500 GRE Vocabulary Words for Flashcards
belabor
argue or elaborate (a subject) in excessive detail, to attack physically or verbally
disheveled
untidy
hoax
mischievous trick played on somebody for a joke
talon
the claw of a bird of prey
quixotic
exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
impede
hinder get in the way of
nonplused
greatly surprised
compunction
feeling of regret for one's action
alacrity
eager and cheerful readiness
erratic
irregular in behaviour or opinion
brash
hasty, rush, cheeky, saucy
portent
omen, signal that something might happen
supercilious
behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others
flaunting
showing off complacently
incredulous
skeptical, unwilling to believe
libertine
an immoral person
inane
silly, senseless
agog
eager/excited
implosion
collapse, bursting inward
impervious
not allowing to pass through (of materials)
morbid
diseased, unhealthy
flop
to fail/move/fall clumsily
assiduous
diligent, hard-working, sedulous
turbid
muddy, having the sediment stirred up
irate
angry
valorous
brave, courageous
placate
to soothe, pacify, calm
dulcet
melodious, (especially of sound) sweet and soothing
discomfit
confuse, embarrass
taunt
a remark made in order to anger, wound, or provoke
inculcate
fix firmly by repetition
ramify
to be divided or subdivided to branch out
sluggard
lazy, slow-moving person
venal
ready to do something dishonest
dubious
feeling doubt
exculpate
to clear from a charge of guilt
insinuate
to suggest unpleasantly
severance
the action of ending a connection or relationship, to cut off
encapsulate
to enclose in capsule
coeval
of the same period coexisting
corroboration
additional strengthening evidence
feint
to pretend
impiety
lack of reverence or dutifulness
decorum
propriety, properness
fragile
easily injured broken or destroyed
apropos
appropriate to the situation, apt
gregarious
fond of company; sociable
epithet
an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned
irascible
irritable, easily angered
judicious
sound in judgment, wise
intransigent
uncompromising
glib
(of words or the person speaking them) fluent and voluble but insincere and shallow
tamp
ram or pack (a substance) down or into something firmly
vestige
a trace or sign
veracity
truth
regale
to delight or entertain to feast
ingest
to take in by swallowing
underbid
make a lower offer then somebody else
petulant
childishly sulky or bad-tempered
beatify
to bless make happy or ascribe a virtue to
disconcert
disturb the composure of; unsettle.
pucker
tightly gather or contract into wrinkles or small folds
expostulate
express strong disapproval or disagreement.
finical
too fussy about food clothing etc.
recondite
little known, abstruse
limp
lacking strength, walking unevenly
lien
a legal claim until the debt on it is repaid
slake
to satisfy
indigenous
native
presumption
arrogance
propinquity
nearness in time or place, proximity, closeness
alloy
to debase by mixing with something inferior
edacious
voracious, devouring
supine
lying on the back, slow to act, passive
odious
repulsive, hateful
proscribe
to denounce as dangerous
idyll
a carefree episode or experience
blandishment
a flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade
tautology
a phrase or expression in which the same thing is said twice in different words
implicate
show (someone) to be involved in a crime or to convey (a meaning or intention) indirectly through what one says
desuetude
cessation of use, disuse
dereliction
deserting and leaving to fall into ruins
synopsis
summary or outline
insularity
narrow-mindedness, isolated
quiescence
state of being passive/motionless, inactivity or dormancy
abut
to border on
implacable
incapable of being placated, unpleasable
suppress
prevent from being known, put an end to
macabre
gruesome, suggesting death
refine
to make or become pure, cultural
splenetic
bad-tempered, irritable
temperance
abstinence from alcohol, self-control, moderation
elegy
a lament a melancholy composition
foible
defect of character (a person is wrongly proud)
sagacious
