GRE 2008 Flashcards

GRE FLASH CARDS
Abate
1111111111111111111111111111111
GG40 51 C
B1
GRE Flashcards
Abscond
Aberrant
B3
GRE Flashcards
---~---
--
--
---
-- -
- -
----
---- -------
----------- ------------------------
Abyss
B5
B6
GRE Flashcards
Advocate
Adulterate
GRE Flashcards
B4
GRE Flashcards
Abstain
GRE Flashcants
B2
GRE Flashcards
B7
GRE Flashcards
B8
Abate: to reduce in amount, degree, or severity.

"As the hurricane's force abated, the winds dropped and the sea became calm."
After you are sure you understand the meaning of the word,
try to learn all the words with similar meanings to that word.
Words with Similar Meanings

ebb
lapse
let up
moderate
relent
slacken
subside
wane
~ l-S00-KAP-TEST
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
Aberrant: deviati ng from what is normal or expected.

"Since he had been a steady, cheer ful worker for many years,
his fellow postal workers did not expect his aberrant burst of rage."
Abscond: to leave secretly

"The patron absconde d from the resta urant without
Related Words
paying his bill by sneaking out the back door."
Aberratio n: A deviation from what is normal

flee
~A PL A'!y
decamp
escape
1-S00-KAP-TEST
abnorma l
anomalous
deviant
divergent
errant
irregular
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
Abyss: an extremely deep hole.

"The submarine dove into the abyss to char t the previously unseen depths. "
Abstain: to choose not to do something.
Related Words
"During Lent, pract icing Catholi cs abstain 'from eating meat "
Abyssa l: Pertaining to great dept h

Abysmal: Extremely bad.

forbear

chasm
refrain
withho ld
void
~ l -S00-KAP-TEST
~ l-S00-KAP-TEST
Adulterate: to make impure.
Advocate: to speak in favor of.
"The restaurateur made his ketchup last longer by adulterating it with water."
"The vegetarian advocated a diet containing no meat. "
Related Words
Related Words
Unadulterated: Pure.
Advocacy: Act ive support for.
Adulte ry: An illicit relati onship; an affa ir.

back
champion
support
docto r
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
~ l-S00KAP-TEST
.>
>\
debase
load
Aggrandize
Aesthetic
89
GRE Flashcards
810
GRE Flashcards
---
-------~----
811
GRE Flashcards
----
--~-
Ambiguous
813
GRE Flashcards
--
812
GRE Flashcards
Amalgamate
---
- ----- -
814
GRE Flashcards
-
-- -
----------
--------------- -
Anachronism
Ameliorate
GRE Flashcards
- --
Alleviate
Alacrity
----.-- -----
815
GRE Flashcards
816
Aestl1etic: concern ing the appreciat ion of beauty
Aggrandize: to increase in power, influence and reputation.
"The Aesthetic Movement regarded the purs uit
"The supervisor sought to aggrandize himself by claiming
of beauty to be the only true purpose of ar t. "
that the achievements of his staff were actua lly his own."
Relat ed Words

amplify
apotheosize
augment
dignify
elevate
enlarge
ennoble
exalt
glorify
magnify
swell
uplift
Aesthete: Someone unusua lly sensi tive to beauty

Aesthet icism : Devoted to beauty

artistic
wax
~ 1800KAPTEST
t ast eful
~ 1800KAPTEST
)
Alleviate : to make more bearable
Alacrity: speed or quickness.
"Taking aspirin helps to alleviate a headache. n
"The restauran t won a reputation for fine service since the

wait staff responded to their clients' requests with alacrity."

allay
assuage
comfort
ease
lessen
light en
celerity
dispa tch
mitigate
palliat e
relieve
haste
swiftness
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Amalgamat e: to combine, to mix togethe r
Ambiguous: doubtful or uncertain, can be interp reted several ways.
"Giant Industries amalgamated with Mega Products
"The directions he gave were so ambiguous
to form Giant-Mega Products Incorporated. "
that we disagreed on which way to turn. "
Related Words
Related Words
Amalgam: a mixture, es pecially of two meta ls.
Ambiguity: The quality of being ambiguous .

cloudy
doubtfu l
dubious
equivocal
nebulous
indeterm inate
obscure,
unclear
vague
~ 1800KAPTEST
blend
coalesce
comm ingle
comm ix
compound
fuse
intermingle
intermix
merge
mingle
mix
unite
~APlA'!y
combine
1.800.KAP.TEST
Ameliorate: to make better; to improve.
Anachro nism: somet hing out of place in ti me.
"The doctor was able to ameliorate the
"The aged hippie used anachronistic phrases like 'groovy'
patient 's suffering using pain-killers ."
and 'far out' that had not been popular for years ."

archaism
admix
amend
incongruity
pacify
~ 1800KAPTEST
bett er
improve
upgrade
~ 1800KAPTEST
''"-----~------~----------=-----'
Anomaly
Analogous
817
GRE Flashcards
818
GRE Flashcards
)
Antipathy
Antagonize
819
GRE Flashcards
Apocryphal
Apathy
821
GRE Flashcards
822
GRE Flashcards
Arbitrary
Approbation
823
GRE Flashcards
824
GRE Flashcards
~
,
(
~
820
GRE Flashcards
Analogous: similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
Anomaly: deviatio n from what is normal.
"His mother argued that not going to college
"Albino animals may display too great an anomaly
was analogous to throwing his life away.
in their coloring to attract norma lly colored mates . "
Related Words
Related Words
Analogy: a similarit y between t hings that are otherwise dissi milar.
Anomalous: Deviating from what is normal
Analogue: something th at is similar in some way t o something else.

aberrant
aberrati on
abnorma lity
deviance
deviat ion
irregularity
prete rnat uralness
alike
comparable
corresponding
equivalent
homogeneous
parallel
similar
~ l-S00-KAP-TEST
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Antagonize: to annoy or provoke to anger.
Antipathy: extre me dis like
"The child discovered that he could antagonize the cat by pulling its tail. "
'T he antipathy between the French and the

English regu larly erupted into open warfare. "
Related Words
Antagonistic : Tending to provoke conf lict
abhorrence
animosity
antagonism
aversion
dislike
enmity
hatred
host ility
repellence
repugnance
loathing
Antagonist: Someone who fights another
animus
repulsion
revulsion
clash
conflict
incite
irritate
oppose
peste r
vex
provoke
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
~ lS00KAPTEST
- ------------;r----------
. ----
Apathy: Lack of interest or emot ion.

"The apathy of voters is so great that less than half the
Apocryphal: of questio nable aut hority or authe nticity.
people who are eligible to vote actually bother to do so. n
"There is no hard or authoritative evidence to suppor t the apocryphal

tales that link the Roswell, New Mexico, incident to a downed V.F.O. "
coolness
disinterest
disregard
impassivity
indif ference
insensibility
disputed
doubtf ul
lassit ude
let hargy
list less ness
fictiti ous
fraudulent
phlegm
st olidity
unconcern
unresponsiveness.
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
~ 1S00-KAP-TEST
Approbation : approval and praise.

"The approbation that Jerry Lewis received in
France included a medal from the Ministry of Culture."
. Arbitrary: determi ned by chance or impulse.

