500 Common GRE Words with Definitions
Abate
Definition: To reduce in intensity
Example: The storm suddenly abated.
Aberrant
Definition: Deviating from the norm
Example: His aberrant behavior surprised everyone.
Abjure
Definition: To renounce or reject solemnly
Example: He abjured his previous beliefs.
Abscond
Definition: To leave secretly
Example: The thief absconded with the money.
Abstruse
Definition: Difficult to understand
Example: The professor's lecture was abstruse.
Accolade
Definition: An expression of praise
Example: She received accolades for her performance.
Acerbic
Definition: Having a sour or bitter taste
Example: His acerbic tone made the meeting tense.
Acumen
Definition: Keen insight
Example: Her acumen in business led to great success.
Admonish
Definition: To warn or reprimand
Example: He admonished his son for being late.
Adroit
Definition: Skillful
Example: She was adroit at solving complex problems.
Aesthetic
Definition: Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty
Example: The painting had great aesthetic appeal.
Alacrity
Definition: Eagerness or cheerful readiness
Example: She accepted the invitation with alacrity.
Amiable
Definition: Friendly and pleasant
Example: He had an amiable personality that made him popular.
Anachronism
Definition: Something out of place in time
Example: A sword in modern warfare is an anachronism.
Apocryphal
Definition: Of doubtful authenticity
Example: The story of the haunted house is probably apocryphal.
Arduous
Definition: Difficult and tiring
Example: Climbing the mountain was an arduous task.
Assuage
Definition: To make an unpleasant feeling less intense
Example: He tried to assuage her fears with kind words.
Astute
Definition: Having sharp judgment
Example: His astute observations impressed his colleagues.
Avarice
Definition: Extreme greed
Example: His avarice led him to make unethical decisions.
Bolster
Definition: To support or strengthen
Example: The new evidence bolstered his argument.
Bombastic
Definition: High-sounding but with little meaning
Example: The politician's speech was bombastic and empty.
Cacophony
Definition: Harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
Example: The cacophony from the traffic was unbearable.
Capricious
Definition: Given to sudden changes of mood or behavior
Example: Her capricious nature made her unpredictable.
Caustic
Definition: Sarcastic in a bitter way
Example: His caustic remarks hurt everyone's feelings.
Convoluted
Definition: Complicated and difficult to understand
Example: The lawyer's convoluted argument confused the jury.
Copious
Definition: Abundant in quantity
Example: She took copious notes during the lecture.
Credulous
Definition: Too ready to believe things
Example: Children are often credulous and believe in fairy tales.
Culpable
Definition: Deserving blame
Example: The company was found culpable for the accident.
Debilitate
Definition: To weaken
Example: The disease debilitated his immune system.
Deliberate
Definition: Done consciously and intentionally
Example: His actions were slow and deliberate.
Diatribe
Definition: A forceful and bitter verbal attack
Example: The critic's diatribe against the movie was harsh.
Disparate
Definition: Essentially different in kind
Example: The two cultures had disparate traditions.
Dogmatic
Definition: Stubbornly opinionated
Example: His dogmatic approach left no room for discussion.
Ebullient
Definition: Overflowing with enthusiasm
Example: Her ebullient personality made her fun to be around.
Efficacy
Definition: The ability to produce a desired result
Example: The efficacy of the new drug is still being tested.
Eloquent
Definition: Fluent and persuasive in speech
Example: She gave an eloquent speech that inspired many.
Enervate
Definition: To weaken or drain energy
Example: The hot sun enervated the hikers.
Ephemeral
Definition: Lasting for a very short time
Example: The beauty of a sunset is ephemeral but breathtaking.
Equivocate
Definition: To use ambiguous language to conceal the truth
Example: The politician equivocated when asked about his policies.
Esoteric
Definition: Intended for or understood by only a small group
Example: Quantum physics is an esoteric subject for most people.
Eulogy
Definition: A speech that praises someone, usually at a funeral
Example: He delivered a heartfelt eulogy at his friend's funeral.
Exculpate
Definition: To clear from blame
Example: The evidence exculpated him from the crime.
Extol
Definition: To praise enthusiastically
Example: The coach extolled the team's efforts after the game.
Fastidious
Definition: Very attentive to detail
Example: She was fastidious about keeping her house clean.
Fortuitous
Definition: Happening by chance
Example: Their meeting was purely fortuitous.
Garrulous
Definition: Excessively talkative
Example: The garrulous old man told endless stories.
Guile
Definition: Sly or cunning intelligence
Example: He used guile to outwit his opponents.
Harangue
Definition: A lengthy and aggressive speech
Example: The boss's harangue left everyone silent.
Impetuous
Definition: Acting without thought
Example: His impetuous decisions often got him into trouble.
Innocuous
Definition: Not harmful
Example: His joke was innocuous but still offended someone.