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GRE HIGH FREQUENCY WORD LIST

WORD MEANING
Part of Speech
A
abate subside; decrease, lessen
verb
aberrant abnormal or deviant
noun
abeyance suspended action
noun
abscond depart secretly and hide
verb
admonish warn; reprove
verb
adulterate make impure by mixing with baser substances
verb
aesthetic artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciation of the beautif
ul; adjective
alacrity cheerful promptness
noun
alleviate relieve
verb
aloof apart; reserved
adjective
altruistic unselfishly generous, concerned for others
adjective
amalgamate combine, unite in one body
verb
ambidextrous capable of using either hand with equal ease
adjective
ambiguous unclear or doubtful in meaning
adjective
ambivalence the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attit
udes; noun
ameliorate improve
verb
anachronism an error involving time in a story
noun
analogous comparable
adjective
anarchist person who rebels against the established order
noun
anarchy absence of governing body, state of disorder
noun
animosity active enmity; hatred
noun
anomalous abnormal; irregular
antagonistic hostile; opposed; actively resisting
adjective
antipathy aversion; dislike
antiquated old-fashioned; obsolete
adjective
antithesis contrast; direct opposite of or to
noun
apathy lack of caring; indifference
noun
appease pacify; soothe
verb
apprehension fear
noun
apprise inform
verb
approbation approval
noun
appropriate acquire; take possession of for one's own use
verb
arbitrary unreasonable or capricious; imperious; tyrannical; despotic
adjective
arduous hard; strenuous
adjective
artless without guile; open and honest
adjective
ascetic practicing self denial; austere
adjective
assiduous diligent.
adjective
assuage ease or lessen(pain);soothe(anger);satisfy(hunger)
verb
astute wise; shrewd
adjective
atrophy wasting away
noun
attenuate make thin; weaken
verb
audacious daring; bold
adjective
austere strict; stern
adjective
austerity sternness; severity; lack of luxuries
noun
authoritarian favoring or exercising total control; non-democratic
adjective
autonomous self-governing
adjective
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WORD MEANING Pa
rt of Speech
B
banal hackneyed; commonplace; trite
adjective
belie contradict; give a false impression
verb
benevolent generous; charitable
adj.
benign kindly; favorable; not malignant
adj.
benignity state of being kind, benign, gracious
noun
bequeath leave to someone by a will; hand down
verb
blasphemy cursing; irreverence; sacrilege
noun
blighted suffering for a disease; destroyed
adj.
blithe gay; joyous
adj.
bolster support; prop up
verb
bombastic pompous; using inflated language
adjective
boorish rude; clownish
adjective
burgeon grow forth; send out buds
verb
burnish make shiny by rubbing; polish
verb
buttress support; prop up
verb
C
cacophony discord
noun
cajole coax; wheedle
verb
candor frankness
noun
capricious unpredictable; fickle; incalculable
adjective
censorious critical
adjective
censure blame; criticize
verb
chicanery trickery
noun
clemency disposition to be lenient; mildness, as of the weather
noun
coagulate thicken; congeal; clot
verb
coda concluding section of a musical or literary composition
noun
coercion use of force to get someone's compliance
noun
cogent convincing
adjective
commensurate equal in extent
adj
compendium brief; comprehensive summary
verb
complaisant tryng to please; obliging
adj
compliant yielding; confirming to requirements
adj
conciliatory reconciling; soothing.
adj
condone overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
verb
confound confuse; puzzle
verb
connoisseur person competent to act as a judge of art; lover of art.