having sound judgment, perceptive, wise
encomium
a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly
loll
to rest, to sit or stand in a lazy way, hang (dog's tongue)
profane
having contempt for God
secular
material (not spiritual), living outside monasteries
stigma
mark of shame or disgrace
rave
to act with excessive enthusiasm
platitude
a trite or banal statement, unoriginality
lavish
rich, elaborate, or luxurious
gainsay
to deny, to oppose
cravat
piece of linen worn as a necktie
meretricious
attractive on the surface but of little value
imbroglio
complicated, confused and embarrassing situation
disingenuous
sophisticated, artful, trying to deceive cunning
unencumbered
not having any burden or impediment
aseptic
surgically clean
surfeit
an excessive amount of something
empirical
relying on experiment
volatile
changeable, inconstant, fickle, unstabl,e explosive
terse
brief and to the point
evoke
to call up bring out
dupe
to cheat, make a fool of
hubris
arrogance, pride
verve
spirit, vigor, enthusiasm
acarpous
effete, no longer fertile, worn out
irrevocable
final and unalterable
foment
to instigate or stir up, to put something warm (to lessen the pain)
extempore
without previous thought or preparation
brittle
easily broken
deter
discourage, hinder
onerous
needing effort, burdensome
feckless
lacking purpose or vitality ineffective careless
deprecate
protest against, express disapproval of
foster
to nurture, care for
garrulity
talkativeness
epistle
a letter or poem
sullied
to be stained or discredited
tarnished
make or become less valuable or respected
sophistry
fallacious reasoning, faulty logic
belligerent
hostile and aggressive
auspicious
favorable, successful, prosperous
renovate
to restore something to better condition
vituperate
blame or insult (someone) in strong or violent language
ambidextrous
able to use the left hand or the right equally well
incursion
a raid, a sudden attack
peregrination
traveling about, wandering
enzyme
a substance produced by a living organism which acts as a catalyst
malleable
yielding, easily shaped, moldable, adapting
aplomb
self-confidence
bask
in enjoy warmth and light
malevolence
wishing to do evil
disparate
essentially different
thwart
to obstruct/frustrate
poncho
large piece of cloth
homiletics
act of preaching
putrefaction
becoming rotten
abide
be faithful, to endure
stipple
to paint with dots
germane
relevant, pertinent to
counterfeit
forgery
ostracism
exclusion from a society or group
trite
not new, commonplace
nibble
show cautious interest in a project or proposal
proliferate
to grow, reproduce rapidly
whimsical
playfully quaint or fanciful in an amusing way
salutary
producing good effects; beneficial, causing improvement
incense
to make angry
intransigence
unwillingness to compromise, stubbornness, intractability
lull
to become quiet or less active
endemic
regularly found among particular people or in a certain area, native
pugnacious
eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight
cower
crouch, shrink back
ponderous
slow and clumsy because of great weigh
temerity
boldness, brashness, audacity, intrepidness
penitent
feeling or showing regret
burgeon
grow forth, send out buds
nebulous
cloud-like, hazy, vague, indistinct
innocuous
harmless
engender
to cause, produce, give rise to
finicky
fussy about one's needs or requirements
cumbersome
burdensome, heavy, and awkward to carry
grave
serious, requiring consideration
droll
curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement
reciprocity
granting of privileges in return for similar
pyre
large pile of wood for burning
grievous
causing grief or pain serious dire grave
foolproof
incapable of failure or error
subpoena
written order requiring a person to appear in court
baneful
causing harm or ruin pernicious destructive
parsimonious
too economical, miserly, frugal
preternatural
not normal or usual
erudite
learned, scholarly
connoisseur
a person with good judgement (e.g. in art)
luculent
easily understood, lucid, clear
gust
outburst of feeling, sudden rain wind fire etc.
