GRE Word List 03
Group 1
Alacrity | eagerness; enthusiasm; quickness |
Burgeon | grow; flourish; put forth new shoots |
Deleterious | harmful |
Euphemism | a polite phrase to cover something unpleasant |
Hypocritical | insincere |
Lethargic | tired; without energy |
Ogle | stare at; observe in an obvious manner |
Postulate | hypothesize; propose |
Robust | strong; healthy; tough |
Tractable | obedient; dutiful; polite |
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Group 2
Alchemy | medieval chemistry; attempt to change base metal into gold |
Burnish | polish |
Deliberate | to think over deeply |
Euphony | pleasant sounds |
Iconoclast | person who opposes orthodoxy |
Levity | flippancy; joking about serious matters |
Olfactory | concerned with the sense of smell |
Potable | suitable for drinking |
Rotund | round |
Tranquil | peaceful |
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Group 3
Alibi | an excuse that shows someone was not at a crime scene |
Buttress | strengthen; support |
Delineation | demarcation; explanation; definition; outlining |
Evacuate | vacate; empty; abandon |
Idiosyncrasy | a personal peculiarity; something unique to an individual |
Libertarian | someone who opposes tyranny |
Ominous | threatening |
Potent | powerful; compelling; strong |
Ruminate | think over something; ponder |
Transcribe | copy |
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Group 4
Allay | to lessen |
Byline | the line that tells you who wrote an article |
Demur | hesitate; refuse |
Exacerbate | make worse |
Ignominious | shameful |
Liniment | soothing lotion |
Omnipotent | all-powerful |
Pragmatic | practical |
Ruse | trick; stratagem |
Transgress | go astray; disobey; commit a sin |
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Group 5
Alleviate | make less severe |
Cacophony | discordant loud noises |
Denounce | condemn; speak out against |
Exasperated | frustrated; annoyed |
Ignominy | shame [ignominious (a) = shameful] |
Lithe | flexible; supple |
Omniscient | all-knowing |
Pragmatist | practical person; one who is concerned with usefulness |
Saccharin | falsely sweet |
Transient | short-lived; ephemeral |
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Group 6
Aloof | distant; detached; cold |
Cajole | coax |
Deplete | use up; lessen |
Exceptionable | very bad (something which we should object to) |
Illuminate | to light up or make clear |
Livid | very angry |
Onerous | burdensome; hard to undertake |
Preamble | introductory material |
Sacrosanct | very holy; inviolable |
Traverse | to move across |
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Group 7
Altruism | putting others first; being self-sacrificing |
Caldron | huge cooking pot |
Deplore | regret |
Exculpate | free someone from blame; pardon; acquit |
Illusory | deceptive; false; misleading |
Lobbyist | person who tries to persuade someone to support a particular cause |
Onus | burden |
Precarious | unstable; risky |
Sagacious | wise |
Trepidation | fear |
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Group 8
Amass | accumulate |
Callow | immature |
Depravity | moral corruption |
Execrable | very, very bad |
Immoderate | excessive; extreme |
Lofty | snooty; arrogant; haughty |
Opaque | does not let light through |
Precedent | a previous occurrence used as a guide |
Sage | a wise person |
Trinket | something of little value; knick-knack |
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Group 9
Ambiguity | uncertainty; vagueness |
Candid | frank; honest |
Deprecate | criticize; denounce |
Exegesis | scholarly explanation or interpretation |
Immutable | unchanging; permanent |
Longevity | long life |
Opulent | wealthy; rich; magnificent |
Precept | guiding principle |
Salacious | lecherous; erotic |
Trite | unoriginal; dull |
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Group 10
Ambiguous | unclear in meaning; can be interpreted in different ways |
Candor | frankness; openness |
Deride | ridicule; make fun of; mock |
Exemplary | outstandingly good; setting a fine example |
Impartial | unbiased; neutral |
Loquacious | talkative |
Ordain | 1. destine; 2. confer holy orders on a priest |
Precinct | district of a city |
Sallow | yellowish |
Trivial | unimportant |
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