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GRE Vocab - Hit Parade 5.1

Terms

undefined, object
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nebulous
adj.
vagues; cloudy; lacking clearly defined form
cynicism
n.
an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness
neologism
n.
a new word, expression or usage; the creation or use of new words or senses
elegy
n.
a mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead
arduous
adj.
strenuous, taxing, requiring significant effort
recondite
adj.
hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
ingenuous
adj.
artless; frank and candid; lacking in sophistication
enigmatic
adj.
mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand
abscond
v.
to depart clandestinely; to steal off and hide
renege
v.
to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise
prattle
v.
to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner
inveigle
v.
to obtrain by deception or flattery
ameliorate
v.
to make better or more tolerable
sparse
adj.
thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals
irascible
adj.
easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts
cogent
adj.
appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
austere
adj.
without adornment; bare; severely simple; ascetic
refulgent
adj.
radiant; shiny; brilliant
ennui
n.
dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or apathy
fervent
adj.
greatly emotional or zealous
culpable
adj.
deserving blame
spendthrift
n.
one who spends money wastefully
prescience
n.
foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to their occurring
fawn
v.
to flatter or praise excessively
axiom
n.
a universally recognized principle
subtle
adj.
not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern
waver
v.
to move to and fro; to sway; to be unsettled in opinion
germane
adj.
relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in subject manner
bucolic
adj.
rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants
pristine
adj.
pure; uncorrupted; clean
truculent
adj.
fierce and cruel; eager to fight
cacophony
n.
harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance
ascetic
n.
one who practices rigid self-denial, especially as an act of religious devotion
pungent
adj.
characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
noxious
adj.
harmful; injurious
virulent
adj.
extremely harmful or poisonous; bitterly hostile or antagonistic
axiomatic
adj.
taken as a given; possessing self-evident truth
immutable
adj.
not capable of change
garrulous
adj.
pointlessly talkative; talking too much
disabuse
v.
to undeceive; to set right
dilettante
n.
one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
censure
v.
to criticize severely; to officially rebuke
esoteric
adj.
intended for or understood by a small, specific group
convoluted
adj.
complex or complicated
probity
adj.
adherence to highest principles; uprightness
exigent
adj.
urgent; pressing; requiring immediate action or attention
burgeon
v.
to grow rapidly or flourish
canonical
adj.
following or in agreement with accepted, traditiona standards
profligate
adj.
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
perfunctory
adj.
cursory; done without care or interest
bolster
v.
to provide support or reinforcement
contentious
adj.
argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement
derision
n.
scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment
approbation
n.
an expression of approval or praise
gregarious
adj.
sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people
malleable
adj.
capable of being shaped or formed; pliable
alchemy
n.
a medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals, especially base metals into gold
salubrious
adj.
promoting health or well-being
lucid
adj.
clear; easily understood
indifferent
adj.
having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice
desiccate
v.
to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull
assuage
v.
to ease or lessen; to appease or pacify
fallacy
n.
an invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief
opprobrium
n.
disgrace; contempt; scorn
convention
n.
a generally agreed-upon practice or attitude
sedulous
adj.
diligent; persistent; hard-working
predilection
n.
a disposition in favor of something; preference
meticulous
adj.
characterized by extreme care and precision; attentive to detail
neophyte
n.
a recent convert; a beginner; novice
voracious
adj.
having an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit; ravenous
veracity
n.
truthfullness; honesty
implacable
adj.
not capable of being appeased or significantly changed
inimical
adj.
damaging; harmful; injurious
enervate
v.
to weaken; to reduce in vitality
paean
n.
a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving
pervasive
adj.
having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout
rarefy
v.
to make or become thin, less dense; to refine
mundane
adj.
of the world; typical of or concerned with the ordinary
torpid
adj.
lethargic; sluggish; dormant
phlegmatic
adj.
calm; sluggish; unemotional
quotididan
adj.
occurring or recurring daily; commonplace
anomaly
n.
deviation from the normal order, form or rule; abnormally
pious
adj.
extremely reverent or devout; showing strong religious devotion
imperturbable
adj.