castigate
to chastise, correct by punishing
shrewd
astute, showing sound judgement
abysmal
bottomless, extreme
coalescing
coming together and uniting into one substance
ruffian
a violent cruel man
vagary
an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's behavior
avow
admit. Declare openly
assail
with attack violently
garment
article of clothing
eulogy
formal praise
flout
to reject mock to go against (as in going against tradition)
consternation
surprise and fear, dismay
florid
very much ornamented naturally red (e.g.. of face)
affable
polite and friendly
skiff
small boat
expurgate
to remove obscenity, purify, censor
gnaw
to waste away, to bite steadily
reproach
to scold, express disapproval
mendicant
a beggar
abscond
to go away suddenly (to avoid arrest)
preponderance
the quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance
sanguine
cheerful, confident, optimistic
brook
to tolerate, endure
rant
to use extravagant language
ameliorate
improve, make better
alcove
recess/partially enclosed place
testiness
feeling easily irritated
remonstrate
to protest, object
veneer
a thin covering or disguise
massacre
cruel killing of a large number of people
austere
severely moral and strict simple and plain
forgery
counterfeit
dolt
a stupid person
falter
to waver/move in an uncertain manner
credulity
a tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true
preen
to tidy or to show self-satisfaction
benefactor
person who has given help
quell
to suppress, subdue
sumptuous
splendid and expensive-looking
contrite
filled with deep sorrow for wrongdoing
incorrigibility
cannot be cured or corrected
facile
easily done
importune
harass (someone) persistently for or to do something
hack
to cut roughly
noisome
offensive, disgusting (smell)
ferret
to discover by searching search
teetotal
opposed to alcohol
propitious
auspicious, giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable
astringent
substance that shrinks
eradicate
to get rid of pull up by the roots
palate
roof of the mouth, sense of taste
censure
expression of blame or disapproval a rebuke
nexus
a connection, tie, or link
entreat
to ask earnestly
enmity
hatred, being an enemy
mercurial
quick, changeable in character, fleeting
concur
agree in opinion happen together
molt
to lose hair, skin or feathers before new growth
sodden
soaked, saturated with liquid
liberality
free, generosity
duress
threats to compel somebody
perjury
willful false statement, unlawful act
unfeigned
genuine; sincere
emote
to stir up, excite
specious
superficially plausible, but actually wrong, questionable
insipid
without taste or flavor
unscathed
unharmed, unhurt
fetid
smelling extremely unpleasant
recant
to take back as being false, give up
fringe
the edge, ornamental border
pith
the essence of something or forceful, concise expression
canvass
discuss thoroughly sort of touting
irksome
irritating; annoying
augury
omen, sign
blandness
polite manner, comforting, uninteresting
illicit
unlawful, forbidden
abraded
rubbed off, worn away by friction
inasmuch
since, because
vilify
to slander, say evil things about
maladroit
tactless, clumsy
penurious
poor/stingy
foppish
concerned with one's clothes and appearance in an affected and excessive way
rebuff
to snub, to reject
garrulous
too talkative
apprehensive
grasping understanding fear unhappy feeling about future
contentious
argumentative, pugnacious, combative, quarrelsome
verdant
fresh and green
contumacious
insubordinate, rebellious
congeal
make or become stiff and solid
steeply
rising or falling sharply
pungency
sharpness, stinging quality
negligent
taking too little care
accolade
praise, approval
chicanery
legal trickery/false argument
opprobrious
showing scorn or reproach or criticism
nadir
lowest, weakest point
castigation
severe punishment
sanctimony
the action or practice of acting as if one were morally superior to other people
expatiate
to roam, wander freely
visceral
of the internal organs of the body
apartheid
brutal racial discrimination
plaque
flat metal on a wall as a memorial
refulgent
shining, brilliant
divulge
make known (private or sensitive information
attenuate
make thin. weaken enervate
untoward
unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient
pluck
to pull the feathers off, to pick (e.g. flowers)
turgid
excessively ornate, swollen or bloated
impetuous
acting or done quickly and without thought or care
ambiguous
doubtful, uncertain
burnish
to polish, rub to a shine
idolatry
excessive admiration of
incongruous
out of place not in harmony or agreement
coerce
compel to force to make obedient
odor
smell, favor, reputation
pedantic
bookish, showing off learning
obfuscate
to darken, make obscure, to muddle
conundrum
a riddle, dilemma, enigma
dormant
in a state of inactivity but awaiting development
abet
help/encourage somebody (in doing wrong)
commemorate
keep the memory of
swerve
to change direction suddenly
halcyon
calm and peaceful
verisimilitude
appearing true or real
indefatigability
not easily exhaustible, tirelessness
ferment
incite or stir up, to undergo fermentation
quibble
a slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter
invective
abusive language, curses
tractable
easily controlled or guided
reprobate
person hardened in sin, one devoid of decency
snare
an entangling trap
ulterior
situated beyond
convoluted
complicated, coiled, twisted
veer
to change direction
harbinger
something or somebody that foretells the coming of something, a signal
enigma
something that is puzzling
myriad
a countless or extremely great number
ferocity
savage of being savagely fierce, cruel, or violent
dismal
sad, gloomy, miserable
pitfall
a hidden or unsuspected danger or difficulty
grovel
to crawl, humble oneself
brazen
made of brass or bold and without shame.
