, she had a fifteen minute conversation with a stranger before she realized the 
woman didn't speak English.
 
 
gauche
 
(
adjective
): 
lacking social polish
 
Sylvester says the most gauche things, such as telling a girl he lik
ed that she was much prettier when she 
wore makeup.
 
 
germane
 
(
adjective
): 
relevant and appropriate
 
The professor wanted to tell the jury in detail about his new book, but the lawyer said it wasn't germane 
to the charges in the cases.
 
 
glut
 
(
noun
): 
an exces
sive supply
 
The Internet offers such a glut of news related stories that many find it difficult to know which story to 
read first.
 
 
glut
 
(
verb
): 
supply with an excess of
 
In the middle of economic crises, hiring managers find their inboxes glutted with 
resumes.
 
 
gossamer
 
(
adjective
): 
characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy
 
The gossamer wings of a butterfly, which allow it to fly, are also a curse, so delicate that they are often 
damaged.
 
 
gregarious
 
(
adjective
): 
to be likely to socialize with oth
ers
 
Often we think that great leaders are those who are gregarious, always in the middle of a large group of 
people; yet, as Mahatma Gandhi and many others have shown us, leaders can also be introverted.
 
 
guileless
 
(
adjective
): 
free of deceit
 
At first I th
ought my niece was guileless, but I then found myself buying her ice cream every time we 
passed a shop.
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
 
hackneyed
 
(
adjective
): 
lacking significance through having been overused
 
Cheryl rolled her eyes when she heard the lecturer's hackneyed advice to "be t
rue to yourself."
 
 
haphazard
 
(
adjective
): 
marked by great carelessness; dependent upon or characterized by chance
 
Many golf courses are designed with great care, but the greens on the county golf course seem entirely 
haphazard.
 
 
harangue
 
(
noun
): 
a long pom
pous speech; a tirade
 
Dinner at Billy's was more a punishment than a reward, since anyone who sat at the dinner table would 
have to listen to Billy's father's interminable harangues against the government.
 
 
harangue
 
(
verb
): 
to deliver a long pompous speech
 
or tirade
 
Tired of his parents haranguing him about his laziness and lack of initiative, Tyler finally moved out of 
home at the age of thirty
-
five.
 
 
harried
 
(
adjective
): 
troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
 
With a team of new hires to tr
ain, Martha was constantly harried with little questions and could not 
focus on her projects.
 
 
haughty
 
(
adjective
): 
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as 
unworthy
 
The haughty manager didn't believe that any of his subo
rdinates could ever have an insight as brilliant 
his own.
 
 
hegemony
 
(
adjective
): 
dominance over a certain area
 
Until the Spanish Armada was defeated in 1587, Spain had hegemony over the seas, controlling waters 
stretching as far as the Americas.
 
 
heretic
 
(
noun
): 
a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)
 
Though everybody at the gym told Mikey to do cardio before weights, Mikey was a heretic and always 
did the reverse.
 
 
iconoclast
 
(
noun
): 
somebody who attacks cherished beliefs 
or institutions
 
Lady Gaga, in challenging what it means to be clothed, is an iconoclast for wearing a "meat dress" to a 
prominent awards show.
 
 
iconoclastic
 
(
adjective
): 
defying tradition or convention
 
Jackson Pollack was an iconoclastic artist, totally br
eaking with tradition by splashing paint on a blank 
canvas.
 
 
idiosyncrasy
 
(
noun
): 
a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
 
Peggy's numerous idiosyncrasies include wearing mismatched shoes, laughing loudly to herself, and 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
own
ing a pet aardvark.
 
 
ignoble
 
(
adjective
): 
dishonorable
 
In the 1920s, the World Series was rigged
--
an ignoble act which baseball took decades to recover from.
 
 
ignominious
 
(
adjective
): 
(used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame
 
S
ince the politician preached ethics and morality, his texting of revealing photographs was ignominious, 
bringing shame on both himself and his party.
 
 
immutable
 
(
adjective
): 
not able to be changed
 
Taxes are one of the immutable laws of the land, so there i
s no use arguing about paying them.
 
 
impartial
 
(
adjective
): 
free from undue bias or preconceived opinions
 
The judge was not impartial since he had been bribed by the witness's family.
 
