Top 52 GRE Words Definitions and Examples The Top 52 Most Common GRE Words

Top 52 GRE Words Definitions and Examples The Top 52 Most Common GRE Words

1. anomaly – noun – something that is unusual or unexpected 
2. • The student’s poor performance on the latest test was an anomaly since she had previously earned excellent grades.
3. equivocal – adj. – not easily understood or explained
   • Politicians have been known to provide equivocal answers to reporters’ questions.
4. lucid – adj. – very clear and easy to understand
   • The lecture was lucid and straightforward, allowing the students to fully grasp the concepts presented.
5. precipitate – verb – to cause (something) to happen quickly or suddenly
   • Unforeseen costs can precipitate a budget crisis.
6. assuage – verb – to make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense
   • A massage can assuage the soreness in your muscles.
7. erudite – adj. – having or showing great knowledge
   • High school students often struggle with novels that are more erudite than they are entertaining.
8. opaque – adj. –  not able to be seen through; not easily understood
   • Medical jargon includes many opaque terms like macrosomic, which describes a newborn who weighs more than 4,000 grams.
9. prodigal – adj. – wastefully extravagant
   • The prodigal prince bought lavish gifts and planned expensive events.
10. enigma – noun – a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand
    • Scientists continue to research cancer to solve the enigma of its primary cause, which will hopefully lead to a cure.
11. fervid – adj. – intensely enthusiastic or passionate
    • The child showed a fervid fascination for superheroes, pouring over comic books for hours.
12. placate – verb – to make (someone) less angry or hostile
    • A parent may decide to placate a baby with a pacifier.
13. zeal – noun – a strong feel of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something
    • The great emperor’s crusading zeal led him to conquer many lands.
14. abstain – verb – to restrain oneself for doing or enjoying something
    • Doctors encourage their patients to abstain from smoking cigarettes.
15. audacious – adj. – a willingness to take bold risks / adj. –  showing a lack of respect
    • The new CEO pursued audacious initiatives to save the company from bankruptcy. / The student’s audacious remark earned her a seat in afternoon detention.
16. desiccate – verb – remove the moisture from (something)
    • The heat and energy from the sun can desiccate even the most hearty plants.
17. gullible – adj. – easily persuaded to believe something
    • The gullible little boy gave his older sister all of his allowance because she told him she would buy a pony for him.
18. laudable – adj. – deserving praise and commendation
    • Providing affordable healthcare for all citizens is a laudable goal.
19. pedant – noun – a person who makes an excessive display of learning
    • Professor Blackwell, a well-known pedant, required his pre-med students to speak in Latin throughout the entire semester.
20. vacillate – verb – to waver between different opinions or actions
    • Undergraduate students often vacillate among various majors before deciding which degree to pursue.
21. adulterate – verb – to make (something) impure or weaker by adding something of inferior quality
    • Many chefs use fresh produce and refuse to adulterate their dishes with canned ingredients.
22. capricious – adj. – given to sudden changes of mood or behavior
    • The capricious supervisor would hand out raises one day and fire his entire staff the next.
23. engender – verb – to produce, cause, or give rise to (something)
    • Political debates can engender controversy regarding the subjects discussed.
24. homogenous – adj. – of the same or similar kind
    • There are very few truly homogenous cultures since social diversity is increasingly widespread.
25. loquacious – adj. – tending to talk a great deal
    • The loquacious professor was known for his five-hour lectures.
26. pragmatic – adj. – dealing with the problems that exist in a reasonable and logical way instead of depending on theories
    • A pragmatic approach to legislation can be difficult given the complexities of politics.
27. volatile – adj. – likely to change rapidly and unpredictably
    • It is possible for a country’s political climate to remain volatile for decades.
28. apathy – noun – lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
    • Political parties try to engage young voters who are more prone to apathy than older citizens.
29. corroborate – verb – to confirm or make more certain
    • The scientist was able to corroborate his hypothesis with data gathered from multiple sources.
30. ephemeral – adj. – lasting for a very short time
    • An ephemeral moment of victory may last mere seconds, but it can remain as a triumphant memory for decades.
31. laconic – adj. – using few words
    • The student’s laconic response suggested  that she did not know very much about the topic the professor was discussing.
32. mitigate – verb – make less severe, serious, or painful
    • We want to mitigate students’ GRE stress by offering helpful study tools.
33. propriety – noun – the state or quality of being correct or proper
    • The students were instructed to behave with the utmost propriety while on their class field trip.
34. advocate – verb – publicly recommend or support
    • The governor chose to advocate for a higher minimum wage rather than a tax incentive.
35. cacophony – noun – a harsh, unpleasant mixture of sounds
    • The cacophony of the middle school band warming up was nearly unbearable for the audience.
36. enervate – verb – cause (someone or something) to feel drained of energy; weaken
    • The boxer used a swift left uppercut to the jaw to enervate his opponent.
37. ingenuous – adj. – innocent and unsuspecting
    • The scam artist preyed on ingenuous nursing home residents.
38. misanthrope – noun – a person who dislikes humankind
    • The neighborhood misanthrope surrounded his yard with barbed wire to keep people away.
39. paradox – noun – a statement that contradicts itself but might be true
    • The fact that the retired teacher claimed to hate all pets but adopted seven cats is an intriguing paradox.
40. venerate – verb – regard with great respect
    • To venerate the fire chief’s forty years of service, the department held a special banquet.
41. antipathy – noun – a strong feeling of dislike
    • The students voiced their antipathy for homework very loudly.
42. deride – verb – to express contempt for; ridicule
    • The unreasonable supervise was known to deride his employees on a daily basis.
43. eulogy – noun – a speech that praises someone, typically some who has recently died
    • The rabbi’s eulogy was both heartfelt and inspiring.
44. lethargic – adj. – lacking energy
    • It’s not uncommon to feel lethargic for weeks or even months after major surgery.
45. obdurate – adj. – stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion
    • The obdurate three-year-old refused to eat any vegetables, no matter how they were prepared.
46. philanthropic – adj. – seeking to promote the welfare of others
    • The students were grateful to receive financial support from philanthropic organizations that promote education.
47. waver – verb – to go back and forth between choices or opinions
    • Some citizens vote solely along party lines and never waver in their political decisions.
48. bolster – verb – to support or strengthen
    • The prosecutor worked to find evidence that would bolster her case against the defendant.
49. dissonance – noun – a lack of harmony or agreement
    • The school board’s meeting lasted for hours due to the length debate fueled by dissonance among opinions.
50. garrulous – adj. – excessively talkative
    • The garrulous hair stylist talked to each customer for hours at a time.
51. malleable – adj. – easily influenced; pliable
    • Children’s moods are often malleable since children are greatly affected by their surroundings.
52. ostentation – noun – excessive display of wealth
    • Owning a mansion doesn’t imply ostentation, but traveling exclusively by private jet certainly can.
53. prevaricate – verb – avoid telling the truth by not directly answering a question
    • During the trial, the lead witness was willing to prevaricate in order to protect his friend.