palliate
to lessen the severity of
tassel
a bunch of threads
loquacious
talkative
cursory
hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
vanquish
to conquer
quaff
to drink heartily
officious
too eager or ready to help, offer advice
lumber
to move in a clumsy/noisy way
inundate
to flood, cover by overflowing
wend
to go in a specified direction
lackluster
lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired or uninspiring
supersede
to take the place of
paradigm
a model, example, or pattern
conviction
convincing, firm belief
torque
twisting, force causing rotation
phlegmatic
calm temperament, unemotional
nonchalant
not having interest
peripatetic
wandering
provident
frugal, looking to the future
abjure
promise or swear, to give up
enthral
to capture the fascinated attention of
cordial
warm and sincere
turbulence
being uncontrolled, violent
adulteration
making unpure, poorer in quality
countenance
to favor or approve of
ostentation
pretentious and vulgar display, especially of wealth and luxury, intended to impress or attract notice.
petrify
to make hard, rocklike
hypocrisy
the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform
pious
dutiful to parents, devoted to religion
chary
cautious, wary
cabal
a scheme or plot, a secret political clique or faction.
defer
postpone give way (to show respect)
engrave
cut or carve (a text or design) on the surface of a hard object
arrant
in the highest degree
fluke
an unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck
curtail
make shorter
broach
bring up, announce, begin to talk about
dissolution
disintegration, looseness in morals
timorous
fearful, timid, afraid
reverent
feeling or showing deep respect
jabber
to talk excitedly utter rapidly
subsume
to include or absorb (something) in something else
suppliant
a person making a humble plea to someone in power or authority
sundry
of various kinds; several
extenuate
to reduce the strength of, lessen seriousness, partially excuse
qualm
feeling of doubt, temporary feeling of sickness
stigmatize
to describe somebody scornfully
abstruse
difficult to comprehend obscure
decree
order given by authority
pusillanimous
showing a lack of courage or determination; timid
arduous
steep, difficult ascent, laborious
paean
song of praise or triumph
malign
to speakbad or ill of somebody, evil in nature
pedestrian
commonplace, trite, unremarkable
hermetic
sealed, watere or air tight
rejuvenation
becoming young in nature or appearance
hush
to make or become silent
plod
to continue doing something without resting
malapropism
misuse of a word (for one that resembles it)
glean
to gather facts in small quantities, collect gradually and bit by bit
splice
join (two ends)
manacle
chains for the hands or feet
petrified
so frightened that one is unable to move; terrified or changed to a stony substance
preclude
to prevent, make impossible
tonic
something giving strength or energy
figurehead
carved image on the prow of a ship, a nominal leader or head without real power
paucity
scarcity, a lacking of
apprise
give notice, to inform
turmoil
trouble, disturbance
consequential
important, significant
countervail
counterbalance
calumny
slander, a false and slanderous statement.