 
impertinent
 
(
adjective
): 
being disrespectful; improperly forward or 
bold
 
Dexter, distraught over losing his pet dachshund, Madeline, found the police officer's questions 
impertinent
--
after all, he thought, did she have to pry into such details as to what Madeline's favorite 
snack was?
 
 
implacable
 
(
adjective
): 
incapable of 
making less angry or hostile
 
Win or lose, the coach was always implacable, never giving the athletes an easy practice or a break.
 
 
implausible
 
(
adjective
): 
describing a statement that is not believable
 
The teacher found it implausible that the student was 
late to school because he had been kidnapped by 
outlaws on horseback.
 
 
imprudent
 
(
adjective
): 
not wise
 
Hitler, like Napoleon, made the imprudent move of invading Russia in winter, suffering even more 
casualties than Napoleon had.
 
 
impudent
 
(
adjective
): 
imp
roperly forward or bold
 
In an impudent move, the defendant spoke out of order to say terribly insulting things to the judge.
 
 
incisive
 
(
adjective
): 
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
 
The lawyer had an incisive mind, able
 
in a flash to dissect a hopelessly tangled issue and isolate the 
essential laws at play.
 
 
incongruous
 
(
adjective
): 
lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
 
The vast economic inequality of modern society is incongruous with America's ideals.
 
 
incorrigible
 
(
adjective
): 
impervious to correction by punishment
 
Tom Sawyer seems like an incorrigible youth until Huck Finn enters the novel; even Sawyer can't match 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
his fierce individual spirit.
 
 
indecorous
 
(
adjective
): 
not in keeping with accepted stan
dards of what is right or proper in polite 
society
 
Eating with elbows on the table is considered indecorous in refined circles.
 
 
indifference
 
(
noun
): 
the trait of seeming not to care
 
In an effort to fight indifference, the president of the college 
introduced a new, stricter grading system.
 
 
inexorable
 
(
adjective
): 
impossible to stop or prevent
 
The rise of the computer was an inexorable shift in technology and culture.
 
 
ingenuous
 
(
adjective
): 
to be naïve and innocent
 
Two
-
years in Manhattan had chang
ed Jenna from an ingenuous girl from the suburbs to a jaded 
urbanite, unlikely to fall for any ruse, regardless of how elaborate.
 
 
ingratiate
 
(
verb
): 
gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
 
Even though Tom didn't like his new boss, he decided to ing
ratiate himself to her in order to advance his 
career.
 
 
inimical
 
(
adjective
): 
hostile (usually describes conditions or environments)
 
Venus, with a surface temperature that would turn rubber to liquid, is inimical to any form of life.
 
 
innocuous
 
(
adjective
)
: 
harmless and doesn"t produce any ill effects
 
Everyone found Nancy's banter innocuous
--
except for Mike, who felt like she was intentionally picking on 
him.
 
 
inscrutable
 
(
adjective
): 
not easily understood; unfathomable
 
His speech was so dense and confusing
 
that many in the audience found it inscrutable.
 
 
insidious
 
(
adjective
): 
working in a subtle but destructive way
 
Plaque is insidious: we cannot see it, but each day it eats away at our enamel, causing cavities and other 
dental problems.
 
 
insolent
 
(
adjectiv
e
): 
rude and arrogant
 
Lilian could not help herself from being insolent, commenting that the Queen's shoes were showing too 
much toe.
 
 
intimate
 
(
verb
): 
to suggest something subtly
 
At first Manfred's teachers intimated to his parents that he was not suited 
to skip a grade; when his 
parents protested, teachers explicitly told them that, notwithstanding the boy's precocity, he was simply 
too immature to jump to the 6th grade.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
intransigent
 
(
adjective
): 
unwilling to change one's beliefs or course of action
 
Despite many calls for mercy, the judge remained intransigent, citing strict legal precedence.
 
 
intrepid
 
(
adjective
): 
fearless
 
Captain Ahab was an intrepid captain whose reckle
ss and fearless style ultimate leads to his downfall.
 
 
inveterate
 
(
adjective
): 
habitual
 
He is an inveterate smoker and has told his family and friends that there is no way he will ever quit.
 