"When you lack the information to jUdge what to do
Related Words
next, you will be forced to make an arbitrary decision. "
Approbate: to aut horize.

changeable
random
erratic
indiscriminate
wayward
acclaim
adulat ion
commendation
compliments
exalt
extol
hail
kudos
applause
praise
~ 1-S00KAP-TEST
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
-'
----.
J
- \
\
(
e,
;..'-
Archaic
Arbitrate
825
GRE Flashcards
--~~---~---
GRE Flashcards
-----~---
~---
826
-------~--- --------------~---- ---
-~~---~--
Articulate
Ardor
827
GRE Flashcards
828
GRE Flashcards
Attenuate
Assuage
829
GRE Flashcards
830
GRE Flashcards
Austere
Audacious
831
GRE Flashcards
832
GRE Flashcards
\
~
~-
"r
- \
"'"'
'-)
~
.!-
Archaic: ancient , old-fa shioned

Arbitrate: to j ud ge a dispute between t wo o p po s ing parties
"Her archaic Commodore computer could not run the latest so ftware. "
"Since the couple could not come to agreement,
Related Words
a j udge was forced to arbitrate their divorce proceedings ."
Archaism : an outdated word or phrase.
Related Words

ancient
anted iluvian
antique
archaic
bygone
dat ed
dowdy
fusty
obsolete
old-fashioned
outdated
out moded
outmo ded
passe
prehistoric
sta le
superan nuate d
superseded
vinta ge
Arbit rat ion: a process by whic h a conf lict is reso lved

Arbit rator: a judg e

adju dge
adj udicate
decide
dete rm ine
j udge
moderate
refe ree
rule
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Ardor: intense an d pa s s io na te f ee ling
"Bishop' s ardor for landscape was evident when he

passionately described the beauty of the scenic Hudson Valley."
Articulate: abl e to spe ak clearly and express ively.

"She ar ticulates her pro-labor views so clearly
Related Words
that unions are among her strongest supporters."
Ardent: Expressing ardor; passio nat e
--....words with Similar Meanings

eloquent
express ive
fluent
lucid
silver-t ongued
smoot h-spoken
devoti on
ent husias m
ent husiasm
fer vency
fervidity
fervidness
fer vor
fire
passion
zealousness
zeal
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1-800-KAPTEST
Assuage: to make something u n p le a sant less s evere
Attenuate: re duce in force or degree ; weaken
"Like many people, Philip Larkin used alcohol to
"The Bill of Rights attenuated the traditio nal
assuage his sense of meaningless and despair."
power of government to change laws at will. n

debilitate
devitali ze
dilut e
ener vate
enfeeble
rarefy
sap
thin
undermin e
undo
unner ve
water
weaken
~APLA'!y
allay
alleviat e
comfo rt
conciliate
appe ase
ease
lighten
mitig ate
mollify
pacify
pall iate
placate
propitiate
relieve
sooth e
sweete n
~ 1800KAPTEST
1.800.KAP.TEST
Audacious: fearless and daring

Austere: severe or stern in appea rance; undecorated
"The audacious peasant dared to insult the king' s mothe r."
"The lack of decoration makes Zen
Related Words
temples seem austere to the untrained eye. "
Audacity : th e qualit y of being audacious
Related Words
Aust erit y: severity, especially poverty
adventu resome
brave
doughty
heroic
sto ut
valiant

bleak
dour
grim
hard
harsh
severe
~ 1800-KAPTEST

aggressive
assert ive
courage ous
daring.
fearl ess
gallant
intre pid
mettlesome
stouthear ted
unafraid
valorous
vent uresome
~ 1800KAPTEST
\
(
bold
dauntl ess
game
plucky
undaunted
vent urous
Bolster
Banal
833
GRE Flashcards
834
GRE Flashcards
)
Burgeon
Bombastic
835
GRE Flashcards
Cacophony
Burnish
837
GRE Flashcards
838
GRE Flashcards
Capricious
Candid
839
GRE Flashcards
-----...~
836
GRE Flashcards
840
GRE Flashcards
--.
----\
<,
I
'--)
\
r:
, A
Banal: predictable, cliched, boring

"His conversation consisted of banal phrases like
'Have a nice day' or 'Another day, another dollar. '"
Bolster: support, prop up

"The presence of giant footpr ints bolstered
Related Words
the argument that Bigfoot was in the area. "
Banality: something t hat is banal

bromidic
cliched
hackneyed
innocuous
musty
plat itudino us
shopworn
stale
timeworn
t ired
vapid
worn-out
Words with Simil ar Me anings

buttress
crutch
prop
stay
support
sustain
underpinning
uphold
brace
bland
fatuous
jejune
quotidian
threadbare
commonplace
insipid
prosaic
stereotypic
t rite
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
- -w---
--
~-"
-------
Bombastic: pompous in speech and manner
"Mussoiini 's speeches were mostly bombastic;
Burgeon: to grow and flourish
his boasting and outrageous claims had no basis in fact. "
"Faulkner neither confirmed nor denied stories
Rel ated Words
about himself, allowing rumor to burgeon where it would. "
Bombast: pompous speec h or writing

Words with Similar Me anings
bloom
burgeon
flourish
prosper
thrive
bloated
declamatory
fust ian
grandiloquent
grandiose
high-flown
magniloquent
orotund
pretent ious
self-important
rhetorical
~PlA!y
~ 1800KAPTEST
1.800.KAP.TEST
Cacophony: harsh, jarring noise
Burnish: to polish.
"The junior high orchestra created an a/most unbearable
"He burnished the silver coffee pot until it shone bright/y. "
cacophony as they tried to tune their instruments ."
Words wit h Simila r Mean ings

discord
chaos
disharmony
noise
clamor
din
buff
luster
polish
scour
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
---~~--------------
-----
~--------~~-
--- -
-----
---~----------------
---- ----------
Capricious: changing one's mind quickly and often

"Queen Elizabeth I was quite capricious; her courtiers
Candid: impartial and honest in speech
could never be sure which one would catch her fancy."
"The observations of a child can be charming

since they are candid and unprete ntious. "
Relat ed Words
Caprice: whim, sudden fancy
Words With Similar Me anings
direct
forthright
frank
arbit rary
chance
changeable
honest
open
sincere
erratic
fick le
inconstant
straight
straightforward
undisguised
mercurial
random
whimsica l
willfu l
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Castigate
Catalyst
841
GRE Flashcards
Caustic
GRE Flashcards
842
GRE Flashcards
Chaos
843
B44
GRE Flashcards
Chauvinist
Chicanery
845
GRE Flashcards
GRE Flashcards
Circumspect
GRE Flashcards
B46
Coalesce
847
GRE Flashcards
B48
Castigate: to punish or crit icize harshly

Catalyst: someth ing tha t brings about a change in someth ing else
"The imposition of harsh taxes was the catalyst
"Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in Singapore castigate

perpetrators of what would be only mino r crimes in the United States. "
that finally brought on the revolution. "
Related Words
Cataly ze: to bring about a change in something else

admon ish
chast ise
chide
rebuke
reprimand
reproach
scold
tax
reprove
upbraid.
~ 1-S00-KAPTEST
~ 1S00KAPTEST
Chaos: great disorde r or confused sit uat ion

"In most religiou s tradit ions, God created
an ordered universe from a chaotic void. "
Caustic: bit ing in wit
Related Words
"Dorothy Parker gained her caustic
Chaot ic: jumbled, confused
reputati on from her cutting, yet witty, insults. "

clutter
confus ion
disa rrangement
disarray
disorder
disorderliness
disorg anization
j umble
mess
muddle
scramble

acerbic
bitin g
mordant
tre nchant
snarl
tops y-turv iness
t urmoil
~ 1S00KAPTEST
~ 1S00KAPTEST
Chicanery: decept ion by means of craft or guile

"Dishonest used-car salesmen often use
chicanery to sell their beat-up old cars. "
Cha uvinist : someone prej udiced in favor

of a group th at he or she belongs to
"The attit ude that men must be obeyed since they are
inherently superior to women is common among male chauvinists . "

art ifice
conniving
crafti ness
decepti on
deviousness
misrepresentation
biased
colored
one-sided
snea kiness
partial
parti san
prejudicial
underhandedness
preposs essed
pett ifoggery
sop histry
. shadiness
subter fuge
~ 1-S00-KAPTEST
tenden tious
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Circum spe ct : cautio us, aware of potent ial consequences