indomitable
not easily discouraged or subdued
effluvia
outflow in a stream of particles a noxious odor or vapor
eloquence
fluent speaking, skillful use of language
dote
be extremely and uncritically fond of
fidelity
loyalty, accuracy
boorish
crude, offensive, rude
hirsute
hairy, shaggy
fervid
showing earnest feeling
perspicacity
the quality of having a ready insight into things; shrewdness
lope
to move along with long strides
covetous
eagerly desirous
jibe
to gibe make fun of
blithe
cheerful casual carefree
probity
the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency
derivative
unoriginal, obtained from another source
gorge
to eat greedily or a narrow valley between hills or mountains
lament
to show or feel great sorrow
dud
a thing that fails to work properly or is otherwise unsatisfactory or worthless
transient
temporary, fleeting
petrous
like a rock, hard, stony
supplicate
make a humble petition to
fallacious
based on error
forestall
to prevent by taking action in advance, preempt
limn
to depict or describe in painting or words, to portray
forbearance
patience, willingness to wait
excoriation
severe criticism
abdication
giving up control authority
picaresque
involving clever rogues or adventurers
seminal
strongly influencing later developments
plaintive
mournful, melancholy, sorrowful
espouse
to marry, give one's support to
fragrant
sweet-smelling
harangue
a long passionate speech
fulmination
bitter protest
torment
severe pain or suffering
itinerate
to travel from place to place
sophomoric
self-assured though immature, pretentious or juvenile
perish
be destroyed, decay
glimmer
to shine faintly with a wavering light
disproof
proof to the contrary
idiosyncrasy
personal mannerism
forge
workshop for the shaping of metal to shape metal lead
multifarious
varied, greatly diversified
extralegal
outside the law
bewilder
puzzle, confuse
blatant
(of bad behavior) done openly and unashamedly.
credulous
having or showing too great a readiness to believe things
umbrage
offense or annoyance
coy
shy/modest (esp of a girl)
tenacity
firmness, persistency, determined
forbear
to politely or patiently restrain an impulse to do something; to refrain
abeyance
suspended action
hallow
to make holy, consecrate
trepidation
a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen
muffler
cloth worn round the neck
dynamo
a generator something that produces electric current
effete
infertile, worn out, no longer capable of effective action
reconcile
to settle a quarrel, to restore peace
indigence
extreme poverty
condone
approve or sanction (something), especially with reluctance
conspicuous
easily seen, remarkable
equivocate
to use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth
insurrection
rising of people to open resistance to
imminent
likely to come or happen soon
rivet
a securing metal pin
hoodwink
to trick or mislead
apotheosis
deification glorification to godliness
abate
to lessen, to subside
expiation
ending, expiring
trenchant
forceful, vigorous
conciliatory
reconciling, soothing, comforting, mollifying
enervate
to weaken, deprive of strength, lacking in energy
heed
to give notice or attention to
patron
regular customer, person who gives support
dissent
the expression or holding of opinions at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially held.
tenuous
insubstantial, flimsy, weak
reticent
reserved, untalkative, silent, taciturn
debacle
a sudden and ignominious failure
prosaic
everyday, mundane, commonplace, trite, pedestrian
fluster
to make nervous or confused
sedulous
showing dedication and diligence
salacious
obscene
palpitate
to tremble, beat rapidly and irregularly
contiguous
sharing a common border; touching
evince
to show clearly, to indicate
prolix
using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy
levity
lack of seriousness
immaculate
pure, faultless
immutable
that cannot be changed
lithe
bending, twisting
restive
refusing to move, reluctant to be controlled
desultory
aimless, haphazard, digressing at random
spurious
false, counterfeit
bequest
arrangement to give something at death
veritable
real, rightly named
derision
ridicule, mockery, deriding
peremptory
insisting on immediate attention or obedience
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