GRE Vocabulary
High-frequency GRE words
Abate
mediumverb
to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
Aberrant
hardadjective
departing from an accepted standard
Abeyance
hardnoun
a state of temporary disuse or suspension
Abject
mediumadjective
extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading
Abjure
hardverb
to solemnly renounce a belief or claim
Abnegate
hardverb
to renounce or reject something desired
Abrade
mediumverb
to scrape or wear away by friction
Abrogate
hardverb
to abolish or annul by authority
Abscond
mediumverb
to leave hurriedly and secretly
Abstemious
hardadjective
indulging only moderately in food and drink
Abstruse
hardadjective
difficult to understand; obscure
Accolade
mediumnoun
an award or privilege granted as a special honor
Accretion
hardnoun
growth or increase by gradual addition
Acerbic
hardadjective
sharp and forthright in speech or manner
Acrimony
mediumnoun
bitterness or ill feeling
Acumen
mediumnoun
the ability to make good judgments
Adamant
mediumadjective
refusing to be persuaded or changed
Admonish
mediumverb
to warn or reprimand firmly
Adroit
mediumadjective
clever or skillful
Adulation
mediumnoun
excessive admiration or praise
Adulterate
mediumverb
to make impure by adding inferior substances
Aesthetic
mediumadjective
concerned with beauty or art
Affable
mediumadjective
friendly, good-natured, and easy to talk to
Aggrandize
hardverb
to increase power, status, or wealth
Alacrity
mediumnoun
brisk and cheerful readiness
Alleviate
mediumverb
to make suffering less severe
Amalgamate
mediumverb
to combine or unite
Ambiguous
mediumadjective
open to multiple interpretations
Ambivalent
mediumadjective
having mixed feelings
Ameliorate
hardverb
to make something better
Amenable
mediumadjective
open and responsive to suggestion
Anachronism
hardnoun
something out of its proper time
Analogous
mediumadjective
comparable in certain respects
Anathema
hardnoun
something or someone greatly disliked
Anomaly
mediumnoun
something deviating from the standard
Antipathy
mediumnoun
a deep-seated feeling of dislike
Apathy
mediumnoun
lack of interest or enthusiasm
Appease
mediumverb
to pacify by acceding to demands
Approbation
hardnoun
approval or praise
Appropriate
mediumverb
to take for one's own use without permission
Arcane
hardadjective
understood by few; mysterious
Arduous
mediumadjective
requiring strenuous effort
Artless
mediumadjective
without guile or deception; natural
Ascetic
hardadjective
characterized by severe self-discipline
Assiduous
hardadjective
showing great care and perseverance
Assuage
hardverb
to make unpleasant feelings less intense
Astute
mediumadjective
having sharp judgment
Attenuate
hardverb
to reduce the force or value of
Audacious
mediumadjective
showing willingness to take bold risks
Austere
mediumadjective
severe in manner or appearance
Avarice
hardnoun
extreme greed for wealth
Aver
hardverb
to state or assert to be true
Banal
mediumadjective
lacking originality; obvious and boring
Belie
hardverb
to fail to give a true impression of
Bellicose
hardadjective
demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight
Beneficent
mediumadjective
resulting in good; generous
Blandishment
hardnoun
flattering or pleasing statement
Bolster
mediumverb
to support or strengthen
Bombastic
hardadjective
high-sounding but with little meaning
Boorish
mediumadjective
rough and bad-mannered
Burgeon
mediumverb
to grow or increase rapidly
Burnish
mediumverb
to polish by rubbing
Buttress
mediumverb
to strengthen or support
Cacophony
mediumnoun
a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
Cajole
mediumverb
to persuade by flattery
Callous
mediumadjective
showing insensitive disregard for others
Calumny
hardnoun
making false and defamatory statements
Candid
easyadjective
truthful and straightforward
Capricious
mediumadjective
given to sudden changes of mood
Castigate
hardverb
to reprimand severely
Catalyst
mediumnoun
something that precipitates an event
Caustic
mediumadjective
sarcastic in a bitter way
Censure
mediumverb
to express severe disapproval
Chary
hardadjective
cautious or wary about doing something
Chicanery
hardnoun
use of trickery to achieve a goal
Churlish
hardadjective
rude in a mean-spirited way
Circumscribe
hardverb
to restrict or limit
Circumspect
hardadjective
wary and unwilling to take risks
Clamorous
mediumadjective
making a loud and confused noise
Clemency
mediumnoun
mercy; leniency
Coalesce
mediumverb
to come together to form one
Cogent
mediumadjective
clear, logical, and convincing
Commensurate
hardadjective
corresponding in size or degree
Compendium
hardnoun
a collection of concise detailed information
Complacent
mediumadjective
smugly self-satisfied
Complaisance
hardnoun
willingness to please others
Conciliatory
mediumadjective
intended to placate or pacify
Condone
mediumverb
to accept behavior considered wrong
Conflagration
hardnoun
an extensive fire destroying much
Connoisseur
mediumnoun
an expert judge in matters of taste
Consummate
mediumadjective
showing great skill and flair
Contentious
mediumadjective
causing or likely to cause disagreement
Contrite
mediumadjective
feeling or expressing remorse
Conundrum
mediumnoun
a confusing and difficult problem
Converge
mediumverb
to come together from different directions
Convivial
mediumadjective
friendly, lively, and enjoyable
Convoluted
mediumadjective
extremely complex and difficult to follow
Copious
mediumadjective
abundant in supply or quantity
Corroborate
mediumverb
to confirm or give support to
Cosmopolitan
mediumadjective
familiar with many cultures
Covet
mediumverb
to yearn to possess something
Credulous
mediumadjective
having too great a readiness to believe
Culpable
mediumadjective
deserving blame