marked by extreme calm, impassivity and steadiness
presumptuous
adj.
overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
magnanimity
n.
the quality of being generously noble in mind and heart, especially in forgiving
perfidy
n.
intentional breach of faith; treachery
laconic
adj.
using few words; terse
quixotic
adj.
foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideas
eloquent
adj.
well-spoken; expressive; articulate
pernicious
adj.
extremely harmful; potentially causing death
impetuous
adj.
hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
divulge
v.
to disclose something secret
exculpate
v.
exonerate; to clear of blame
bombastic
adj.
pompous; grandiloquent
halcyon
adj.
calm and peaceful
anachronism
n.
something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context
connoisseur
n.
an informed and astute judge in matters of taste; expert
contrite
adj.
regretful; pentinent; seeking forgiveness
intrepid
adj.
steadfast and courageous
shard
n.
a piece of broken pottery or glass
audacious
adj.
daring and fearless; recklessly bold
demur
v.
to question or oppose
obstinate
adj.
stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising
decorum
n.
polite or appropriate conduct or behavior
chicanery
n.
trickery or subterfuge
emollient
adj.
soothing, especially to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying
imminent
adj.
about to happen; impending
proclivity
n.
a natural predisposition or inclination
perennial
adj.
recurrent through the year or many years; happening repeatedly
redoubtable
adj.
awe-inspiring; worthy of honor
maverick
n. an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party
aggrandize
v.
to increase in intesnsity, power or prestige
static
adj.
not moving, active or in motion; at rest
odious
adj.
evoke intense aversion or dislike
mendacity
n.
the condition of being untruthful; dishonesty
intractable
adj.
not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate
disparate
adj.
fundamentally distinct or dissimilar
furtive
adj.
marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious
obdurate
adj.
unyielding; hardhearted; intractable
propensity
n.
a natural inclination or tendency; penchant
onerous
adj.
troubling; burdensome
quaff
v.
to drink deeply
ostentatious
adj.
characterized by or given to pretentiousness
astringent
adj.
having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe
capricious
adj.
inclined to change one's mind impulsively; erratic; unpredictable
qualms
n.
misgivings; reservations; causes for hesitancy
pedantic
adj;
the parading of learning; excessive attention to minutiae and formal rules
disparage
v.
to slight or belittle
solvent
adj.
able to meet financial obligations; able to dissolve another substance
canon
n.
an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature
glib
adj.
marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial
prosaic
adj.
dull; unimaginative
soporific
adj.
causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
preen
v.
to dress up; to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care
polemical
adj.
controversial; argumentative
contiguous
adj.
sharing a border; touching; adjacent
aberrant
adj.
deviating from the norm
eclectic
adj.
composed of elements drawn from various sources
mercurial
adj.
characterized by rapid and unpredictabe change in mood
exacerbate
v.
to make worse or more severe
relegate
v.
to forcibly assign, especially to a lower place or position
oscillation
n.
the act or state of swinging back and froth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm
mollify
v.
to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity
pith
n.
the essential or central part
tortuous
adj.
winding; twisting; excessively complicated
reticent
adj.
quiet; reserved; reluctant to express thoughts and feelings
idolatrous
adj.
given to intense or excessivedeviotion to something
platitude
n.
a superficial remark, especially one offered as meaningful
sporadic
adj;
occurring only occasionally or in scattered instances
erudite
adj.
very learned; scholarly
obfuscate
v.
to deliberately obscure; to make confusing
tirade
n.
a long and extremely critical speech; a harsh denunciation
solicitous
concerned and attentive; eager
harangue
v.
to deliver a pompous speech or tirade
pervade
v.
to permeate throughout
prodigal
adj.
recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish
obtuse
adj.
lacking sharpness of intellect; not clear or precise in thought or expression
dogmatic
adj.
stubbornly opinionated
hubris
n.
arrogant presumption or pride
plummet
v.
to plunge or drop straight down
martial
adj.
associated with war and the armed forces
hyperbole
n.
an exaggerated statement, often used as a figure of speech
obsequious
adj.
exhibiting a fawning attentiveness
eulogy
n.
a speech honoring the dead
filibuster
n.