noun
contention claim; thesis
noun
contend struggle; compete; assert earnestly
verb
contentious quarrelsome
adjective
contrite penitent
adjective
conundrum riddle
noun
convoluted coiled around
adjective
cordial gracious; heartfelt
adjective
corroborate confirm
verb
craven cowardly
adjective
credulity belief on slight evidence
noun
criterion standard used in judging
noun
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WORD MEANING Par
t of Speech
D
daunt intimidate
verb
debilitate weaken; enfeeble
verb
deference courteous regard for another's wish
noun
delineate portray
noun
denigrate blacken
verb
denounce condemn; criticize
verb
deplore regret; disapprove of
verb
depravity corruption; wickedness
noun
depreciate express disapproval of; protest against; belittle
verb
deride scoff at
verb
derivative unoriginal; derived from another source
adjective
derogatory expressing a low opinion
adjective
desiccate dry up
verb
despondent depressed; gloomy
adjective
despot tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler
noun
desultory aimless; jumping around
adjective
detached emotionally removed; calm and objective; indifferent
adjective
deterrent something that discourages; hindrance
noun
devious going astray; erratic; cunning
adjective
diatribe bitter scolding; invective
noun
dichotomy branching into two parts
noun
didactic teaching; instructional
adjective
diffidence shyness
noun
digression wandering away from the subject
noun
dilemma problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives
noun
diligence steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
noun
diminution lessening; reduction in size
noun
dirge lament with music
noun
disabuse correct a false impression; undeceive
verb
discernible distinguishable; perceivable
adjective
discerning mentally quick and observant; having insight
adjective
discordant inharmonious; conflicting
adjective
discretion prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances
noun
discursive digressing; rambling
adjective
disdain treat with scorn or contempt
verb
disinclination unwillingness
noun
disingenuous not naive; sophisticated
adjective
disparage belittle
verb
disparity difference; condition of inequality
noun
dispassionate calm; impartial
adjective
disputatious argumentative; fond of argument
adjective
disseminate scatter (like seeds)
verb
dissent disagree
verb
dissolute loose in morals
adjective
dissonance discord
noun
distend expand; swell out
verb
diverge vary; go in different directions from the same point
verb
divergent differing; deviating
adjective
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WORD MEANING Pa
rt of Speech
divest strip; deprive
verb
docket program as for trial; book where such entries are made
noun
document provide written evidence
verb
dogmatic positive; arbitrary
adjective
domicile home
noun
dormant sleeping; lethargic; torpid
adjective
dubious doubtful
adjective
duplicity double dealing; hypocrisy
noun
dupe someone who is easily fooled
noun
E
ebullient showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm
adjective
eccentric odd; whimsical; irregular
adjective
ecclesiastic pertaining to the church
adjective
eclectic selective in choosing from a variety of sources
adjective
effervescent exuberant; bubbly and excited
adjective
efficacy power to produce desired effect
noun
effigy dummy
noun
effrontery shameless boldness
noun
elated overjoyed; in high spirits
adjective
elegiacal like in elegy; mournful
adjective
elicit draw out by discussion
verb
eloquence expressiveness; persuasive speech
noun
elusive evasive; baffling; hard to gasp
adjective
emaciated thin and wasted
adjective
embellish adorn
verb
embryonic undeveloped; rudimentary
adjective
empirical based on experience
adjective
emulate rival; imitate
verb
endemic prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area
or country; adjective
endorse approve; support
verb
enervate weaken
verb
enfranchise to admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to v
ote) verb
engender cause; produce
verb
enhance advance; improve
verb
enigma puzzle
noun
enmity ill will; hatred noun
enumerate list; mention one by one
verb
enunciate speak distinctly
verb
ephemeral short-lived; fleeting
adjective
epic long heroic poem or similar work of art
noun
equanimity calmness of temperament
noun
equilibrium balance
noun
equivocal doubtful; ambiguous
adjective
equivocate lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth
verb
erratic odd; unpredictable
adjective
erroneous mistaken; wrong
adjective
erudite learned; scholarly
adjective
esoteric known only to a chosen few
adjective
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WORD MEANING
Part of Speech
estranged separated; alienated
adjective
eulogy praise
noun
euphemism mild expression in place of an unpleasant one
noun
exacerbate worsen; embitter
verb
exculpate clear from blame
verb
execute put into effect; carry out
verb
exemplary serving as a model; outstanding
adjective
exemplify serve as an example of; embody
verb
exhaustive thorough; comprehensive
adjective
exigency urgent situation
noun
exonerate acquit; exculpate
verb
expedite hasten
verb