Coalesce: to grow togeth er to form a si ngle whole
" The sun and planets eventua lly coalesced
"She was very circumspect in her language and behav ior

when first introd uced to her fiancee 's parents. "
out of a vast cloud of gas and dust. "
Related Words
Circum spect ion: caut ion

amalgamat e
blend
coalesce
condense
conso lidate
fu se
unite

alert
cautious
heedful
mindfu l
prudent
sol icitous
vigilant
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
~ 1S00-KAPTEST
wary
cogent
Condone
849
GRE Flashcards
850
GRE Flashcards
)
Connoisseur
Convoluted
851
GRE Flashcards
Corroborate
Credulous
853
GRE Flashcards
854
GRE Flashcards
Crescendo
GRE Flashcards
852
GRE Flashcards
Decorum
855
GRE Flashcards
856
Cogent: convincing and well-reasoned

"Swayed by the cogent argument of the defense,
Condone : to overlook, pardon or dis regard
the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant. "
"Some theorists believe that failing to prose cute

mino r crimes is the same as condoning an air of lawlessness. "
Related Words
Cognit ive: to do with the powers of reasoning
Cognition: knowledge

exculpate
excuse
Cogitate: to think deeply
pardon
remit
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
convincing
persuasive
solid
sound
telling
valid
~ l-S00-KAP-TEST
---------- ---------
------------~------ ---~--
------- ------
----
\
Convoluted: intri cate and compli cated
"Although many people bought A Brief History of Time few
people could follow its convoluted ideas and theories. "
Connoisseur: a person with expert

knowledge or discriminati ng tastes
"Dr. Crane was a connoisseur of fine food and
wine, drinking and eating only the best. "

