Top GRE Words in Context
Graduate 1 with Myself at Emory University
About this deck
By: Kendall West
Textbook:
Kaplan GRE 2011 Premier with CD-ROM (Kaplan GRE Premier Program (W/CD))
Created: 2011-06-21
Size: 180 flashcards
Views: 184
Textbook:
Kaplan GRE 2011 Premier with CD-ROM (Kaplan GRE Premier Program (W/CD))Created: 2011-06-21
Size: 180 flashcards
Views: 184
About StudyBlue
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ABATE
to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
As the hurricane's force ABATED, the winds dropped and the sea became calm.
ABSCOND
to leave secretly
The patron ABSCONDED from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the back door.
ABSTAIN
to choose not to do something
She ABSTAINED from choosing a mouthwatering desert from the tray.
ABYSS
an extremely deep hole
The submarine dove into the ABYSS to chart the previously unseen depths.
ADULTERATE
to make impure
The restauranteur made his ketchup last longer by ADULTERATING it with water.
ADVOCATE
to speak in favor of
The vegetarian ADVOCATED a diet containing no meat.
AESTHETIC
concerning the appreciation of beauty
Followers of the AESTHETIC Movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only true purpose of art.
AGGRANDIZE
to increase in power, influence, and reputation
The supervisor sought to AGGRANDIZE herself by claiming that the achievements of her staff were actually her own.
ALLEVIATE
to make more bearable
Taking aspirin helps to ALLEVIATE a headache.
AMALGAMATE
to combine; to mix together
Giant Industries AMALGAMATED with Mega Products to form Giant-Mega Products incorporated.
AMBIGUOUS
doubtful or uncertain; able to interpreted several ways
The directions she gave were so AMBIGUOUS that we disagreed on which way to turn.
AMELIORATE
to make better
The doctor was able to AMELIORATE the patient's suffering using painkillers.
ANACHRONISM
something out of time and place
The aged hippie used ANACHRONISTIC phrases like groovy and far out that had not been popular for years.
ANALOGOUS
similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
In a famous argument for the existence of God, the universe is ANALOGOUS to a mechanical timepiece, the creation of a divinely intelligent "clock maker".
ANOMALY
deviation from what is normal
Albino animals may display too great an ANOMALY in their coloring to attract normally colored mates.
ANTAGONIZE
to annoy or provoke anger
The child discovered that he could ANTAGONIZE the cat by pulling its tail.
ANTIPATHY
extreme dislike
The ANTIPATHY between the French and the English regularly erupted into open warfare.
APATHY
lack of interest or emotion
The APATHY of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually bother to do so.
ARBITRATE
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
Since the couple could not come to agreement, a judge was forced to ARBITRATE their divorce proceedings.
ARCHAIC
ancient; old-fashioned
Her ARCHAIC Commodore computer could not run the latest software.
ARDOR
intense and passionate feeling
Bishop's ARDOR for the landscape was evident when he passionately described the beauty of the scenic Hudson Valley.
ARTICULATE
able to speak clearly and expressively
ASSUAGE
to make something unpleasant less severe
Serena used aspirin to ASSUAGE her pounding headache.
ATTENUATE
to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
The Bill of Rights ATTENUATED the traditional power of governments to change laws at will.
AUDACIOUS
fearless and daring
Her AUDACIOUS nature allowed her to fulfill her dream of skydiving,
AUSTERE
severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
The lack of decoration makes military barracks seem AUSTERE to the civilian eye.
BANAL
predictable, cliched, boring
He used BANAL phrases.
BOLSTER
to support; to prop up
The giant footprints BOLSTERED the argument that Big Foot did exist.
BOMBASTIC
pompous in speech or manner
The radio talk show host was BOMBASTIC.
CACOPHANY
harsh, jarring noise
CANDID
impartial and honest in speech
The observations of a child can be charming since they are CANDID.