intentional obstruction, especialy using prolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action
opaque
adj.
impenetrable by light; not reflecting light
pirate
v.
to illegally use or reproduce
pedagogy
n.
the art or profession of training, teaching or instructing
alacrity
n.
eager and enthusiastic willingness
morose
adj.
sad; sullen; melancholy
plethora
n.
an overabundance; a surplus
recalcitrant
adj.
obstinately defiant of authority; difficult to manage
stupefy
v.
to stun, baffle or amaze
credulous
adj.
tending to believe too readily; gullible
pragmatic
adj.
practical rather than idealistic
tout
v.
to publicly praise or promote
nascent
adj.
coming into being; in early developmental stages
prodigious
adj.
abundant in size, force, or extent; extraordinary
rhetoric
n.
the art or study of effective use of language for communication and persuasion
subpoena
n.
a court order requring appearance and/or testimony
prevaricate
v.
to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead
chary
adj.
wary; cautious; sparing
rancorous
adj.
characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment
luminous
adj.
characterized by brightness and the emission of light
inured
adj.
accustomed to accepting something undesirable
diatribe
n.
a harsh denunciation
refute
v.
to disprove; to successfully argue against
vigilant
adj.
alertly watchful
parody
n.
a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect, especially in literature and art
complaisance
n.
the willingness to comply with the wishes of others
equivocate
v.
to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent
vexation
n.
annoyance; irritation
obviate
v.
to anticipate and make unnecessary
satire
n.
a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision
discordant
adj.
conflicting; dissonant or harsh in sound
aver
v.
to state as a fact; to confirm or support
laud
v.
to praise highly
putrefy
v.
to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor
profuse
adj.
given or coming forth abundantly; extravagant
intransigent
adj.
refusing to compromise
pine
v.
to yearn intensely; to languish; to lose vigor
pernurious
adj.
penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous
eccentric
adj.
departing from norms or conventions
extemporaneous
adj.
improvised; done without preparation
succinct
adj.
brief; concise
torque
n.
a force that causes rotation
queries
n.
questions; inquiries; doubts in the mind; reservations
exonerate
v.
to remove blame
spurious
adj.
lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit
fulminate
v.
to loudly attack or denounce
loquacious
adj.
extremely talkative
impecunious
adj.
lacking funds; without money
hegemony
n.
the consistent dominance of one state or ideology over others
perspicacious
adj.
acutely perceptive; having keen discernment
malevolent
adj.
having or showing often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred
flout
v.
to demonstrate contempt for, as in a rule or convention
hackneyed
adj.
rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage
facetious
adj.
playful; humorous
placate
v.
to appease; to calm by making concessions
urbane
adj.
sophisticated;; refined; elegant
unfeigned
adj.
genuine; not false or hypocritical
dearth
n.
smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack
tacit
adj.
implied; not explicitly stated
heretical
adj.
vioating accepted dogma or convention
mitigate
v.
to make or become less severe or intense; to moderate
percursor
n.
one that precedes and indicates or announces another
trenchant
adj.
sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating
bombast
n.
self important or pompous in writing or speech
misanthrope
n.
one who hates all other humans
ephemeral
adj.
brief; fleeting
tenuous
adj.
having little substance or strength; flimsy; weak
adulation
n.
excessive praise; intense adoration
occlude
v.
to obstruct or block
disinterested
adj.
indifferent; free from self-interest
impassive
adj.
revealing no emotion
aesthetic
adj.
dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful
superfluous
adj.
exceeding what is sufficient or necessary
catalyst
n.
a person or thing that causes change
tenacity
n.
the quality of adherence or persistence to something valued
sordid
adj.
characterize by filth, grime or squalor; foul
insipid
adj.
without taste or flavor; lacking in spirit; bland
innocuous
adj.
harmless; causing no damage
vituperate
v.
to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; berate
effrontery
n.
extreme boldness; presumptuousness
pithy
adj.
precise and brief
prolific
adj.
producing large volumes or amounts; productive
rescind
v.
to invalidate; to repeal; to retract
accolade
n.
an expression of praise
acumen
n.
quick, keen or accurate knowledge or insight

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