Byzantin e
complex
elaborate
intricate
knotty
labyrinthin e
~ ~~ ~
~~~
~ l-S00-KAP-TEST

authority
expert
gourmet
~ l-S00-KAP-TEST
Credulous: too t rusti ng; gullible

"Although some 4 year-olds believe in the Easter Bunny,
only the most credulous 9 year olds also believe in him. "
Corroborate: support ing evidence

"Fingerprints provided corroboration for the witness's
testimony that he saw the defendant in the victim 's apartment. "
Related Words
. Credulity: The quality of being credulous
naive
epicure
gastronome
susceptible
tr ust ing
~ l-S00-KAP-TEST

authent icate
back
bear out
butt ress
confirm
substa ntiate
validate
verify
~ l-S00-KAP-TEST
Decorum: appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety

'T he countess complained that the vulgar peasants
lacked the decorum appropriate for a visit to the palace. "
Related Words
Crescendo: steadily increasing in volume or force
Decorous: conforming t o acceptable sta ndards
"The crescendo of tension became unbearable as Evel Knievel

prepared to j ump his motorcycle over the school buses. "

correctness
decency
et iquette
manners
mores
propriety
seemliness
~ 1-S00KAP-TEST
~ l-S00-KAP-TEST
Deride
Deference
857
GRE Flashcards
858
GRE Flashcards
__
nM
Desultory
Desiccate
859
GRE Flashcards
860
GRE Flashcards
-
Diffident
Diatribe
861
GRE Flashcards
862
GRE Flashcards
Dilatory
Dilate
GRE Flashcards
--~--- ----------~ -~~~,
863
GRE Flashcards
B64
,I
Deride : to speak of or t reat wit h contempt, to mock.
Deference: respect, courtesy
"The awkward child was often derided by his 'cooler' peers."
"The respectful young law clerk treated the

Supreme Court justice with the utmos t deference . "
Related Words
Related Words
Derision: mockery and taunts
Defer: either to delay or show someone deference .
Derisive: in a mocking manner
Deferent: cour teous and res pectful


gibe
jeer
mock
courtesy
honor
homage
ridicule
scoff
sneer
obeisance
respect
reverence
veneration
taunt
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
"Diane had
a des ultory academic record;
she had changed majors 12 times in 3 years. "
"After a few weeks lying on the desert 's baking sands

the cow 's carcass became completely desiccated. "
Related Words
aimless
disconnected
erratic
haphazard
indiscriminat e
object less
objectless
purposeless
random
stray
unconsidered
unplanned.
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
Desiccant: something that removes water from another substance

dry
parch
dehydrate.
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
Diffident: lacking self-conf idence
Diatribe: an abusive, condem natory speech
"Steve 's diffidence during the job interview stemmed from

his nervous nature and lack of experience in the field. "
"The trucker bellowed a diatribe at the driver who had cut him off."

backward
bas hful
coy
demure
modest
ret iring
self-effacing
shy
t imid
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
fu lmination
harangue
invect ive
je remiad
male dict ion
obloquy
tirade
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
Dilatory: intended to delay
Dilate: to make larger, expand
"The congressman used dilatory measures

to delay the passage of the bill . "
" When you enter
a darkened room, the pupils
of your eyes dilate so as to let in more light.

dragging
flagging
laggard
lagging
slow
slow-footed
slow-going
slow-paced
tardy
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
Desiccate: to dry out t horoughly
Desultory: jum ping from one th ing to anot her; disconnec te d.
tr

amplify
develop
elaborate
enlarge
expand
expatiate
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
Dirge
Dilettante
865
GRE Flashcards
866
GRE Flashcards
Discern
Disabuse
867
GRE Flashcards
Dissemble
Disparate
869
GRE Flashcards
870
GRE Flashcards
Dogma
Dissonance
GRE Flashcards
868
GRE Flashcards
871
GRE Flashcards
872
Dirge: a funera l hymn or mournful speech.
Dilettante: someone wit h an amateurish

and superficial interest in a topic
"Melville wrote the poem A Dirge for James McPherson
"Jerry' s friends were such dilettantes they
for the funeral of a Union general who was killed in 1864. "
seemed to have new j obs and hobbies every week. "
elegy
lament
~ 1800KAPTEST
amateur
dabbler
superfic ial
tyro
~ 1800KAPTEST
Discern: to perceive or recognize
"It is easy to discern the difference between
butter and butter-flavored topping. "
Disabuse: set right, free from error

Related Words
"Gettteo's observations disabused scholars of the
Discernment : taste and cult ivation
notion that the Sun revolved around the Earth. "
catch
descr y
detect
diffe rent iate
discrim inate
dist inguish
espy
glimpse
know
separate
spot
spy
~ 1800KAPTEST
tell
correct
undeceive
~ 1800KAPTEST
Dissemble: to present a false appearance,

to disguise one's real inte nt ions or character
"The villa in could disse mble to the police no longer- he admitted
Disparate: fundamenta lly different; enti rely unlike
the deed and tore up the floor to reveal the body of the old man. "
"Although the twins are physically identi cal,
their personalities are disparate . "
act
affect
assume
camouflage
cloak
counte rfeit
cover up
disguise
fake
dissimu late .
differe nt
dissimilar
divergent
mask
diverse
variant
various
feign
masq uerade
pose
pretend
put on
sham.
simulate
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Dogma: a fir mly held opinion, especially a religious belief
Dissonance: a harsh and disagreeable

combinati on, especially of sounds
"Linus ' central dogma was that children who
"Cognitive dissonance is the inner confli ct produced
believed in The Great Pumpkin would be rewarded. "
when long-standing beliefs are contra dicted by new evidence. "


creed
doct rines
clas h
conte nt ion
discord
t eaching
ten et
dissension
dissent
dissidence
friction
str ife
variance
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Dupe
Dogmatic
-,
: '*."\.;,-...
873
Efficacy
Eclectic
875
GRE Flashcards
Eloquent
877
878
GRE Flashcards
Emulate
Embellish
GRE Flashcards
876
GRE Flashcards
Elegy
GRE Flashcards
874
GRE Flashcards
879
GRE Flashcards
880 .
Dupe: to deceive or a person who is easily dece ived
Dogmatic: dictatorial in one 's opinions
"Bugs Bunny was able to dupe Elmer Fudd by dressing up as a lady rabbit."
"The dictator was dogmatic ; claiming he, and only he, was right. "
~APlA!y
beguile
betray
bluff
authoritarian
bossy
cozen
deceive
delude
doctrinaire
domineering,
imper ious
foo l
hoodwink
humbug
magisterial
masterful
overbearing
mislead
take in
trick
1-S00-KAP-TEST
dictatorial
peremptory
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Efficacy: effectiveness
"The efficacy of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first
introduced, completely eliminating almost all bacterial infections ."
Eclect ic: selecti ng from or made up from a variety of sources

Related Words
"Budapest 's architec ture is an eclectic mix of eastern and western styles . "
Efficacious: effect ive, productive
Words wit h Similar Meanings

Words with Similar Mea nings
selective
dynamism
effectiveness
efficiency
force
power
productiveness
profic iency
strength
Vigor
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
cat holic
broad
/
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Elegy: a sorrowfu l poem or speec h

Eloquent: pers uasive and moving, espec ially in speech
"Though Thomas Gray's Elegy is about deat h and loss,
"The Gettysburg Address is moving not only because of
it urges its readers to endure this life , and to trust in spiri tuality, "
its lofty sentiments but because of its eloquent words."
Related Words
Elegiac: like an elegy-mournful
articu late
expressive
fluent
rneanlngfu l
significant
smooth-spoken

dirge
~ ' 1-S00-KAP-TEST
lament
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Emulate: to copy; to try to equa l or excel

"The graduate student sought to emulate his
professor in every way, copying not only how she taught ,
Embellish: to add ornamental or fictitio us detai ls

"Britt embellished her resume , hoping to make the
lOWly positions she had held seem more important.
but etso -now she conduc ted herself outside of class . n

Words with Simil ar Mea nings
ape
~ l -S00-KAP-TEST
imitate
simulate
adorn
bedeck
elaborate
embroider
enhance
exaggerate
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Engender
Enervate
881
GRE Flashcards
Enumerate
Enigma
883
GRE Flashcards
Equivocate
885
886
GRE Flashcards
Erudite
Erratic
GRE Flashcards
B84
GRE Flashcards
Ephemeral
GRE Flashcards
882
GRE Flashcards-
887
GRE Flashcards
B88
Enervate: to reduce in str ength

'T he guerrillas hoped that a series of
Engender: to produce, cause, or bring about
surprise attac ks would enerva te the regular army."
"His fear and hatred of clowns was engendered when

he witnessed the death of his father at the hands of a clown. "
Related Words
Unnerve: to deprive of st rength or courage

beget
generate
procreate
proliferate
reproduce
spawn

debilitate
enfeeble
sap
weaken
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Enumerate: to count, list, item ize
"Speaking in riddles and dressed in old robes, the
on which the commandments were enumerated. "