 
involved
 
(
adjective
): 
complicated, and difficult to comprehend
 
T
he physics lecture became so involved that the undergraduate's eyes glazed over.
 
 
irrevocable
 
(
adjective
): 
incapable of being retracted or revoked
 
Once you enter your plea to the court, it is irrevocable so think carefully about what you will say.
 
 
itinera
nt
 
(
adjective
): 
traveling from place to place to work
 
Doctors used to be itinerant, traveling between patients' homes.
 
 
jingoism
 
(
noun
): 
fanatical patriotism
 
North Korea maintains intense control over its population through a combination of jingoism and cu
lt of 
personality.
 
 
jovial
 
(
adjective
): 
full of or showing high
-
spirited merriment
 
The political candidate and his supporters were jovial once it was clear that she had won.
 
 
jubilant
 
(
adjective
): 
full of high
-
spirited delight because of triumph or success
 
My hardwork paid off, and I was jubilant to receive a perfect score on the GRE.
 
 
juxtapose
 
(
verb
): 
place side by side
 
The meaning of her paintings comes from a classical style which juxtaposes modern themes.
 
 
laconic
 
(
adjective
): 
one who says very few 
words
 
While Martha always swooned over the hunky, laconic types in romantic comedies, her boyfriends 
inevitably were very talkative
--
and not very hunky.
 
 
lambast
 
(
verb
): 
criticize severely or angrily
 
Showing no patience, the manager utterly lambasted the s
ales team that lost the big account.
 
 
languid
 
(
adjective
): 
not inclined towards physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed
 
As the sun beat down and the temperature climbed higher, we spent a languid week lying around the 
house.
 
 
largess
 
(
noun
): 
extreme 
generosity and giving
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
Uncle Frank was known for his largess, so his nephew was sad when he did not receive a present for his 
birthday.
 
 
laudable
 
(
adjective
): 
worthy of high praise
 
To say that Gandhi's actions were laudable is the greatest understatement; h
e overthrew an empire 
without violence.
 
 
lionize
 
(
verb
): 
assign great social importance to
 
Students in the U.S. learn to lionize Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington because they are the founding 
fathers of the nation.
 
 
magnanimous
 
(
adjective
): 
noble and ge
nerous in spirit, especially towards a rival or someone less 
powerful
 
He was a great sportsman: in defeat he was complementary and in victory he was magnanimous.
 
 
maintain
 
(
verb
): 
to assert
 
The scientist maintained that the extinction of dinosaurs was most
 
likely brought about by a drastic 
change in climate.
 
 
maladroit
 
(
adjective
): 
clumsy
 
As a child she was quite maladroit, but as an adult, she has become an adept dancer.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
maverick
 
(
noun
): 
someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action
 
Officer Kelly was a maverick, rarely following police protocols or adopting the conventions for speech 
common among his fellow officers.
 
 
mawkish
 
(
adjective
): 
overly sentimental
 
to the point that it is disgusting
 
The film was incredibly mawkish, introducing highly likeable characters only to have them succumb to a 
devastating illnesses by the end of the movie.
 
 
mendacity
 
(
noun
): 
the tendency to be untruthful
 
I can forgive her for
 
her mendacity but only because she is a child and is seeing what she can get away 
with.
 
 
mercurial
 
(
adjective
): 
(of a person) prone to unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood
 
The fact that Ella's moods were as mercurial as the weather was problematic
 
for her relationships
--
it 
didn't help that she lived in Chicago.
 
 
meticulous
 
(
adjective
): 
marked by extreme care in treatment of details
 
The Japanese noodle maker was meticulous in making his noodles and would never let another person 
take over the task.
 
 
misconstrue
 
(
verb
): 
interpret in the wrong way
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
The politician never trusted journalists because he though that they misconstrue his words and 
misrepresent his positions.
 
 
mitigate
 
(
verb
): 
make less severe or harsh
 
I can only spend so much time mitigating 
your disagreements with your wife, and at certain point, you 
need to do it on your own.
 
 
mitigate
 
(
verb
): 
lessen the severity of an offense
 
If it weren't for the mitigating circumstances, he would have certainly lost his job.
 
 
mollify
 
(
verb
): 
to make someo
ne angry less angry; placate
 
In the morning, Harriat was unable to mollify Harry, if he happened to become angry, unless he had his 
cup of coffee.
 
