GRE Word List 02
Group 1
| Acrid | sharp; pungent (used of smells and tastes) |
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| Boorish | ill-mannered |
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| Cynical | believing that people act only out of selfish motives |
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| Epistle | a letter (form of communication) |
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| Heresy | against orthodox opinion |
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| Lance | spear; spike; javelin |
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| Obscure | difficult to understand; partially hidden |
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| Poignant | deeply moving; strongly affecting the emotions |
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| Respite | a break; intermission |
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| Terse | concise; to the point |
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Group 2
| Acrophobia | fear of heights |
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| Bourgeois | middle class |
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| Debility | weakness; incapacity |
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| Epistolary | concerned with letters; through correspondence |
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| Hiatus | interruption; pause |
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| Languid | tired; slow |
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| Obscured | hidden; covered; buried |
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| Poised | calm; collected; self-possessed |
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| Resplendent | shining; glowing |
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| Therapeutic | medicinal; curative |
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Group 3
| Acuity | sharpness (mental or visual) |
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| Braggart | someone who boasts |
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| Debunking | exposing false claims or myths |
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| Epitomized | typified; characterized; personified |
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| Hidebound | rigid in opinions |
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| Languish | decay; fade away; get weaker |
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| Obsequious | servile; submissive |
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| Polemical | causing debate or argument |
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| Restorative | a tonic |
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| Thwart | prevent; frustrate |
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Group 4
| Adamant | forceful; inflexible |
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| Brawny | muscular |
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| Decathlon | an athletic competition with ten events |
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| Equivocate | speak ambiguously; avoid telling the truth |
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| Hieroglyphics | 1. picture writing; 2. writing which is difficult to read or enigmatic |
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| Larceny | theft; robbery; stealing |
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| Obsession | a dominating concern |
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| Ponderous | weighty; slow and heavy |
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| Retention | preservation; withholding |
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| Timorous | cowardly; fearful |
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Group 5
| Adroit | skilful / skillful |
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| Brevity | being brief |
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| Decorum | dignified, correct behavior [decorous (a)] |
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| Err | make a mistake |
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| Hinder | obstruct |
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| Largess | generosity |
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| Obsolete | no longer valid |
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| Pontificate | speak pompously or dogmatically |
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| Reticent | restrained; holding something back; uncommunicative |
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| Tirade | stream of verbal abuse |
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Group 6
| Adulation | strong admiration; worship |
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| Bristle | to show irritation |
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| Decoy | lure; trap; trick |
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| Erratic | wandering; irregular |
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| Histrionic | theatrical; exaggerated |
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| Laud | praise |
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| Obstreperous | noisy and boisterous |
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| Portend | foretell |
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| Retraction | withdrawal; cancellation of a statement |
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| Titter | giggle quietly |
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Group 7
| Adversity | hardship |
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| Broach | start to discuss; approach |
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| Deference | respect |
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| Esoteric | obscure and difficult to understand |
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| Hoary | old |
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| Lavish | on a grand scale; wasteful |
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| Obtuse | mentally dull |
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| Portent | a warning sign; omen |
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| Revere | worship |
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| Tome | large book |
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Group 8
| Advocate | support |
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| Brusque | blunt; abrupt |
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| Defoliate | cause leaves to fall off |
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| Espouse | promote; take up; support |
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| Hone | sharpen; increase; whet |
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| Lax | careless; not strict |
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| Obviate | avoid; make unnecessary |
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| Poseur | someone who puts on an act |
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| Riddled | full of (usually full of holes) |
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| Torpid | inactive; lazy; stagnant |
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Group 9
| Aesthetic | concerning art or beauty |
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| Bulwark | fortification; barricade; wall |
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| Defunct | no longer in existence |
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| Etymology | the study of word origins |
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| Hyperbole | grossly exaggerated speech |
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| Legend | 1. key to map; 2. myth or story |
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| Odious | hateful |
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| Posterity | future generations |
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| Rife | common |
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| Torpor | dormancy; sluggishness; inactivity |
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Group 10
| Affable | friendly; social; easygoing |
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| Bureaucracy | officialdom |
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| Degradation | deprivation; poverty; debasement |
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| Eulogy | praise |
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| Hypochondriac | a person obsessed with health; having imaginary illnesses |
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| Legion | in large numbers |
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| Officious | domineering; intrusive; meddlesome |
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| Posthumous | after death |
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| Rigor | thoroughness |
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| Totter | walk unsteadily |
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