artist gained a reputation as something of an enigma. "
catalog
~APL A'!y
Enigma: a puzzle, a mystery
"Moses returne d from the mount ain with tablets
index
tabulate
1.800.KAP.JEST
conundrum
perplexity
~ 1800KAPTEST
Equivocate: to use expressions of

double meaning in order t o mis lead
Ephemeral: last ing a short t ime
"When faced with critic ism of his policies, the politician

equivocated and left all par ties thinking he agreed with them. "
"The lives of mayflies seem ephemeral to us,

since the flies ' average life span is a matter of hours."
Related Words
Equivocal: undecided, trying to deceive
Equivocation: the act or sta te of equivocating
evanescent
fleeting
momentary
transient
Words with Similar Mean ings

ambiguous
~AP LA"!y
evasive
waffling
~APLA'!y
1.800.KAP.TEST
Erudite: learned, scholarly, bookish

"The annual meeting of philosophy protesso rs was a
gathering of the mos t erudite, well-publishe d individuals in the field. "
Erudition : extensive knowledge or learning
~ 1800KAPTEST
"The plot seemed predic table until it suddenly took
a series of errat ic turns that surprised the audience. "
Errant: str aying, mista ken, roving


learned
Erratic: wandering and unpredictable
Related Words
Related Words
scholastic
1.800.KAP.TEST
wise
capricious
inconstant
irresol ute
whimsical
~ 1800KAPJEST
Estimable
Esoteric
889
GRE Flashcards
Euphemism
Eulogy
891
GRE Flashcards
Exculpate
893
894
GRE Flashcards
Exonerate
Exigent
GRE Flashcards
892
GRE Flashcards
Exacerbate
GRE Flashcards
890
GRE Flashcards
895
GRE Flashcards
896
Estimable: admirable
"Most peop le conside r it estimab le tha t Mother
Teresa spent her life helping the poor of India. "
'Esot eric: known or understood only by a few

"Only
Related Words
a handful of experts are knowledgeable
about the eso teric world of particle physi cs ."
Esteem: high regard

admirable
commendable
credita ble.
honorable
laudable
merit orious
praiseworth y
respectable
venerable
abstruse
arcane
obscure
worthy
~ 1-800-KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Eulogy: speech in praise of someone

Euphemism: use of an inoffensive word or
phrase in place of a more distast eful one
"His bes t friend gave the eulogy, outlining

his many achievements and talents. "
"The funeral director preferred to use the
euphemism 'sleeping ' ins tead of the word 'dead '. "
commend
extol
laud
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
~ 1800-KAPTEST
Exacerbate: to make worse
Exculpate: to clear f rom blame , prove innocent

"The legal system is inten ded to convict those
"It is unwise to take aspirin to try to relieve heartburn, since
who are gui lty and exculpate those who are innocent."
inste ad of providing relief, it will only exacerbate the problem. "

absolve
clear
annoy
vindicate
irrit ate
acquit
exonerat e
aggravate
inten sify
provoke
~ 1-800KAPTEST
~ 1-800KAPTEST
Exigent: urgent ; requiring immediate action
Exonerate: to clear of blame

"The fugitiv e was exonerated when another
"The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it
criminal confessed to committing the crime. "
was exigent to stop the source of the bleeding. "
abso lve
exculpate
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
acquit
..,
clear
crit ical
imperative
vindicate
needed
urgent
~ 1-800-KAPTEST
Fanatical
Explicit
897
GRE Flashcards
898
GRE Flashcards
Fervid
Fawn
899
GRE Flashcards
Foment
Florid
8101
GRE Flashcards
8102
GRE Flashcards
Fortuitous
GRE Flashcards
8100
GRE Flashcards
Frugality
8103
GRE Flashcards
8104
Explicit: clearly st ated or shown; forthright in expressio n

Fanatical: acting excessively enthusiastic,
filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion
"In Reading Comprehension, questio ns that ask directly about a

detail in the passage are sometimes called Explicit Text questions. "
"The stormtroopers were fanatical in their devotion
to the Emperor, readily sacrificing their lives for him."
Explicate: to give a deta iled explanation.

extremist
fiery
Related Words
Explicable : capable of being explained
frenzied
zealous
~ 1800KAPTEST
candid
frank
straight forwa rd
unequivocal
~ 1800KAPTEST
Fervid: intense ly emotional , feverish

'T he fans of Maria Callas were particularly fervid ,
Fawn: to grovel
doing anything to catch a glimpse of the great opera singer. "
"The understudy fawned over the director in hopes

of being cast in the part on a permanent basis. "
Relat ed Words
Fervent: enthusiastic
Words wit h Simila r Meanings
Fervor: passion
burning
impassioned
boot lick
grovel
toady
pander
passionate
vehement
zealous
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Florid: excess ively decorated or embe llished
Foment: to arouse or incite

"The rebels tried to foment revolution
"The palace had been decorated in an excessively
through their attacks on the government. "
florid style; every surface had been carved and gilded. "
Words with Simila r Meanings

agitate
impassio n
instigate
inflame
Baroque
elaborate
flamboyant
kindle
ornate
ostentatious
Rococo
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Frugality: te nding to be t hrifty
o~
cheap
Fortuitous: happening by chance, fortuna te
"Scrooge McDuck's frugality was so great that he
"It was for tuitous that he won the lott o
accumulated enough wealth to fill a giant storehouse with money."
j ust before he had to pay back his loans. "

Words wit h Simila r Meanings

economical
parsimony
chance
for tunate
haphazard
prudence
sparing
lucky
propitio us
prosperous
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Gregarious
Garrulous
8105
GRE Flashcards
Guile
/
8107
GRE Flashcards
.:
8108
Iconoclast
8109
8110
GRE Flashcards
Impervious
Imperturbable
GRE Flashcards
Gullible
GRE Flashcards
Homogenous
GRE Flashcards
8106
GRE Flashcards
8111
GRE Flashcards
8112
Gregarious: outgoing, sociable
Garrulous: tending to talk a lot
"She was so gregarious that when she found herself alone she felt quite sea."
"The garrulous parakeet dist racted its owner with its continuous talking.
affab le
congenia l
effus ive
comm unicat ive
sociable
loquacious
~ 1-S00-KAPTEST
~ 1S00KAPTEST
Guile: deceit , tri ckery
Gullible: easily deceived

" The can man pretended to be a bank of ficer so as to fool
gullible bank cus tomers into giving him their account intormeti on."
"Since he was not fast enough to catch the road-runner on

foot , the coyote resorted to guile in an ef fort to trap his enemy.
Related Words
Related Words
Guileless : innocent , wit hout tricker y; gullible: eas ily deceive d
Gull: a person who is easi ly t ricked

credulous
exploitable
ar tifice
naive
~ 1-S00KAPTEST
conn ivery
chicanery
duplicity
~ 1S00KAPTEST
Homogenous: of a similar kind

Iconoclast: one who opposes est ablished
beliefs , custo ms and inst itutions
"The class was fairly homogenous since almost

all of the students were jou rnalism majors .
"His lack of regard for traditional beliefs

soon estab lishe d him as an iconoclast. n
Related Words
Homogenized: th oroughly mixed t ogeth er

maverick
nonconformist
rebel
revolut ionary
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST

cons iste nt
sta ndardized
uniform
unvary ing
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Imperturbable: not capable of being disturbed

"The counselor had so much experience dealing with distraught children that
Impervious: impossible t o penet rate; incapable of being af fected
she was imperturbable, even when faced with the wildest tantrums . n
"A goo d raincoat will be imper vious to moisture.
Related Words
Perturb: t o dist urb greatly

res ista nt
impregnable

composed
serene
~ 1-S00-KAPTEST
~ 1-S00KAP-TEST
dispassionate
impassi ve
sto ical
Implacable
Impetuous
8113
GRE Flashcards
Ingenuous
Inchoate
8115
GRE Flashcards
Innocuous
8117
8118
GRE Flashcards
Intransigent
Insipid
GRE Flashcards
8116
GRE Flashcards
Inimical
GRE Flashcards
8114
GRE Flashcards
8119
GRE Flashcards
8120
Implacable: unable to be calmed down or made peaceful
Impetuous: quick to act wit hout thi nking
"His rage at the betrayal was so great that he remained implacable for weeks." _
"It is not good for an investm ent broker to be impetuous
s ince much thought should be given to all the poss ible options. "
Related Words
Placate: t o make peaceful
Related Words
Impetus: impulse

inexorable
intransigent
irreconcilable
relent less
remorseless
unforgiving

impulsive
unrelent ing
precipitate
reckless
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
rash
spontaneous
~ l 800-KAP-TEST
Ingenuous: showing innocence or childlike simpl icity
v:
"She was so ingenuous that her friends feared that her innocence
and trustfulness would be exploited when she visited the big city."
Inchoate: not ful ly formed , disorganized
Related Words
also appear in an inchoate form in his earliest writing. "
"The ideas expressed in Nietzsche 's mature work

Ingenue: a naive girl or young woman
Disingenuous: giving a false impressi on of innocence

art less
guileless
innocent
naive
simple
unaf fected
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
~APL Ai>
amorphous
incoherent
incomplete
unorganized
1-800-KAP.TEST
Innocuous: harmles s
"Some snakes are poisonous, but most species
