GRE Set 1-6

abound

exist in large numbers or amounts.

amorphous

without a clearly defined shape or form.

belie

1. (of an appearance) fail to give a true impression of (something).

2. fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation).

capricious

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

cerebral

1. of the cerebrum of the brain.

2. intellectual rather than emotional or physical.

congenial

1. (of a person) pleasing or liked on account of having qualities or interests that are similar to one's own.

2. (of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to one's taste or inclination.

conspicuous

1. clearly visible.

2. attracting notice or attention.

cursory

hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.

daunting

seeming difficult to deal with in prospect; intimidating.

deify

worship or regard as a god.

didactic

in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to appear patronizing.

disseminate

spread (something, especially information) widely.

feasible

possible to do easily or conveniently.

flout

openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention)

homogeneous

of the same kind; alike.

humdrum

lacking excitement or variety; boringly monotonous.

insipid

1. lacking flavor; weak or tasteless.

2. lacking vigor or interest.

loquacious

tending to talk a great deal; talkative.

misanthropic

having or showing a dislike of other people; unsociable.

misnomer

a wrong or inaccurate name or designation.

negligent

failing to take proper care over something.

obsequious

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.

placate

make (someone) less angry or hostile.

proclivity

a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition towards a particular thing.

puerile

childishly silly and immature.

quixotic

extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.

spendthrift

a person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible way.

taciturn

(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.

wary

feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.

austere

1. Strict in manner

2. Lack of comforts or luxuries

adulterate

render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance.

advocate

a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.

aggrandize

increase the power, status, or wealth of.

alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness.

ambivalent

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

ameliorate

make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.

amenable

open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled.

anachronistic

belonging to a period other than that being portrayed.

audacious

1. showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.
2. showing an impudent lack of respect.

avaricious

having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

banal

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.

benign

1. gentle and kind.
2. not harmful to the environment.

brazen

bold and without shame.

calumny

the making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation; slander.

candid

truthful and straightforward; frank.

castigate

reprimand (someone) severely.

caustic

1. sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way.
2. able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action.

construe

interpret (a word or action) in a particular way.

contrite

feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong.

convoluted

1. (especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow.
2. intricately folded, twisted, or coiled.

covet

yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another).

craven

contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly.

decorum

behaviour in keeping with good taste and propriety.

deft

neatly skilful and quick in one's movements.

demur

raise objections or show reluctance.

derivative

1. something which is based on another source.
2. imitative of the work of another artist, writer, etc., and usually disapproved of for that reason.

desiccate

remove the moisture from (something); cause to become completely dry.

diatribe

a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.

incredulous

(of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something.

ingenuous

(of a person or action) innocent and unsuspecting.

abate

(of something unpleasant or severe) become less intense or widespread.

abjure

solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim).

anomalous

deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.

antipathy

a deep-seated feeling of aversion.

arcane

understood by few; mysterious or secret.

arduous

involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.

artless

without effort or pretentiousness; natural and simple.

ascetic

characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.

assuage

make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense.

betray

1. unintentionally reveal; be evidence of.
2. expose (one's country, a group, or a person) to danger by treacherously giving information to an enemy.

bucolic

relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.

burgeon

begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish.

cacophonous

involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

canonize

1. place in or regard as belonging to a canon of literary or artistic works.
2. (in the Roman Catholic Church) officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint.

censure

express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal statement.

chicanery

the use of deception or subterfuge to achieve one's purpose.

coalesce

come together to form one mass or whole.

cogent

(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.

compelling

evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way.

contend

1. compete with others in a struggle to achieve (something).
2. assert something as a position in an argument.

copious

abundant in supply or quantity.

cosmopolitan

1. including people from many different countries.
2. (of a plant or animal) found all over the world.

deference

polite submission and respect.

desultory

lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.

diffident

modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.

dilatory

1. slow to act.
2. intended to cause delay.

equivocate

use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself.

polarize

divide or cause to divide into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs.

prodigal

1. spending money or using resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.
2. having or giving something on a lavish scale.

verbose

using or expressed in more words than are needed.

abstain

1. restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something.
2. formally decline to vote either for or against a proposal or motion.

approbation

approval or praise.

cherish

1. protect and care for (someone) lovingly.
2. keep (a hope or ambition) in one's mind.

corroborate

confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding).

disparate

essentially different in kind; not able to be compared.

emulate

match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation.

enervate

make (someone) feel drained of energy or vitality.

ephemeral

lasting for a very short time.

fervid

intensely enthusiastic or passionate, especially to an excessive degree.

garrulous

excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.