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GRE Selected - Core 2

(275 words)
WordPOSDefinition
misanthropic
adj.
Having a dislike of humankind
debilitating
adj.
Causing weakness or impairment
obeisance
noun
A gesture of respect or submission
perilous
adj.
Full of danger or risk
pervasive
adj.
Spreading widely throughout an area or group
predilection
noun
A strong liking or preference for something
rapacious
adj.
Aggressively greedy
satirical
adj.
Using humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or mock
sham
noun
Something that is not what it appears to be; a fraud or hoax.
sluggish
adj.
lacking energy or slow to move or react
animosity
noun
Strong hostility or opposition
barrage
noun
A concentrated artillery bombardment over a wide area
decipher
verb
To interpret or make sense of something difficult to understand
delusion
noun
A false belief or opinion
dispense
verb
To distribute or provide to others
fortuitous
adj.
Happening by chance, often in a positive way
meritorious
adj.
Deserving praise or reward
mutiny
noun
Rebellion against authority, especially by sailors or soldiers
resilient
adj.
Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions
supple
adj.
Flexible and able to bend easily without breaking
valor
noun
Courage or bravery in dangerous situations
antipathy
noun
A strong feeling of dislike
assuage
verb
To make an unpleasant feeling less intense
bucolic
adj.
Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life
cacophonous
adj.
Having a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
chicanery
noun
Use of trickery to achieve a purpose
copious
adj.
Abundant in quantity or supply
desultory
adj.
Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm
dilatory
adj.
Tending to delay or procrastinate
affinity
noun
A natural liking or attraction to something or someone
altruistic
adj.
Showing a selfless concern for others' well-being
baroque
adj.
Highly detailed and elaborate
compromise
noun
An agreement where each side makes concessions
documentary
noun
A non-fiction film or television program presenting facts about a subject
exhilarating
adj.
Causing strong feelings of excitement and happiness
metaphorical
adj.
Describing something as symbolic rather than literal
mimic
verb
To imitate someone or something, often to entertain or ridicule
numinous
adj.
Having a mysterious, spiritual quality
rational
adj.
Based on reason or logic
superficial
adj.
Concerned only with the surface or appearance
acrimonious
adj.
Angry and bitter
canny
adj.
Having shrewdness and good judgment, especially in money or business matters
distressed
adj.
Feeling or showing extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain
dwindling
verb
To gradually become smaller or less
encyclopedic
adj.
Comprehensive in terms of information or knowledge
exasperated
adj.
Feeling extremely annoyed or irritated
fungible
adj.
Interchangeable and replaceable with an identical item
interchangeable
adj.
Able to be exchanged with each other without affecting function or value.
lucrative
adj.
Producing a great deal of profit
provocative
adj.
Causing a strong reaction, especially anger or excitement
stinting
verb
To supply sparingly or restrictively
liability
noun
State of being responsible for something, especially by law
euphoric
adj.
Extremely happy or excited
elementary
adj.
Basic and simple; fundamental
heterodox
adj.
Holding beliefs or opinions that differ from established or traditional views
economy
noun
The system of production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services
arresting
adj.
Attracting attention or striking
vivacious
adj.
Full of life and energy
falter
verb
To lose strength or momentum
cherish
verb
To hold dear or to treat with love and affection
intimate
adj.
Closely acquainted or familiar
invigorate
verb
To give energy or life to
paradigmatic
adj.
Serving as a typical example or pattern
profundity
noun
Great depth of insight or knowledge
amend
verb
To make changes or improvements
collaborate
verb
To work jointly on an activity or project.
competent
adj.
Having the necessary ability or skills to do something successfully.
correlate
verb
To have a mutual relationship or connection
dictate
verb
To give orders or commands
divorced
adj.
No longer married
elitist
adj.
Believing that a society or system should be led by an elite
flummoxed
adj.
Confused or bewildered
fruitful
adj.
Producing good results or benefits
inborn
adj.
Existing from birth
polymath
noun
A person with knowledge in many subjects
subservient
adj.
Excessively willing to obey others
tantalizing
adj.
Exciting the senses or desires
versatile
adj.
Able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities
wayward
adj.
Difficult to control or predict due to unusual behavior
allusive
adj.
Suggesting something without explicitly mentioning it
curb
verb
To restrain or keep in check
repercussion
noun
An unintended consequence of an action, often negative
regress
verb
To return to a previous, less advanced state
replenish
verb
To fill up again
evoke
verb
To bring a feeling, memory, or image to mind
ire
noun
Intense anger or wrath
headstrong
adj.
Determined to have one's own way; stubbornly willful
convalescent
adj.
Recovering from illness or medical treatment
fret
verb
To worry or be anxious
commence
verb
To begin or start
neutralize
verb
To make something ineffective or harmless
clangor
noun
A loud, resonant sound
conventional
adj.