explicit definite; open
adjective
extol praise; glorify
verb
extraneous not essential; external
adjective
extricate free; disentangle
verb
extrinsic not inherent; foreign
adjective
exuberance abundance; effusiveness; lavishness
noun
F
facetious humorous; jocular
adjective
facile easy; expert
adjective
facilitate make less difficult
verb
fallacious misleading
adjective
fanaticism excessive zeal
noun
fastidious difficult to please; squeamish
adjective
fatuous foolish; inane
adjective
fawning courting behavior by cringing and flattering
adjective
felicitous apt; suitably expressed; well chosen
adjective
fervor glowing ardor
noun
flagrant conspicuously wicked
adjective
fledgling inexperienced
adjective
flinch hesitate; shrink
verb
flout reject; mock
verb
foment stir up; instigate
verb
foresight ability to foresee future happenings; prudence
noun
forestall prevent by taking action in advance
verb
frugality thrift; economy
noun
furtive stealthy; sneaky
adjective
futile ineffective; fruitless
adjective
G
gainsay deny
verb
garrulity talkativeness
noun
garrulous loquacious; wordy
adjective
glutton someone who eats too much
noun
goad urge on
verb
gouge tear out
verb
grandiloquent pompous; bombastic; using high-sounded language
adjective
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WORD MEANING
Part of Speech
gravity seriousness
noun
gregarious sociable
adjective
grievance cause of complaint
noun
guile deceit; duplicity
noun
guileless without deceit
adjective
gullible easily deceived
adjective
gusto enjoyment; enthusiasm
noun
gusty windy
adjective
H
hackneyed commonplace; trite
adjective
hamper obstruct
verb
haphazard random; by chance
adjective
harangue noisy speech
noun
haughtiness pride; arrogance
noun
hedonism belief that pleasure is the sole aim of life
noun
heresy opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepte
d religion noun
homogeneous of the same kind
adjective
hyperbole exaggeration; overstatement
noun
hypercritical excessively exacting
adjective
hypocritical pertaining to be virtuous; deceiving
adjective
hypothetical based on assumptions or hypothesis
adjective
I
iconoclastic attacking cherished traditions
adjective
idolatry worship of idols; excessive admiration
noun
immaculate pure; spotless
adjective
immutable unchangeable
adjective
impair worsen; diminish in value
verb
impassive without feeling; not affected by pain
adjective
impede hinder; block; delay
verb
impermeable impervious; not permitting passage through its substance
adjective
impertinent insolent
adjective
imperturbable calm; placid
adjective
impetuous violent; hasty; rash
adjective
impetus moving force
noun
implacable incapable of being pacified
adjective
implement put into effect; supply with tools
verb
implication that is hinted at or suggested
noun
implicit understood but not stated
adjective
inadvertently carelessly; unintentionally
adjective
inane silly; senseless
adjective
inaugurate start; initiate; install at office
verb
incessant uninterrupted
adjective
inchoate recently begun; rudimentary; elementary
adjective
incidental not essential; minor
adjective
incisive cutting; sharp
adjective
incite arouse to action
verb
incognito with identity concealed; using an assumed name
adjective
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WORD MEANING P
art of Speech
incoherent unintelligible; muddled; illogical
adjective
incongruous not fitting; absurd
adjective
inconsequential of trifling significance
adjective
incontrovertible indisputable
adjective
incorrigible uncorrectable
adjective
incredulity tendency to disbelief
noun
incredulous withholding belief; skeptical
adjective
indict charge
verb
indifferent unmoved; lacking concern
adjective
indigenous native
adjective
indigent poor
adjective
indiscriminate choosing at random; confused
adjective
indolent lazy
adjective
induce persuade; bring about
verb
indulgent humoring; yielding; lenient
adjective
inert inactive; lacking power to move
adjective
infamous notoriously bad
adjective
infer deduce; conclude
verb
infiltrate pass into or through; penetrate (an organization) sneakily
verb
ingenious clever
adjective
ingenious nave; young; unsophisticated
adjective
inherent firmly established by nature or habit
adjective
innate inborn
adjective
innocuous harmless
adjective
innovation change; introduction of something new
noun
insinuate hint; imply
verb
insipid tasteless; dull
adjective
insolvent bankrupt; lacking money to pay
adjective
instigate urge; start; provoke
verb
insularity narrow-mindedness; isolation
noun
intangible not material; not able to be perceived by touch
adjective
integrity wholeness; purify; uprightness
noun
interminable endless
adjective
intermittent periodic; on and off
adjective
intractable unruly; refractory
adjective
intransigent refusing any compromise; stubborn
adjective
intricate complex; knotty; tangled
adjective
introspective locking within oneself
adjective
introvert one who is introspective; inclined to think more about oneself
noun
inundate overflow; flood
verb
inured accustomed; hardened
adjective
invective abuse
noun
irascible irritable; easily angered
adjective