 
mundane
 
(
adjective
): 
repetitive and boring; not spiritual
 
Nancy found doing dishes a thorougly mundane task,
 
although Peter found a kind of Zen pleasure in the 
chore.
 
 
mundane
 
(
adjective
): 
relating to the ordinary world
 
Though we think of the pope as someone always dealing in holy matters, he is also concerned with 
mundane events, such as deciding when to set hi
s alarm each morning.
 
 
munificent
 
(
adjective
): 
very generous
 
Uncle Charley was known for his munificence, giving all seven of his nephews lavish Christmas presents 
each year.
 
 
myopic
 
(
adjective
): 
lacking foresight or imagination
 
The company ultimately went
 
out of business because the myopic managers couldn't predict the changes 
in their industry.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
myriad
 
(
noun
): 
a large indefinite number
 
There are a myriad of internet sites hawkin
g pills that claim to boost energy for hours on end.
 
 
negligible
 
(
adjective
): 
so small as to be meaningless; insignificant
 
The GRE tests cumulative knowledge, so if you cram the night before it is, at best, likely to only have a 
negligible impact on your s
core.
 
 
nonplussed
 
(
verb
): 
unsure how to act or respond
 
Shirley was totally nonplussed when the angry motorist cut her off and then stuck his finger out the 
window.
 
 
nuance
 
(
noun
): 
a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
 
Because of the nuances
 
involved in this case, I hired an outside consultant to advice us and help.
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
 
obscure
 
(
verb
): 
make unclear
 
On the Smith's drive through the Grand Canyon, Mr. Smith's big head obscured much of Mrs. Robinson's 
view, so that she only saw momentary patches of 
red rock.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
obscure
 
(
adjective
): 
known by only a few
 
Many of the biggest movie stars were once obscure actors who got only bit roles in long forgotten films.
 
This word has other 
definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
obsequious
 
(
adjective
): 
attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from 
influential people by flattery
 
The obsequious waiter did not give the couple a moment's peace al
l through the meal, constantly 
returning to their table to refill their water glasses and to tell them what a handsome pair they made.
 
 
opaque
 
(
adjective
): 
not clearly understood or expressed
 
The meaning of the professor's new research was opaque to most p
eople, so no one asked any questions.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
opulence
 
(
noun
): 
wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
 
Russian oligarchs are famous for their opulence, living in fancy homes and dining 
on expensive cavier.
 
 
ostentatious
 
(
adjective
): 
intended to attract notice and impress others; tawdry or vulgar
 
Matt wanted to buy stone lions for front of the house, but Cynthia convinced him that such a display 
would be too ostentatious for a modest hous
e in an unassuming neighborhood.
 
 
ostracize
 
(
verb
): 
exclude from a community or group
 
Later in his life, Leo Tolstoy was ostracized from the Russian Orthodox Church for his writings that 
contradicted church doctrine.
 
 
panache
 
(
noun
): 
distinctive and stylis
h elegance
 
Jim, with his typical panache, came to the wedding reception with a top hat, a cane, and a long cape 
covered in sequins.
 
 
parochial
 
(
adjective
): 
narrowly restricted in scope or outlook
 
Jasmine was sad to admit it, but her fledgling relationship 
with Jacob did not work out because his 
culinary tastes were simply too parochial; "After all," she quipped on her blog, "he considered Chef 
Boyardee ethnic food."
 
 
parsimonious
 
(
adjective
): 
extremely frugal; miserly
 
Katie is so parsimonious that she only 
buys a pair of socks if all of her other socks have holes in them.
 
 
pedantic
 
(
adjective
): 
marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
 
Professor Thompson was regarded as an expert in his field, but his lectures were 
utterly pedantic, 
focused on rigorous details of the most trivial conventions in the field.
 