Following accepted customs or practices
discernible
adj.
Able to be perceived or recognized
estranged
adj.
No longer close or affectionate to someone; alienated
invasive
adj.
Tending to spread aggressively
marginalize
verb
To treat a person, group, or concept as insignificant or peripheral
stigmatize
verb
To mark someone or something as disgraceful or shameful
utterly
adv.
Completely or absolutely
weary
adj.
Feeling or showing tiredness
cloak
noun
A loose outer garment, often sleeveless, worn over indoor clothing.
consensus
noun
General agreement among a group
distort
verb
To twist out of shape
divergent
adj.
Tending to be different or develop in different directions.
enchant
verb
To delight or captivate someone
exotic
adj.
From a foreign or distant place
exploitative
adj.
Unfairly benefiting from others
foreseeable
adj.
Able to be predicted or anticipated
gratify
verb
To please or satisfy someone
sensational
adj.
Causing intense interest or excitement
sophisticated
adj.
Having a refined knowledge of the world
strife
noun
Bitter conflict or disagreement
understated
adj.
Subtly elegant or restrained
exorcise
verb
To expel an evil spirit
finicky
adj.
Fussy about one's needs or requirements
contravene
verb
To act against a rule or law
reiterate
verb
To say something again for clarity or emphasis
oblivious
adj.
Not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one
ironclad
adj.
Impossible to contradict or weaken
plaintive
adj.
Expressing sorrow or melancholy
surmount
verb
To overcome or deal with successfully
escalate
verb
To increase in intensity, magnitude, or severity
deviate
verb
To move away from a set course or standard
buoyant
adj.
Able to float in water or air
intertwined
verb
Twisted together or connected closely
berate
verb
To scold or criticize angrily
despotic
adj.
Exercising power in a cruel or oppressive way
jeopardize
verb
To put at risk or in danger
chauvinistic
adj.
Excessively or blindly patriotic
dissemble
verb
To hide true feelings or intentions
entitled
adj.
Believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment
venal
adj.
Open to corruption or bribery
comply
verb
To act in accordance with a wish or command
curtail
verb
To reduce or limit something
evade
verb
To escape or avoid by cleverness or deceit
fester
verb
To become infected and form pus
improvise
verb
To create or perform something spontaneously or without preparation.
inhibit
verb
To prevent or slow down the activity or occurrence of something
peculiar
adj.
Strange or odd; unusual
premeditate
verb
To think out or plan beforehand
refine
verb
To improve by making small changes
relinquish
verb
To voluntarily give up or let go of
synoptic
adj.
Providing a general overview or summary
thorough
adj.
Complete with great attention to detail
visionary
adj.
Having or showing clear ideas about what should happen or be done in the future
frailty
noun
The condition of being weak or delicate
disentangle
verb
To free something from entanglement or confusion
pomposity
noun
The quality of being self-important or arrogant
conclusive
adj.
Serving to settle or decide a question; decisive
relent
verb
To become less severe, harsh, or strict
grievance
noun
A complaint or feeling of being treated unfairly
poise
noun
Graceful and elegant bearing in a person
adept
adj.
Very skilled or proficient at something
tedious
adj.
Boring and too slow or long
rigor
noun
The quality of being extremely thorough and careful
suspect
verb
To believe that someone is likely to be guilty of a crime or responsible for a bad act
clamorous
adj.
Making a loud and confused noise
explicable
adj.
Able to be explained or accounted for
irreverent
adj.
Showing a lack of respect for things that are generally taken seriously
loathe
verb
To feel intense dislike or disgust for
stern
adj.
Serious and strict, especially in the assertion of authority and exercise of discipline.
acclaim
verb
To praise enthusiastically and publicly
assertive
adj.
Confidently self-assured
cataclysmic
adj.
Causing great destruction or upheaval
hinder
verb
To create difficulties for someone or something, resulting in delay or obstruction.
tepid
adj.
Lukewarm; moderately warm
transcend
verb
To go beyond the limits
flustered
adj.
Agitated or confused
axiomatic
adj.
Self-evident or universally accepted as true
gullible
adj.
Easily tricked or fooled
treatise
noun
A written work dealing formally and systematically with a subject
corporeal
adj.
Relating to a physical body
ramification
noun
A consequence or result of an action or decision
idiosyncratic
adj.
Peculiar or unique to an individual
cease
verb
To stop or come to an end
conjectural
adj.
Based on guesswork or incomplete evidence
decadent
adj.
Characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline
indiscriminate
adj.
Lacking careful choice or planning
momentary
adj.
Lasting for a very short time
nullify
verb
To make something lose its value or effect
omnipresent
adj.
Present everywhere at the same time
oust
verb
To remove from a position or place
palpable
adj.