ironic resulting in unexpected and contrary manner
adjective
irrational illogical; lacking reason; insane
adjective
irresolute uncertain how to act; weak
adjective
irreverence lack of proper aspect
noun
itinerant wandering; traveling
adjective
itinerary plan of a trip noun
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WORD MEANING
Part of Speech
J K
judicious sound in judgment; wise
adjective
kindle start a fire; inspire
verb
L
laconic brief and to the point
adjective
lament grieve; express sorrow
verb
languish lose animation; lose strength
verb
lassitude languor; weariness
noun
laud praise
verb
lavish liberal; wasteful
adjective
legacy gift made by a will
noun
lethargic drowsy; dull
adjective
levity lightness
noun
lexicographer compiler of a dictionary
noun
lexicon dictionary
noun
listless lacking in spirit or energy
adjective
lofty very high
adjective
loquacious talkative
adjective
lucid easily understood
adjective
lucrative profitable
adjective
M
magnanimous generous
adjective
magniloquent boastful; pompous
adjective
malign speak evil of; defame
verb
malingerer one who feigns illness to escape duty
noun
malleable capable of being shaped by pounding
adjective
marred damaged; disfigured
adjective
maverick rebel; nonconformist
noun
mendacious lying; false
adjective
metamorphosis change of form
noun
metaphor implied comparison
noun
methodological systematic
adjective
meticulous excessively careful
adjective
misconstrue interpret incorrectly; misjudge
verb
miserly stingy; mean
adjective
mitigate appease
verb
mollify soothe
verb
moribund at the point of death
adjective
morose ill-humored; sullen
adjective
mundane worldly as opposed to spiritual
adjective
N
niggle spend too much time on minor points; carp
verb
nihilism denial of traditional values; absolute skepticism
noun
notoriety disrepute; ill fame
noun
novelty something new; newness
noun
nullify to make invalid
noun
nurture bring up; feed; educate
verb
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WORD MEANING Par
t of Speech
O
obdurate stubborn adj
ective
obliterate destroy completely ver
b
oblivion forgetfulness nou
n
obnoxious offensive adj
ective
obscure dark; vague; unclear adj
ective
obsequious slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic adj
ective
obstinate stubborn adj
ective
obviate make unnecessary; get rid of ver
b
occident the West nou
n
occlude shut; close ver
b
officious meddlesome; excessively trying to please adj
ective
ominous threatening adj
ective
onerous burdensome adj
ective
opportunist individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking adv
antage of the
circumstances noun
opprobrium infamy; vilification nou
n
optometrist one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects nou
n
ordinance decree nou
n
ostentatious showy; pretentious adj
ective
P
pacifist one opposed to force; antimilitarist nou
n
paragon model of reflection nou
n
parody humorous imitation; travesty nou
n
partisan one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party nou
n
pathological pertaining to disease adj
ective
paucity scarcity nou
n
pedantic showing off learning; bookish adj
ective
penchant strong inclination; liking nou
n
penury extreme poverty nou
n
perennial something that is continuing or recent nou
n
perfidious basely false adj
ective
perfunctory superficial; not thorough adj
ective
perturbation agitation nou
n
pervasive spread throughout; permeating adj
ective
petrify turn to stone ver
b
philander make love lightly; flirt ver
b
phlegmatic calm; not easily disturbed adj
ective
piety religious devotion; godliness nou
n
placate pacify; conciliate ver
b
plagiarize steal another's ideas and pass them off as one's own ver
b
platitude trite remark; commonplace statement nou
n
plethora excess; overabundance nou
n
plummet fall sharply ver
b
poignancy quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion nou
n
potent powerful; persuasive; greatly influential adj
ective
pragmatic practical; concerned with practical values adj
ective
preamble introductory statement nou
n
precarious uncertain; risky adj
ective
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WORD MEANING P
art of Speech
precipitate headlong; rash a
djective
preclude make impossible; eliminate v
erb
precocious advanced in development a
djective
precursor forerunner n
oun
presumptuous arrogant; taking liberties a
dj
prevaricate lie v
erb
pristine characteristic of earlier times, primitive, unspoiled
adj
probity uprightness; incorruptibility n
oun
prodigal wasteful; reckless with money a
dj
profound deep; not superficial; complete a
dj
prohibitive inclined to prevent or forbid (use, purchase) a
dj
proliferate grow rapidly; spread; multiply v
erb
propensity natural inclination n
oun
propitiate appease v
erb
propriety fitness; correct conduct n
oun
proscribe ostracize; banish; outlaw v
erb
protract prolong v
erb
provoke stir to anger; cause retaliation v
erb
prudent cautious; careful a
djective
pungent stinging; caustic a
djective
Q
qualified limited; restricted a
djective
quandary dilemma n
oun
quibble equivocate; play on words; minor objection or complaint
verb
quiescent at rest; dormant; temporarily inactive a