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
pedestrian
 
(
adjective
): 
lacking imagination
 
While Nan was always engaged in philosophical speculation, her brother was occupied with far more 
pedestrian concerns: 
how to earn a salary and run a household.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
pejorative
 
(
adjective
): 
expressing disapproval (usu. refers to a term)
 
Most psychologists object to the pejorative term "shrink", belie
ving that they expand the human mind, 
not limit it.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
perfidy
 
(
noun
): 
an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust
 
The lowest circles in Dante's Inferno were for those who h
ad practiced perfidy, and among these, the 
very lowest was for those, such as Judas, who had been treacherous to one of their benefactors.
 
 
pernicious
 
(
adjective
): 
exceedingly harmful; working or spreading in a hidden and injurious way
 
The most successful 
viruses are pernicious: an infected person may feel perfectly healthy for several 
months while incubating and spreading the virus.
 
 
petulant
 
(
adjective
): 
easily irritated or annoyed
 
When Ed first met Ruth, he didn't realize she was so petulant, but now tha
t they are three months into 
their relationship, Ed feels a day doesn't go by in which she isn't whining about some minor issue.
 
 
placate
 
(
verb
): 
cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
 
I was able to placate the angry mob of students by 
promising to bring cookies on Monday.
 
 
platitude
 
(
noun
): 
a trite or obvious remark
 
The professor argued that many statements regarded as wise in previous times, such as the Golden Rule, 
are now regarded as mere platitudes.
 
 
poignant
 
(
adjective
): 
emotionall
y touching
 
After the Montagues and Capulets discover the dead bodies of Romeo and Juliet,  in the play's most 
poignant moment, the two griefstricken familes agree to end their feud once and for all.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most impo
rtant one for the GRE
 
polemic
 
(
noun
): 
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
 
The professor launched into a polemic, claiming that Freudian theory was a pack of lies that absolutely 
destroyed European literary theory.
 
This word has other
 
definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
posit
 
(
verb
): 
assume as fact
 
Initially, Einstein posited a repulsive force to balance Gravity, but then rejected that idea as a blunder.
 
 
pragmatic
 
(
adjective
): 
guided by practical experience and 
observation rather than theory
 
Rather than make a philosophical appeal to the Congressmen, the Speaker decided to take a far more 
pragmatic approach, making small side
-
deals that would add votes to his bill.
 
 
precipitous
 
(
adjective
): 
done with very great h
aste and without due deliberation
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
He was expecting a precipitous rise in the value of a "hot" tech stock, so he was disappointed when it 
only inched up a dollar or two each day.
 
 
preclude
 
(
verb
): 
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
 
The manager 
specified that all other gates be locked, to preclude the possibility of persons without 
tickets entering the arena undetected.
 
 
precocious
 
(
adjective
): 
characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity 
(especially in mental
 
aptitude)
 
Though only seven years old, she was a precocious chess prodigy, able to beat players twice her age.
 
 
predilection
 
(
noun
): 
a strong liking
 
Monte had a predilection for the fine things in life: Cuban cigars, 200 dollar bottles of wine, and trips 
to 
the French Riviera.
 
 
prescience
 
(
noun
): 
the power to foresee the future
 
Baxter's warnings about investing in technology stocks seemed like an act of prescience after the whole 
market declined significantly.
 
 
prevaricate
 
(
verb
): 
to speak in an evasive wa
y
 
The cynic quipped, "There is not much variance in politicians; they all seem to prevaricate".
 
 
prodigal
 
(
adjective
): 
rashly or wastefully extravagant
 
Successful professional athletes who do not fall prey to prodigality seem to be the exception
--
most live
 
decadent lives.
 
 
prodigious
 
(
adjective
): 
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
 
After the relatively small homerun totals in the "dead ball" era, Babe Ruth's homerun totals were truly 
prodigious: every year, he set a new all
-
time record.
 
 
profligate
 
(
adjective
): 
spending money recklessly or wastefully
 
 
profligate
 
(
noun
): 
someone who spends money recklessly or wastefully
 
Most lottery winners go from being conservative, frugal types to outright profligates who blow millions 
on fast cars, lavi
sh homes, and giant yachts.
 
 
prolific
 
(
adjective
): 
intellectually productive
 
Schubert was the most prolific composer, producing hundreds of hours of music before he died at the age 
of 31.
 
 
propitious
 
(
adjective
): 
presenting favorable circumstances; likely 
to result in or show signs of success
 
The child's heartbeat is still weak, but I am seeing many propitious signs and I think that she may be 
healing.
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
 
provincial
 
(
adjective
): 
characteristic of the a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated
 