are innocuous and pose no danger to humans. "
Inimical: hosti le, unfriendly

"Even though a cease-fire had been in place for
months , the two sides were still inimical to each othe r. "
Related Words
Inoculate: t o give a shot to prevent or heal an illness

benign
harmless
inoffensive
insipid
~ 1-800KAPTEST
adverse
antagonist ic
dissident
recalcitr ant
~ 1-800KAPTEST
Intransigent: uncompromisi ng, refus ing to be reconciled

'T he professor was intransigent on the cjeadline,
Insipid: lacking interest or flavor
insisting that everyone turn the assig nment in at the same time."
"The critic claimed that the painting was

insip id, contai ning no interesti ng qualities at all. "

implacable
inexorable
irreconcil able
obdurate
obsti nate
remorse less
banal
rigid
unbending
unrelent ing
sta le
unyielding
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
~ 1-800-KAPTEST
bland
dull
vapid
Irascible
Inundate
8121
GRE Flashcards
Lament
Laconic
8123
GRE Flashcards
----------
- -
----=
----~
---
Latent
Lassitude
8125
8126
GRE Flashcards
Lavish
Laud
GRE Flashcards
8124
GRE Flashcards
~
GRE Flashcards
8122
GRE Flashcards
8127
GRE Flashcards
8128
Irascible: easily made angry

"Attilla the Hun's irascible and violent nature
made all who dealt with him fear for their lives. n
Inundat e: to overwhelm, to cover wit h wate r.

"The tidal wave inundated Atlantis ,
which was lost beneath the water. "
Related Words
Irate: angry

deluge

cantankerous
irritable
orner y
testy
drown
engulf
fl ood
~ 1S00-KAP-TEST
subme rge
~ l -S00-KAP-TEST
Lament: to express sorrow, to grieve
Laconic: using few words
"The children cont inued to lament the
"He was the classic laconic nat ive of Main e, who
death of the goldfish weeks afte r its demise. "
talked as if he were being charged for each word. "
bewail
deplore
concise
grieve
mourn
terse
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
curt
pit hy
tac iturn
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Latent: potent ial that is not readily apparent

"Latent trait test ing seeks to identify skills that
Lassitude: a st ate of diminished energy
the test-taker may have that they are not aware of. "
"The lack of energy that characterizes patients with anemia

makes lassitude one of the primary symptoms of the disease . n
Related Words
Lat ency: the state or quality of being latent
concealed
dormant

debilit ation
enervat ion
fat igue
languor
list lessness
tired ness
weariness
inert
potent ial
quiescent
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Laud: to give praise , to glorify

Lavish : extremely generous or extrav agant; to give unspar ingly
"Parades and fireworks were staged to laud the success of the rebels. n
"She lavishe d the puppy with so many treats

that it soon become overweight and spoiled. "
Related Words
Laudable: worth of praise
Laudato ry: expressing praise

best ow
confer
exuberant
extravagant
opulent
profuse
prodigal
luxuriant
superabundant

acclaim
applaud
compliment
exalt
hail
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
commend
extol
praise
Loquacious
Lethargic
8129
GRE Flashcards
Luminous
Lucid
8131
GRE Flashcards
Malleable
8133
8134
GRE Flashcards
Meticulous
Metaphor
GRE Flashcards
8132
GRE Flashcards
Malinger
GRE Flashcards
8130
GRE Flashcards
8135
GRE Flashcards
8136
Loquacious: ta lkative
"She was naturally loquacious, which is a problem in
situations where listening is more impor tant than talking. "
Lethargic: acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner

"The clerk was so lethargic that, even when the
store was sl ow, he always had a long line in front of him ."
Related Words
Eloquence: powerful , convincing speaking
Loquacity: th e quality of being loquacious
garru lous
languid
lackadaisical
listl ess

effusive

apathet ic
torpi d
verbose
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Luminous: bright, brillia nt , glowing
Lucid: clear and easily understood
"The park was bathed in luminous sunshine which
"The explanations were written in a simple and lucid manner so that
warmed the bodies and the souls of the visitors."
students were immediately able to apply what they learned. "
Related Words
Related Words
Illuminate: to shine light on
Lucidity: clarity
Luminary: an inspi ring person
Lucent: glowing wit h light


incandesce nt
lustr ous
clear
resplendent
inte lligible
lucent
radiant
explicit
coherent
limpid
I
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Malleable: capable of being shaped

"Gold is the most malleable of precious metals;
it can easily be formed into almost any shape. "
ductile
plast ic
pliable
"A common way to avoid the draft was by malingering-pretending to
be mentally or physically ill so as to avoid being taken by the Army. n

Related Words

adaptab le
Malinger: "to evade respon sibility by pretendi ng to be ill
pliant
Linger: to be slow in leaving

shirk
~ 1800KAPTEST
slack
~ 1800KAPTEST
Metaphor: a figure of speech comparing two different things, a symbol

Meticulous: extr emely careful about details
"The metaphor 'a sea of troubles ' suggests a lot of
"The investigato rs were instr ucted to find all the clues at the
troubles by comparing their number to the vastness of the sea ."
crime scene, so they met iculously covered every inch of the area. "
Related Words
conscientious
precise
Meta phorical: stand ing as a symbol for something else
scrupulous
analogy
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
comparison
Mitigate
Misanthrope
8137
GRE Flashcards
8138
GRE Flashcards
~-----------------~----
----
-------
--~-~
------
---- ---------
Monotony
Mollify
8139
GRE Flashcards
-------
---------~~-
8141
- ------
-------
--~
8142
GRE Flashcards
- ----
--
---
-----~
---
- ---
--
-------- ---
Obstinate
Obsequious
GRE Flashcards
------
Obdurate
Naive
GRE Flashcards
8140
GRE Flashcards
8143
GRE Flashcards
8144
Mitigate: to soften , to lessen

"A judge may mitigate a sentence if she decides
that a person committed a crime out of need. "

allay
" ease
mollif y
Mi sa nt hrope: a person who disli kes others

" The Grinch was such a misanthrope that even the
sight of children singi ng made him angry."
alleviat e
assuage
lighten
moderate
palliat e
temper
~ 1S00-KAP-TEST
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Monot ony: no variation , tediously the same

"The monotony of the sound of the dripping
Mollify: to calm or make less seve re
faucet almost drove the research assistant crazy. n
"Their argument was so intense that is was

difficult to believe any compromise would mollify them. "
Re lated Words
Monotone: a sound that is made at the same ton e or pitch

drone
appease
assuage
conci liate
pacify
tedium
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
~ 1S00-KAP-TEST
Naive: lacking sophist icat ion or experience

Obdurat e: hardene d in fee ling, resistant to persuasion
"The President was completely obdurate on the issue,
"Having never traveled before, the hillbillies

were totally naive to the customs of Beverly Hills."
and no amoun t of persuasion would change his mind . "
Related Words
Naivete : th e st ate of being naive

inflexible
intransigent
recalcit rant
tena cious
unyielding
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST

artless
credulous
guileless
ingenuous
simp le
unaffe cted
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Obsequious: overly-submi ssive and eager to please

Obstinate: st ubborn, unyielding
"The obseq uious new ass ociate made sure to compliment
"The obstinate chifd could not be made to
her sup ervisor's tie and agree with him on every issue . "
eat any food which he perceived to be 'yucky'. "
Related Words
Words with Similar Me anings
Obeisance: a physical show of respect or subm iss ion, such as a bow
intransigent
mulish
persistent
pertinac ious
stubborn
tenacious
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST

compliant
deferenti al
servi le
subse rvient
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Occlude
Obviate
8145
GRE Flashcards
Opaque
Onerous
8147
GRE Flashcards
Ostentation
8149
8150
GRE Flashcards
Paragon
Paradox
GRE Flashcards
8148
GRE Flashcards
Opprobrium
GRE Flashcards
8146
GRE Flashcards
8151
GRE Flashcards
8152
Occlude : to sto p up, prevent the passage of

"A shadow is thrown across the Eart h' s surface during a solar
eclipse , when the light from the sun is occluded by the moon. "
Obviate: to prevent ; to make unnecessar y

"The river was shallo w enough to wade across at
many points , which obviated the need for a bridge."

barricade
block
close
obst ruct
obstruct
~ 1800KAPTEST
Words with Similar Meaning.

forestall
preclude
prohibit
~ 1800KAPTEST
Opaque: Impossible to see t hrough, preventing t he passage of light

"The heavy build-up of dirt and grime on the
windows made them almost opaque. "
Related Words
Opacity: t he quality of being obscure and indecipherable
obscure
Onerous: t roublesom e and oppressive; burdensome

"The assignment was so extensive and difficult to

arduous
backbreaking
cumbersome
difficult
burdenso me
exacting
for midable
hard
laborious
oppressive
oppressive
rigorous
taxing
~ 1800KAPTEST
manage that it proved onerous to the team in charge of it. "
tr ying