So intense as to seem almost tangible
skullduggery
noun
Deceptive or dishonest behavior
utilitarian
adj.
Designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive
accessible
adj.
Easy to approach or reach
acquisitive
adj.
Having a strong desire to acquire more, especially material possessions
dawdle
verb
To waste time or move slowly
discount
noun
A reduction in the usual price
dissident
noun
A person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state.
manacle
noun
A metal band, chain, or shackle for fastening someone's hands or ankles.
predicament
noun
A difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation
proficient
adj.
Skilled and experienced at doing something
scorn
noun
A feeling of contempt or disdain
subordinate
adj.
Lower in rank or position
lambaste
verb
To criticize harshly
undercut
verb
To offer goods or services at a lower price than a competitor
barren
adj.
Not producing offspring
swindle
verb
To cheat or deceive someone to take their money or possessions
tangible
adj.
Able to be touched or physically felt
xenophobic
adj.
Having an irrational fear or dislike of people from other countries
unalloyed
adj.
Pure and not mixed with anything else
heady
adj.
Intoxicating or exhilarating
comity
noun
Mutual courtesy and respectful behavior among individuals or groups.
cordial
adj.
Warm and friendly
feeble
adj.
Lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness
forbear
verb
To refrain from doing something
mercenary
noun
A professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.
quirky
adj.
Unconventionally strange or unique
turbulent
adj.
Characterized by conflict, disorder, or confusion; not stable or calm.
acolyte
noun
A person who assists in some religious services
coercion
noun
The act of forcing someone to do something against their will
coin
noun
A small, flat, round piece of metal used as money.
noble
adj.
Having high moral qualities or ideals
radical
adj.
Relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.
recrudescent
adj.
Becoming active again after a period of inactivity
temporal
adj.
Related to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs; secular
hysterical
adj.
Extremely funny or causing uncontrollable laughter
quash
verb
To reject or void, especially by legal procedure
shrill
adj.
High-pitched and piercing
agitate
verb
To make someone feel anxious or disturbed.
abstract
adj.
Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence
quarantine
noun
A period of isolation to prevent the spread of disease
ravage
verb
To cause severe damage
deprecate
verb
To express disapproval of something
affront
noun
An action or remark causing outrage or offense
befuddled
adj.
Confused or unable to think clearly
expedite
verb
To speed up a process or action
feign
verb
To pretend to be affected by something
indispensable
adj.
Absolutely necessary or essential
pensive
adj.
Engaged in deep or serious thought
portend
verb
To be a sign or warning of a future event
digression
noun
A temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing
duplicitous
adj.
Deceitful or dishonest
fabricate
verb
To construct or manufacture
glum
adj.
Looking or feeling dejected; morose
harbinger
noun
A person or thing that signals or announces the approach of something.
pious
adj.
Deeply religious
slander
noun
A false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation
universal
adj.
Applicable everywhere or in all cases
woeful
adj.
Full of sorrow or misery
bawdy
adj.
Humorously indecent
contretemps
noun
An unexpected and unfortunate occurrence
conviction
noun
A strong belief or opinion
croon
verb
To sing softly and soothingly
detente
noun
The easing of strained relations, especially in a political situation.
dowdy
adj.
Lacking style or elegance
fulcrum
noun
The point on which a lever pivots
nimble
adj.
Quick and light in movement or action
outlandish
adj.
Strikingly unusual or bizarre
prurient
adj.
Having or showing excessive interest in sexual matters
sadistic
adj.
Deriving pleasure from inflicting pain or suffering on others
abide
verb
To follow or comply with a rule or decision
bravado
noun
A show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate
cogitate
verb
To think deeply or carefully about something
deportment
noun
A person's behavior or manners
extemporize
verb
To perform or speak without preparation
feint
noun
A deceptive or pretended movement, often in sports or combat, intended to mislead an opponent.
flagrant
adj.
Obviously offensive or bad
slovenly
adj.
Messy and untidy in appearance or habits
verve
noun
Energy and enthusiasm in expression or performance
coddle
verb
To treat with excessive care or kindness
immaculate
adj.
Perfectly clean or tidy
retaliate
verb
To do something harmful or negative to someone who has done something harmful or negative to you; to get revenge
rhapsody
noun
An enthusiastic expression of feeling
serendipitous
adj.
Occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
shirk
verb
To avoid responsibilities or duties
auxiliary
adj.
Providing additional help or support
caricature
noun
A drawing or description that exaggerates features for comic effect
depravity
noun
Moral corruption or wickedness
encroach
verb
To gradually take over or intrude on someone's space or rights
indictment
noun
A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime
mediate
verb
To intervene to resolve a conflict
rampant
adj.
Spreading unchecked and uncontrolled
remote
adj.
Far away in distance or time, or not closely related