Mag
gie's enthusiasm about her high school teams seemed provincial to her college classmates, all of 
whom were following a nationally ranked college team.
 
 
pundit
 
(
noun
): 
someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field
 
Steven Pinker's credenti
als are unquestioned as a pundit; he has taught at MIT and Stanford, teaches at 
Harvard, and has published a number of influential books on cognition, language, and psychology.
 
 
qualify
 
(
adjective
): 
to be legally competent or capable
 
If James had made more
 
than $50,000 last year, then he wouldn't have qualified for the low
-
income 
scholarship.
 
 
qualify
 
(
verb
): 
to make less severe; to limit (a statement)
 
Chris qualified his love for San Francisco, adding that he didn't like the weather as much as the weather 
in Los Angeles.
 
 
querulous
 
(
adjective
): 
habitually complaining
 
The querulous old woman was begining to wear down even the happier members of the staff with her 
ceaseless complaining.
 
 
quotidian
 
(
adjective
): 
found in the ordinary course of events
 
Phil gets 
so involved thinking about Aristotle's arguments that he totally forgets quotidian concerns, such 
as exercising and eating regularly.
 
 
ravenous
 
(
adjective
): 
extremely hungry; devouring or craving food in great quantities
 
John didn't each much at all during
 
the week he had the flu, so now that he is regaining his health, it's 
not surpring that he has a ravenous appetite.
 
 
rebuke
 
(
verb
): 
criticize severely or angrily; censure
 
The police chief rebuked the two officers whose irresponsible decisions almost led t
o the deaths of seven 
innocent by
-
standers.
 
 
reconcile
 
(
verb
): 
make (one thing) compatible with (another)
 
Peggy was unable to reconcile her kind friend Jane with the cruel and merciless character Jane played on 
television.
 
 
recondite
 
(
adjective
): 
difficult
 
to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or 
knowledge
 
I found Ulysses recondite and never finished the book, waiting instead to read it with someone else so we 
could penetrate its meaning together.
 
 
refractory
 
(
adjective
): 
stubbornl
y resistant to authority or control
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
Used to studious high school students, Martha was unprepared for the refractory Kindgergarteners who 
neither sat still nor listened to a single word she said.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most importan
t one for the GRE
 
refute
 
(
verb
): 
prove to be false or incorrect
 
No one could refute his theories or propositions, and that is why he was esteemed by all his colleagues in 
the philosophy department.
 
 
reproach
 
(
verb
): 
to express criticism towards
 
At first, S
arah was going to yell at the boy, but she didn't want to reproach him for telling the truth about 
the situation.
 
 
repudiate
 
(
verb
): 
reject as untrue or unfounded
 
Many in the public believed the rumors of a UFO crash outside town, so the chief of police di
d everything 
he could to repudiate the rumors.
 
 
rescind
 
(
verb
): 
cancel officially
 
The man's driver's license was rescinded after his tenth car accident, which meant he would never be 
allowed to legally drive again.
 
 
restive
 
(
adjective
): 
restless
 
The crowd 
grew restive as the comedian's opening jokes fell flat.
 
 
resurgent
 
(
adjective
): 
rising again as to new life and vigor
 
The team sank to fourth place in June, but is now resurgent and about to win the division.
 
 
reticent
 
(
adjective
): 
reluctant to draw attent
ion to yourself; temperamentally disinclined to talk
 
When asked about her father, Helen lost her outward enthusiasm and became rather reticent.
 
 
reverent
 
(
adjective
): 
feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
 
The professor could speak objectively a
bout the other composers, but he always lectured about Brahms 
with a particularly reverent air, unable to offer a single criticism of his compositions.
 
 
rudimentary
 
(
adjective
): 
being in the earliest stages of development; being or involving basic facts or
 
principles
 
I would love to be able to present a fully polished proposal to the board, but right now, our plans for the 
product are still in the most rudimentary stages.
 
 
rustic
 
(
adjective
): 
characteristic of rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial
 
The
 
vacation cabin had no electricity and no indoor plumbing, but despite these inconveniences, Nigel 
adored its rustic charm.
 
 
sanction
 
(
verb
): 
give authority or permission to
 
The authorities have sanctioned the use of the wilderness reserve for public use; 
many expect to see 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
hikers an campers enjoying the park in the coming months.
 