~ 1800KAPTEST
Ostentation: excessive showiness

"The ostentation of The Sun King 's cour t is evident in the
Opprobrium: public disgrace
lavish decoration and luxuriousness of his palace at Versailles. "
"Afte r the scheme to embezzle the elderly was made
public, the treasurer resigned in utte r opprobrium ."

Related Words
Ostensible: apparent
conspicuousness
flashiness
pretent iousness
showiness
!5..APLA'!y 1.800.KAP.TEST

discredit
disgrace
disrepute
ignominy
dishonor
infamy
obloquy
shame
~ 1800KAPTEST
Paragon: model of excellence or perfecti on.

"He is the paragon of what a j Udge should be;
honest, intelligent , hardworking and ju st. "
Paradox: a cont radict ion or dilemma

"It is a paradox that those most in need of
medical att ention are often those least able to obtain it. "

apotheosis
ideal
quintessence
sta ndard
~ 1800KAPTEST

incongruity
~ 1800KAPTEST
ambiguit y
Pedant
GRE Flashcards
Perfidious
8153
GRE Flashcards
8154
-- ------4
Perfunctory
GRE Flashcards
Permeate
8155
GRE Flashcards
Pervasive
GRE Flashcards
Philanthropy
8157
GRE Flashcards
Phlegmatic
GRE Flashcards
8156
8158
Placate
8159
GRE Flashcards
8160
Perfidious: willing to bet ray one's trust

"The actress 's perfidious companion revealed
all of her intimate secrets to the gossip columnist."
Pedant: someone who shows off learning

"The gradua te instructor's tedio us and excessive commentary on the
SUbject soon gai ned her a reputation as a pedant. "
Relat ed Words
Per fi dy: deceit, t reachery
Related Words
Pedant ic: making an excessive display of learning

dis loyal
faith less
t reacherous
t raitorous
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Pe rmeat e: to penetrate
"This miraculou s new cleaning fluid is able to
permeate stains and dissolve them in minutesl "
Perfunctory: done in a rout ine way; indifferent
Re lat ed Words
and gave the waiting customer a per functory sm ile."
"The machine -like teller processed the trans acti on
Impermeable: unable to be permeated

apathetic

imbue
infu se
pervade
suffuse
auto matic
mechanical
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Philanthropy: charity, a desire or effo rt to promote goodness

"The Metropolitan Museum of Art owes much of its collec tion to the
phila nthropy of private collectors who willed their esta tes to the museum. "
Per vade: to be present th roughout , t o permeat e

"Four spices-cumin, turmeric, coriander and cayenne-pervade
almost every Indian dish, and gi ve the cuisi ne its dis tinctive flavor. "
Related Words
Related Words
Pervasive: t ending to permeate or per vade
Philanthropis t : someone who is generous and desires to promote goodness

human itar ianism
imbue
altruism
infuse
penet rate
permeate
suffuse
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
Placate: to soothe or pacify

"The burglar tried to placate the snarling dog by
referring to it as a 'Nice Doggy' and offering it a treat. "
Phlegmat ic: calm and unemotional in temperament

"Although the bomb could go off at any moment ,
the phlegmatic demoliti on exper t remained calm and unafraid. "
Rela ted Words

Placid: t olerant ; calm
Implacable: unable to be n;ade peacef ul
apat hetic
calm
emotio nless
impassi ve
indiffe rent
passi onle ss

appease
~ 1800KAPTEST
conciliate
unemot ional
mollify
~ 1800KAPTEST
Plastic
Plethora
8161
GRE Flashcards
8162
GRE Flashcards
,-
Pragmatic
Precipitate
8163
GRE Flashcards
Prevaricate
Pristine
8165
GRE Flashcards
8164
GRE Flashcards
8166
GRE Flashcards
Probity
Proclivity
8167
GRE Flashcards
/
GRE Flashcards
8168
Plastic: able to be molded, alte red or bent

Plethora: excess
"The new material was very plasti c and
"Assuming that more was better, the
could be formed into products of vastly diffe rent shape."
defendant of fered the judge a plethora of excuses ."

Related Words
Pliable: able t o be bent

glut
overabundance
superfluity
surfe it

adaptable
ductil e
malleable
pliant
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
-------- --------------Precipitate: t o thr ow violently or bring

about abrupt ly; lacking deliberation
Pragmatic: practica l as opposed to ideali stic
"Theirs was a precipitate marriage-they had only
"While idealistic gamblers think they can get rich by frequenting casinos ,
known each other for two weeks before they wed. "
pragmatic gamblers realize that the odds are heavily st acked against them. "
Related Words
Precipit ous: very steep
Related Words
Precipice: a steep cliff
Pragmatism: a practi cal approach t o problem solving
Precipitat ion: weat her phenomena, like rain or snow, that fall from the sky

hasty
headlong
impetuou s
impulsive
rash
reckless
abrupt
ill-conside red
hurried
prompt
sudden
realist ic
rat ional
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
----- - - - - - -_.
Pristine: f resh and clean, uncorrupted
Prevaricate: to lie or deviate from th e truth
"Since concer ted measures had been taken to prevent looting, the
"Rather than admit that he had overslept again, the employee prevaricated and
archeo logical site was st ill pristine when researchers arrived."
claimed that heavy traffic had prevented him from arriving at work on time. "

innocent
equivocate
undamaged
~AP LA!y
~ 1800KAPTEST
Proclivity: a nat ural inclination or predispositio n.

"Her childhood love of acting, singing and adoration
indicated a proclivity for the theater in later life. "
leaning
partia lity
penchant
predilection
predispos it ion
prejud ice
~APLA!y
1.800.KAP.TEST
propensity
perjure
1.800.KAP.TEST
Probity: complete honesty and integrity

"George Washington's reputation for probity is illustrated in the
legend about his inability to lie afte r he chopped down the cherry tree. "

bias
lie

integrity
morality
virt ue
uprightnes s
rectitude
~ 1800KAPTEST
_I
Proliferate
Prodigal
8169
GRE Flashcards
Propriety
Propitiate
8171
GRE Flashcards
Pungent
8173
GRE Flashcards
8174
Rarefy
Quiescent
GRE Flashcards
8172
GRE Flashcards
Prudence
GRE Flashcards
8170
GRE Flashcards
8175
GRE Flashcards
8176
Proliferate: to increase in number quickly

"Although he only kept two guinea pigs init ially, they
pro liferated to such an extent that he soon had dozens. "
Prodigal: lavish , wasteful

"The Prodigal Son quickly wasted all of his
inheritance on
a lavish lifestyle devoted to pleasure. "
Related Words
Prolific: very producti ve or highly able to reproduce rapidly
Related Words
Prodigality: excessive or reckless spending

breed
multiply
procreate
propagat e
reproduce
spawn
~ 1800KAPTEST

extravagant
lavish
profligate
spendt hrift
waste ful
~ 1800KAPTEST
Propriety: act ing in a proper manner, obeying rules and custo ms

"The aristocracy maintained
a high level of propriety,
adhering to even the most minor social rules. "
Propitiate: to conciliate , to appease

"Because the ir gods were angry and vengeful , the
Vikings propitiated them with many sacrifi ces. "
Related Words
Related Words
Appropriate : Suit able for a part icular occas ion or place
Propit ious: advantageous , a good omen

decency
decorum
appease
modesty
seemly
pacify
~ 1800KAPTEST
concil iate
mollify
placate
~ 1800KAPTEST
Prudence: wisdom , caut ion or restraint

"The college student exhibite d prudence by obtaining practi cal experience
along with her studies, which greatly st rengthen ed her resume. "
Pungent: sharp and irrit at ing to th e senses

"The smoke from the burn ing tires was extremely pungent. "
Related Words
Prude: someone who is excess ively concerned wit h propriety

piquant
poignant
Prudish: prissy and puritani cal

acrid
caustic
st inging
ast ute ness
circumspect ion
discret ion
fr ugality
judici ousnes s
providence
thr ift
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1-800KAP-TEST
Rarefy: to make th inner or spar ser
Quiescent: mot ionless
"Since the atmo sphere rarefies as alti tudes increase,
"Many anima ls are quiescent over the winter months,
the air at the top of very tall mountains is too thin to breathe. "
minimizing activity in order to conser ve energy."
Related Words
Related Words
Rarefacti on: t he proces s of makin g so mething less dense
Quiescence: state of rest or inactivity
atten uate
~ 1800KAPTEST
thin
lat ent
~ 1800KAPTEST
dorma nt
Reticent
Repudiate
8177
GRE Flashcards
8178
GRE Flashcards
Satiate
Rhetoric
8179
GRE Flashcards
Specious
Soporific
8181
GRE Flashcards
8182
GRE Flashcards
Stolid
Stigma
GRE Flashcards
8180
GRE Flashcards
8183
GRE Flashcards
8184
Reticent: silent, reserved
Repudiate: to reject t he validity of
"Physically small and verbally reticent, Joan Didion
"The old woman's claim that she was Russian royalty was
often went unnot iced by those she was repor ting upon. "
repudiated when DNA tes ts showed she was of no relation to them. "
cool
int roverted
laconic
deny
standoffish
tacit urn
undemonstr ative
disown
~ 1800KAPTEST
~A PLA!y
disavow
discla im
renounce
1-800.KAP-TEST
Satiate: to sat isfy fully or overindulge

"His desire for power was so great that nothing less
than complete control of the country could satiate it."
Rhetoric: effecti ve writ ing or speaking

"Lincoln 's talent for rhetoric was evident in
Related Words
his beautifully expressed Gettysb urg Address . "