CAPRICIOUS
changing one's mind quickly and often
CASTIGATE
to punish or criticize harshly
CATALYST
something that brings about a change in something else
CAUSTIC
biting in wit
She gained her reputation for CAUSTIC wit from her cunning insults.
CHAOS
great disorder or confusion
CHAUVINIST
someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
CHICANERY
deception by means or craft or guile
Dishonest used car salesmen use CHICANERY to sell their old cars.
COGENT
convincing and well reasoned
a cogent argument
CONDONE
to overlook, pardon, or disregard
Failing to prosecute minor crimes can be seen as condoning an air of lawlessness.
CONVOLUTED
intricate and complicated
CONVOLUTED ideas and theories
CORROBORATE
to provide supporting evidence
Fingerprints CORROBORATED the witness' testimony
CREDULOUS
too trusting; gullible
CRESCENDO
steadily increasing in volume or force
a CRESCENDO of tension
DECORUM
appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
Peasants lacking DECORUM
DEFERENCE
respect; courtesy
To treat with DEFERENCE
DERIDE
to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
DESICCATE
to dry out thoroughly
DESULTORY
jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
A DESULTORY academic record when change majors
DIATRIBE
an abusive condemnatory speech
Yelling a DIATRIBE to the person who cut you off in traffic
DIFFIDENT
lacking self confidence
Steve's DIFFIDENT manner
DILATE
to make larger; to expand
DILATORY
intended to delay
The congressman used DILATORY measures to delay the passage of the bill.
DILETTANTE
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
DIRGE
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
DISABUSE
to set right; to free from error
Galileo's observations DISABUSED scholars of the notion that the sun revolved around the Earth.
DISCERN
to perceive; to recognize
DISPARATE
fundamentally different; entirely unlike
Although the twins are identical in physical appearance their personalities are DISPARATE.
DISSEMBLE
to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character
DISSONANCE
a harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
DOGMA
a firmly held opinion
Biology's central DOGMA
DOGMATIC
dictatorial in one's opinions
DUPE
to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
ECLECTIC
selecting from or made up froma variety of sources
EFFICACY
effectiveness
ELEGY
a sorrowful poem or speech
ELOQUENT
persuasive and moving, especially in speech
EMULATE
to copy; to try to equal or excel
ENERVATE
to reduce in strength
ENGENDER
to produce, cause, or bring about
ENIGMA
a puzzle; a mystery
ENUMERATE
to count, list, or itemize
The commandments were ENUMERATED on tablets.
EPHEMERAL
lasting a short time
EQUIVOCATE
to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
When faced with criticism , the politician EQUIVOCATED and left all parties thinking she agreed with them.
ERRATIC
wandering and unpredictable
ERUDITE
learned, scholarly, bookish
ESOTERIC
known or understood by only a few
ESTIMABLE
admirable
EULOGY
speech in praise of someone
EUPHEMISM
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
EXACERBATE
to make worse
EXCULPATE
to clear from blame; prove innocent
EXIGENT
urgent; requiring immediate action
EXONERATE
to clear of blame
EXPLICIT
clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
FANATICAL
acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion
FAWN
to grovel
FERVID
intensely emotional; feverish
FLORID
excessively decorated or embellished
FOMENT
to arouse or incite
The protesters tried to FOMENT felling against the war.
FRUGALITY
a tendency to be thrifty or cheap
GARRULOUS
tending to talk a lot
GREGARIOUS
outgoing, sociable
GUILE
deceit or trickery
GULLIBLE
easily decieved
HOMOGENOUS
of a similar kind
ICONOCLAST
one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
IMPERTURBABLE
not capable of being disturbed
IMPERVIOUS
impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
IMPETUOUS
quick to act without thinking
IMPLACABLE
unable to be calmed down or made peaceful
INCHOATE
not fully formed; disorganized
INGENUOUS
showing innocence or childlike simplicity
INIMICAL
hostile; unfriendly
INNOCUOUS
harmless
INSIPID
lacking interest or flavor
INTRANSIGENT
uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
INUNDATE
to overwhelm; to cover with water
IRASCIBLE
easily made angry
LACONIC
using few words
LAMENT
to express sorrow; to grieve
LAUD
to give praise; to glorify
LAVISH
to give unsparingly(v.); extremely generous or extravagant (adj.)