 
sanction
 
(
noun
): 
a legal penalty for a forbidden action
 
International sanctions have been placed on certain shipping lanes that were thought to be involved in 
human trafficking.
 
 
scrupulous
 
(
adjective
): 
characterized by extreme care and great effort
 
Because of his scrupulous nature, Mary put him in charge of numbering and cataloging the entire 
collection of rare stamps.
 
 
scrupulous
 
(
adjective
): 
having a sense of right and wrong; 
principled
 
Everyone trusted what he said and followed his example because he was scrupulous and honest.
 
 
soporific
 
(
adjective
): 
inducing mental lethargy; sleep inducing
 
Although the professor is brilliant, his bland monotone gives his lectures a soporific 
effect.
 
 
specious
 
(
adjective
): 
based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
 
Almost every image on TV is specious and not to be trusted.
 
 
specious
 
(
adjective
): 
plausible but false
 
He made a career out of specious arguments and fictional lab results, but lost his
 
job and reputation 
when his lies were exposed by an article in The New York Times.
 
 
sporadic
 
(
adjective
): 
recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances
 
The signals were at first sporadic, but now we detect a clear, consistent pattern of 
electromagnetic 
radiation eminating from deep space.
 
 
spurious
 
(
adjective
): 
plausible but false
 
When listening to a politician speak, it is hard to distinguish the spurious claims from the authentic ones.
 
 
staunch
 
(
adjective
): 
firm and dependable especiall
y in loyalty
 
No longer a staunch supporter of the movement, Todd now will openly question whether its goals are 
worthwhile.
 
 
stringent
 
(
adjective
): 
demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
 
Most of the students disliked the teacher because of his 
stringent homework policy, but many students 
would later thank him for demanding so much from them.
 
 
subsume
 
(
verb
): 
contain or include
 
The rogue wave quickly subsumed the pier and boardwalk, destroying everything in its path.
 
 
subsume
 
(
verb
): 
consider (an
 
instance of something) as part of a general rule or principle
 
Don Quixote of La Mancha subsumes all other modern novels, demonstrating modern literary devices 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
and predating even the idea of a postmodern, metanarrative.
 
 
subversive
 
(
adjective
): 
in oppositi
on to a civil authority or government
 
The ruling political party has begun a campaign to shut down subversive websites that it deems as a 
threat to "national safety."
 
 
sullen
 
(
adjective
): 
showing a brooding ill humor
 
Herbert took board games too seriously,
 
often appearing sullen after losing.
 
 
superfluous
 
(
adjective
): 
serving no useful purpose
 
How can we hope to stay open if we don't eliminate all superfluous spending, like catered meetings and 
free acupucture Tuesday?
 
 
superfluous
 
(
adjective
): 
more than is
 
needed, desired, or required
 
Everything in this closet is superfluous and can be given to charity.
 
 
supplant
 
(
verb
): 
take the place or move into the position of
 
For many, a cell phone has supplanted a traditional phone; in fact, most 20
-
somethings don't e
ven have 
a traditional phone anymore.
 
 
sycophant
 
(
noun
): 
a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
 
The CEO was unaware of the damaging consequences of his choices, largely because he surrounded 
himself with sycophants who w
ould never dare criticize him.
 
 
taciturn
 
(
adjective
): 
habitually reserved and uncommunicative
 
While the CEO enthusiastically shares his plans and agenda with all who will listen, the CFO is far more 
taciturn, rarely revealing his perspective.
 
 
tantamount
 
(
adjective
): 
being essentially equal to something
 
In many situations, remaining silent is tantamount to admitting guilt, so speak to prove your innocence.
 
 
temperance
 
(
noun
): 
the trait of avoiding excesses
 
Welles wasn't known for his temperance
--
he usually 
ate enough for two and drank enough for three.
 
 
tempered
 
(
adjective
): 
moderated in effect
 
The wide
-
eyed optimism of her youth was now tempered after she had worked many years in the 
criminal justice system.
 
 
tenacious
 
(
adjective
): 
stubbornly unyielding
 
Eve
n the most tenacious advocates for gun ownership must admit some of the dangers that firearms 
present.
 