Sate: to fu lly satisfy or overindulge

Insatiable: incapable of being sat isf ied

eloquence
~APL A!y
cloy
glut
gorge
surfeit
1.800.KAP.TEST
orat ory
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
Soporific: causing sleep or lethargy

"The movie proved to be so soporific that soon
Specious: deceptively att ract ive; seemingly plausible but fallac ious
loud snores were heard throughout the cinema. "
'T he st udent's specious excuse for being late sounded legi timate,
but was proved otherwi se when his teacher called his home. "
Related Words
Sopor: deep sleep

illusory
oste nsible
plausible
spurious
sophistic
~ 1800KAPTEST
hypnotic
narcoti c
slumberous
somnolent
~ 1-800-KAP-TEST
St igma: a mark of shame or discredit

Stolid: unemot ional, lacking sens itivity
"In The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne was required to wear the
"The priso ner appeared stolid and
let ter 'A' on her clothes as a public stigma for her adultery. "
unaffected by the judge 's harsh sentence. "

Related Words
St igmati ze: to disgrace, to label wit h negative terms or reput atio n
apathetic
impassive
indifferent
phlegmatic
stoica l
unconcerned

blemish
stain
~ 1800KAPTEST
~APL A!y
1-800-KAP-TEST
blot
opprobrium
taint
Tacit
Sublime
B185
GRE Flashcards
--
"..,
- - - - - ~ - ..., -
....... - ,..,-- -- --
.. --- -- ---
B187
Transitory
B189
BI90
GRE Flashcards
Venerate
Vacillate
GRE Flashcards
BI88 '
GRE Flashcards
Torpor
GRE Flashcards
- - ..... ------- ---- ----- ------
Tirade
Taciturn
GRE Flashcards
BI86
GRE Flashcards
B191
GRE Flashcards
B192
Sublime: lofty or grand

"The music was so sublime that it transfo rmed
Tacit: done wit hout using words

"Although not
that
a word was said, everyone in the room knew
the rude surroundings into a special place. "
a tacit agreement was made about what course of action to take."
Related Words
Sublim ate: t o elevate or convert into somethi ng of higher worth
Sublimin al: exist ing outsid e conscious awareness
Related Words
Tacitu rn: si lent , not tal kati ve

implicit
implied
undeclared
unsaid
unuttered
august
exalte d
glorious
grand
magnific ent
magnifi cent
majestic
noble
regal
superb
res plendent
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Taciturn: silent, not talkative

Tirade : long, harsh speech or verbal att ack
"Obser vers were shocked at the manager's tirade over such
"The clerk 's taciturn nature earned him the nickname Silent Bob. "
a minor mist ake. "

Related Words
Tacit : done without using words

diatribe
fulm inati on
harangue
obloquy
revilement
vilificat ion

laconic
reticent
I
~A P l A;V
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
1-S00-KAP-TEST
Transitory: temporary, lastin g a brief t ime

" The repor ter lived a transitory life, staying in
one place only long enough to cover the current story. "
Torpor: ext reme mental and physical sluggishness

"After surgery, the pati ent experienced torpor until the anesthesia wore of f. "
Related Words
Related Words
Transit : t o pass throu gh, to change or make a t ransition
Torpid: sluggish , lacking movement
Transient: passing quickly in and out of existence, one who stays a short tim e

ephemera l
apathy
fleeting
evanesce nt
languor
moment ary
imperma nent
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Venerate: to respect deeply

"In a tradit ional Confucian society the young venerate
their elders , deferring to the elders ' wisdom and experience. "
Vacillate: to physically sway or to be indecisiv e
Related Words
betwee n ordering chocolate-chip or rocky-road ice-cream. "
"The cust omer held up the line as he vacillated
Venerable : old , worthy of respect

adore
honor
idolize
revere
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
dit her
falter
fluctuate
irresolute
oscill ate
waver
~ 1-S00-KAP-TEST
Veracity
Verbose
8193
\ GRE Flashcards
8194
GRE Flashcards
Vex
Viscous
8195
GRE Flashcards
8196
GRE Flashcards
\.
Waver
Volatile
8197
GRE Flashcards
Zeal
Whimsical
GRE Flashcards
8198
GRE Flashcards
8199
GRE Flashcards
8200
),
Verbose: wordy
Veracity: filled with tru t h and accuracy
"The professor's answer was so verbose that
"She had a reputation for veracity, so
his stude nt forgot what the original question had been. "
everyone truste d her description of events . "
Related Words
Related Words
Verbalize: to put int o words
Verity: truth
Verbatim : to quote using t he exact words, words fo r words
Veracious : tr uthful , accurate
Verbiage: lot s of words th at are usually superfluous

longwinded
loquac ious
prolix
candor
exact it ude
fid elity
probit y
superfluous
~A P l A!y
_____
~ 1800KAPTEST
1.800.KAP.TEST
-_-
__
Vex: to annoy
Viscous: t hick and adhesive, like a slow flowing fluid
"The old man who loved his peace and
"Most viscous liquids, like oil, or honey,
quiet was vexed by his neighbor's loud music. "
become even thicker as they are cooled down. "

Related Words
Related Words
Vexati on: a feeling of irritation
Viscid : viscous
Viscos ity: a meas ure of how viscous a flu id is

t hick
glut inous
gelat inous
both er
annoy
bane
chafe
exasperate
irk
nettle
nuisa nce
peeve
provoke
~APlA!y
~ 1800KAPTEST
---------------~---
- -- .. ---------~---
1.800.KAP.TEST
--Volatile: easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive
"His volatile personality made it dittic ult to predict his reaction to anything. "
Waver: to f luct uate between choices

"If you waver too long before making a decision about which
Related Words
tes ting si te to register for, yO U may not get your first choice."
Volcanic : ext remely explosive
" Words with Similar Meanings
dither
falter
fluctu ate
irresolut e
osc illate
vaci llate
capriciou s
errat ic
fickle
incon si st ent
inconst ant
mercurial
waver
t emperamental
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST
---
-----~_r-----------
__ T-_-_ ---
Zeal: passion, excitement
~~-~-
--~------
f----------------- ----~
--- - ----
Whimsical : lightly act ing in a fanciful or

capricious manner; unpredictable
"She brought her typical zeal to the projec t,
"The ballet was Whimsical, delighting the childr en
sparking enthusiasm in the other team members. "
with its imaginat ive characters and unpredictable sets. "
Related Words
Related Words
Zealot: a fanatic
Whim : a f ancy or sudden noti on
arde ncy
fe rvor
capriciou s
errat ic
fire
pass ion
frivolous
flipp ant
~ 1800KAPTEST
~ 1800KAPTEST

GRE 2008 Flashcards

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

GRE 2008 Flashcards

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

GRE FLASH CARDS

Abate: to reduce in amount, degree, or severity.

Words with Similar Meanings

Aberrant: deviati ng from what is normal or expected.

Abscond: to leave secretly

paying his bill by sneaking out the back door."

Aberratio n: A deviation from what is normal

Words with Similar Meanings

Abyss: an extremely deep hole.

Abstain: to choose not to do something.

Abyssa l: Pertaining to great dept h

Words with Similar Meanings

Words with Similar Meanings

Adulterate: to make impure.

Advocate: to speak in favor of.

"The vegetarian advocated a diet containing no meat. "

Advocacy: Act ive support for.

Adulte ry: An illicit relati onship; an affa ir.

Words with Similar Meanings

Words with Similar Meanings

Aestl1etic: concern ing the appreciat ion of beauty

Aggrandize: to increase in power, influence and reputation.

"The Aesthetic Movement regarded the purs uit

"The supervisor sought to aggrandize himself by claiming

of beauty to be the only true purpose of ar t. "

Words with Similar Meanings

Aesthete: Someone unusua lly sensi tive to beauty

Words with Similar Meanings

Alacrity: speed or quickness.

"Taking aspirin helps to alleviate a headache. n

"The restauran t won a reputation for fine service since the

Words with Similar Meanings

Words with Similar Meanings

Amalgamat e: to combine, to mix togethe r

Ambiguous: doubtful or uncertain, can be interp reted several ways.

"Giant Industries amalgamated with Mega Products

"The directions he gave were so ambiguous

to form Giant-Mega Products Incorporated. "

that we disagreed on which way to turn. "

Amalgam: a mixture, es pecially of two meta ls.

Ambiguity: The quality of being ambiguous .

Words with Similar Meanings

Words with Similar Meanings

Ameliorate: to make better; to improve.

Anachro nism: somet hing out of place in ti me.

"The doctor was able to ameliorate the

"The aged hippie used anachronistic phrases like 'groovy'

patient 's suffering using pain-killers ."

Words with Similar Meanings

Words with Similar Meanings

Analogous: similar or alike in some way; equivalent to

Anomaly: deviatio n from what is normal.

"His mother argued that not going to college

"Albino animals may display too great an anomaly

was analogous to throwing his life away.

in their coloring to attract norma lly colored mates . "

Analogy: a similarit y between t hings that are otherwise dissi milar.

Anomalous: Deviating from what is normal

Analogue: something th at is similar in some way t o something else.

Words with Similar Meanings

Words with Similar Meanings

prete rnat uralness

Antagonize: to annoy or provoke to anger.