djective
R
rarefied made less dense (of gas) a
dj
ratify approve formally; verify v
erb
rebuff snub; beat back v
erb
rebuttal refutation; response with contrary evidence n
oun
recalcitrant obstinately stubborn a
djective
recant repudiate; withdraw previous statement v
erb
recluse hermit; loner n
oun
recondite abstruse; profound; secret a
djective
redundant superfluous; excessively wordy; repetitious a
djective
refractory stubborn; unmanageable a
djective
refute disprove v
erb
relegate banish; consign to inferior position v
erb
relevancy pertinence; reference to the case in hand n
oun
remorse guilt; self-reproach n
oun
renounce abandon; discontinue; disown; repudiate v
erb
reprimand reprove severely v
erb
reproach blame; censure n
oun
reprobate person hardened in sin; devoid of a sense of decency n
oun
reprove censure; rebuke v
erb
repudiate disown; disavow v
erb
rescind cancel v
erb
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WORD MEANING
Part of Speech
reserve self-control; formal but distant manner
noun
resigned unresisting; patiently submissive
adjective
resolve determination
noun
reticence reserve; uncommunicativeness; inclination to be silent
noun
retract withdraw; take back
verb
retrograde go backwards; degenerate, instead of advancing
verb
retrospective looking back on the past
adjective
reverent respectful; worshipful
adjective
S
sagacious keen; shrewd; having insight
adjective
salubrious healthful
adjective
sanction approve; ratify
verb
satiate surfeit; satisfy fully
verb
satirical mocking
adjective
saturate soak
verb
savor enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, equality
verb
savory tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable
adjective
scrupulous conscientious; extremely thorough
adjective
scrutinize examine closely and critically
verb
seclusion isolation; solitude
noun
secrete hide away; produce and release a substance into an organism
verb
sectarian relating to a religious fraction or subgroup; narrow-minded; lim
ited adjective
servile slavish; cringing
adjective
shard fragment, generally of pottery
noun
skeptic doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the
evidence. noun
supporting a point of view
noun
solemnity seriousness; gravity
noun
solicit request earnestly; seek
verb
solicitous worried; concerned
adjective
somber gloomy; depressing
adjective
soporific sleep producer; sleep causing
adjective
specious seemingly reasonable but incorrect
adjective
spendthrift someone who wastes money
noun
sporadic occurring irregularly
adjective
squander waste
verb
stagnant motionless; stale; dull
adjective
stanza division of a poem
noun
static unchanging; lacking development
adjective
steadfast loyal
adjective
stigma token of disgrace; brand
noun
stint supply; allotted demand; assigned portion of work
noun
stipulate make express conditions; specify
verb
stoic person who is indifferent to pleasure or pain
noun
stolid dull; impassive
adjective
striated marked with parallel bands; grooved
adjective
strut pompous walk
noun
strut supporting bar
noun
stupefy make numb; stun; amaze
verb
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WORD MEANING
Part of Speech
submissive yielding; timid
adjective
subtlety nicety; cunning; guile; delicacy
noun
succinct brief; terse; compact
adjective
superfluous excessive; overabundant; unnecessary
adjective
supersede cause to be set aside; replace
verb
supposition hypothesis; the act of supposing
noun
surpass exceed
verb
surreptitious secret
adjective
surrogate substitute
noun
sustain experience; support; nourish
verb
sycophant servile flatterer
noun
T
tacit understood; not put into words
adjective
taciturn habitually silent; talking little
adjective
tangential peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing
adjective
tangible able to be touched; real; palpable
adjective
tedious boring; tiring
adjective
tentative provisional; experimental
adjective
tenuous thin; rare; slim
adjective
terse concise; abrupt; pithy
adjective
tirade extended scolding; denunciation
noun
torpid dormant; dull; lethargic
adjective
torpor lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy
noun
tortuous winding; full of curves
adjective
tractable docile
adjective
transgression violation of law; sin
noun
trepidation fear; trembling agitation
noun
trite hackneyed; commonplace
adjective
trivia trifles; unimportant matters
noun
V
Vacillate waver; fluctuate
verb
venerate revere
verb
veracious truthful
adjective
verbose wordy
adjective
viable practical or workable; capable of maintaining life
adjective
vilify slander
verb
virtuoso highly skilled artist
noun
virulent extremely poisonous
adjective
vituperative abusive; scolding
adjective
vogue popular fashion
noun
volatile evaporating rapidly; lighthearted; mercurial
adjective
W
warrant justify; authorize
verb
warranty guarantee; assurance by seller
noun
wary very cautious
adjective
welt mark from a beating or whipping
noun
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WORD MEANING Part
of Speech
whimsical capricious; fanciful; quaint adjec
tive
Z
zealot fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal noun