 
timorous
 
(
adjective
): 
timid by nature or revealing fear and nervousness
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
Since this was her first time debating on stage and before an audience, Di's voi
ce was timorous and quiet 
for the first 10 minutes.
 
 
torpor
 
(
noun
): 
inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy
 
After work, I was expecting my colleagues to be enthusiastic about the outing, but I found them in a 
state of complete torpor
.
 
 
tortuous
 
(
adjective
): 
marked by repeated turns and bends; not straightforward
 
Because the logic behind McMahon's side of the debate was so tortuous, his audience came out either 
completely confused or, worse, feeling they'd been tricked.
 
 
tractable
 
(
adj
ective
): 
readily reacting to suggestions and influences; easily managed (controlled or 
taught or molded)
 
Compared to middle school students, who have an untamed wildness about them, high school students 
are somewhat more tractable.
 
 
transient
 
(
adjective
): 
lasting a very short time
 
The unpredictable and transient nature of deja vu makes it a very difficult phenomenon to study 
properly.
 
 
travesty
 
(
noun
): 
an absurd presentation of something; a mockery
 
What I expected to be an intelligent, nuanced historical do
cumentary turned out to be a poorly
-
produced 
travesty of the form.
 
 
treacherous
 
(
adjective
): 
tending to betray
 
Even though Jesse James was an outlaw, his killer, Robert Ford, is remembered more for his treacherous 
actions than for eliminating a criminal 
and murder.
 
 
treacherous
 
(
adjective
): 
dangerously unstable and unpredictable
 
The bridge built from twine and vine is treacherous to walk across, and so I think I will stay put right 
here.
 
 
trite
 
(
adjective
): 
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
 
Many style guides recommend not using idioms in writing because these trite expressions are 
uninteresting and show a lack of imagination on the part of the writer.
 
 
truncate
 
(
verb
): 
reduce the length of something
 
The soccer game was truncated when the mon
soon rain began to fall.
 
 
undermine
 
(
adjective
): 
to weaken (usually paired with an abstract term)
 
The student undermined the teacher's authority by questioning the teacher's judgment on numerous 
occasions.
 
 
  
 
 
gre.magoosh.com/flashcards
 
 
underscore
 
(
verb
): 
give extra weight to (a commun
ication)
 
While the hiking instructor agreed that carrying a first aid kit could be a good idea under certain 
circumstances, he underscored the importance of carrying enough water.
 
 
unequivocal
 
(
adjective
): 
admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having 
only one meaning or 
interpretation and leading to only one conclusion
 
The President's first statement on the subject was vague and open to competing interpretations, so when 
he spoke to Congress about the same subject later, he was cafeful to make his posi
tion completely 
unequivocal.
 
 
unscrupulous
 
(
adjective
): 
without scruples or principles
 
In the courtroom, the lawyer was unscrupulous, using every manner of deceit and manipulation to secure 
a victory for himself.
 
 
upbraid
 
(
verb
): 
to reproach; to scold
 
Bob 
took a risk walking into the "Students Barbershop"
--
in the end he had to upbraid the apparently 
drunk barber for giving him an uneven bowl cut.
 
 
vacillate
 
(
verb
): 
be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of 
action
 
Some s
tudents vacillate between schools when deciding which to attend, while others focus only on one 
school.
 
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
 
vehement
 
(
adjective
): 
marked by extreme intensity of emotions or 
convictions
 
While the other employees responded to the bad news in a measured way, Andrew responded in a 
vehement manner, tipping over his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs.
 
 
venality
 
(
noun
): 
the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corrupti
on
 
Even some of the most sacrosanct sporting events are not immune to venality, as many of the officials 
have received substantial bribes to make biased calls.
 
 
venerate
 
(
verb
): 
to respect deeply
 
The professor, despite his soporific lectures, was venerated
 
amongst his colleagues, publishing more 
papers yearly than all of his peers combined.
 
 
veracious
 
(
adjective
): 
truthful
 
While we elect our leaders in the hope that every word they speak  will be veracious, history has shown 
that such a hope is naive.
 
 
vili
fy
 
(
verb
): 
spread negative information about
 
Todd was noble after the divorce, choosing to say only complimentary things about Barbara, but Barbara 
did not hesitate to vilify Todd.