LETHARGIC
acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner
LOQUACIOUS
talkative
LUCID
clear and easily understood
LUMINOUS
bright, brilliant, glowing
MALINGER
to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
MALLEABLE
capable of being shaped
METAPHOR
a figure of speech comparing two different things; a symbol
METICULOUS
extremely careful about details
MISANTHROPE
a person who dislikes others
MITIGATE
to soften; to lessen
MOLLIFY
to calm or make less severe
MONOTONY
lack of variation
NAIVE
lacking sophistication or experience
OBDURATE
hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion
OBSEQUIOUS
overly submissive and eager to please
OBSTINATE
stubborn, unyielding
OBVIATE
to prevent; to make unnecessary
OCCLUDE
to stop up; to prevent the passage of
ONEROUS
troublesome and oppressive; burdensome
OPAQUE
impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light
OPPROBRIUM
public disgrace
OSTENTATION
excessive showiness
PARADOX
a contradiction or dilemma
PARAGON
model of excellence or perfection
PEDANT
someone who shows off learning
PERFIDIOUS
willing to betray one's trust
PERFUNCTORY
done in a routine way; indifferent
PERMEATE
to penetrate
PHILANTHROPY
charity; a desire of effort to promote goodness
PLACATE
to soothe or pacify
PLASTIC
able to be molded, altered, or bent
PLETHORA
excess
PRAGMATIC
practical as opposed to idealistic
PRECIPITATE
to throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation
PREVARICATE
to lie or deviate from the truth
PRISTINE
fresh and clean; uncorrupted
PRODIGAL
lavish, wasteful
PROLIFERATE
to increase in number quickly
PROPITIATE
to conciliate; to appease
PROPRIETY
correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs
PRUDENCE
wisdom, caution, or restraint
PUNGENT
sharp and irritating to the senses
QUIESCENT
motionless
RAREFY
to make thinner or sparser
REPUDIATE
to reject the validity of
RETICENT
silent, reserved
RHETORIC
effective writing or speaking
SATIATE
to satisfy fully or overindulge
SOPORIFIC
causing sleep or lethargy
SPECIOUS
deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible or fallacious
STIGMA
a mark of shame or discredit
STOLID
unemotional; lacking sensitivity
SUBLIME
lofty or grand
TACIT
done without using words
TACITURN
silent; not talkative
TIRADE
long, harsh speech or verbal attack
TORPOR
extreme mental and physical sluggishness
TRANSITORY
temporary, lasting a brief time
VACILLATE
to sway physically; to be indecisive
VENERATE
to respect deeply
VERACITY
filled with truth and accuracy
VERBOSE
wordy
VEX
to annoy
VOLATILE
easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive
WAVER
to fluctuate between choices
WHIMSICAL
acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
ZEAL
passion, excitement
About this deck
By: Kendall West
Textbook: Kaplan GRE 2011 Premier with CD-ROM (Kaplan GRE Premier Program (W/CD))
Created: 2011-06-21
Size: 180 flashcards
Views: 184
Textbook:
Kaplan GRE 2011 Premier with CD-ROM (Kaplan GRE Premier Program (W/CD))Created: 2011-06-21
Size: 180 flashcards
Views: 184
About StudyBlue
STUDYBLUE makes things that make you better at school.
Things like online flashcards with photos and audio.
Things like personalized quizzes and friendly reminders about when (and what) to study next.
Think of it as a digital backpack™: access to all of your study materials online and on your phone.
STUDYBLUE exists to make studying efficient and effective for every student, for free. Join us.
“Simply amazing. The flash cards are smooth, there are many different types of studying tools, and there is a great search engine. I praise you on the awesomeness.”
Dennis
Dennis